- SIMPSON, John Burton, Cdr, O.M.M. C.D., - 72, of Halifax, passed away March 6, 2012 at home. Born in Hantsport, NS in 1939, he was the son of Erma Blanche (Walsh) and the late Austin E. Simpson. Upon his high school graduation John was enrolled into the Navy as an officer cadet in the Venture Officer's Training Plan in Esquimalt, BC. Of the 95 cadets enrolled in 1957, only 32 graduated. He was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant in 1959 and proceeded to HMCS STADACONA for the Lieutenant's Qualifying Course. In 1961 he was posted to HMCS CRESCENT where he gained his Watch-Keeping certificate. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1963 and attended the Fifth Long Ops Course where he finished first and received the Westinghouse Award. In 1967 the Simpsons headed west where John took his appointment of Ops. O of the HMCS ST CROIX and after six years on the west coast, they proceeded to Toronto to attend the Staff College. His seagoing career saw him serve 21 ships. The first of these was the HMCS ONTARIO, Canada's last carrier, and he commanded his last three ships, HMCS COWICHAN, THUNDER AND ASSINIBOINE. John's seagoing career ended in Halifax when he became a diabetic. In 1980, John was invested as an Officer of Military Merit and the next year he was promoted to Commander and posted to the Royal Navy's Staff College in London, England as a member of the directing staff. He returned to Halifax MARITIME COMMAND Headquarters as SSO MPERS and then was appointed as Area Commander of the Atlantic Recruiting Zone. In 1995 he retired as DCOS Doctrine and Plans in Halifax. On September 30th 2011 John and Nancy celebrated their 50th Anniversary with friends and family.
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1939 - 2012 (73 years)
