John Lawrence MacAdam

The family of John Lawrence MacAdam, 84, are sad to announce his passing after a long battle with dementia.John was born at home in Portage, Cape Breton, on September 5, 1941, to John James (Jimmy) MacAdam and Margaret (Peggy) MacPherson. He died on September 3, 2026, at the Halifax Infirmary, just two days shy of his 85th birthday. John was lucky enough to spend 59 years married to his wife, Mary Joan (MacDonald). Together, they raised their son Glenn (Lisa) and daughter Taunia (Michael). John was fortunate to become a grandfather to James (Sara), Keegan, Scotland, and Nataya (Tim), and a great-grandfather to Eloise, Marigold, and Wesley. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren lovingly knew him as Sharky, a name he was proud to carry. He is also survived by his dear siblings Patricia, Joan, Michael, Carol, and Gerard, and his cherished sister-in-law Carmel (Bob), along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was predeceased by his parents and siblings Mae, Barbara, William, and Joseph. John spent part of his working life in the Canadian Armed Forces, and after retiring from the military, he spent the remainder of his career in the transportation industry. He took great pride in his work. He never took a sick day and was always early for his shift. In fact, he believed strongly that “If you weren’t there an hour early, you were late.” His years in transportation gave him plenty of stories. He liked to say that he “had more miles driving backwards than you’d ever have going forwards.” He enjoyed making people laugh and was always ready with a joke or one of his life philosophies, infamously labelled Sharkyisms or Sharky jokes. But the truth was, John was a private person, who took life pretty seriously, and who lived his life with a quiet sense of duty, responsibility, and service. He lived his life working hard, being responsible, doing what needed to be done, and taking care of the people who depended on him. He didn’t ask for much and preferred the simpler things in life. He wasn’t someone who spent money on fancy things or put his own wants first. There were times when he probably didn’t allow himself to enjoy things as much as he could have. He sometimes had a hard time believing that he deserved nice things. Maybe that was simply the way he was raised. Maybe it was his generation. Or maybe it was simply John. He measured a good life differently. To him, it was about having a good family, doing an honest day’s work, keeping his word, and being someone people could count on. Looking back, his family hopes he knew how proud we were of him and the life they built together. John was a lifelong learner. He took all kinds of courses over the years because he was curious and enjoyed learning new things. He played the guitar and had a beautiful singing voice. He also liked to cook. His family will remember “Sharky’s soup” and, most of all, his donuts. We will always remember his homemade donuts. John loved the cottage and particularly enjoyed working alongside his son-in-law, Mike, maintaining it and opening and closing it each year. Going out for a meal and, of course, having dessert was a favourite pastime. He was an avid fan of the Toronto Blue Jays and Maple Leafs and loved his Tim’s coffee. In his younger years, an Oland Export was often his drink of choice. In later years, he developed a taste for a good red beer. John also had a soft spot for children and animals. They seemed to instinctively know that he was a good guy, even when he didn’t say much. Perhaps they could sense what was underneath all that seriousness. John was never much for grand gestures. That simply wasn’t his style. Instead, he showed his love by showing up. He was the guy who arrived early to pick you up. The guy who reminded you to “be careful” and “drive safe.” The guy you could call when you needed something and know that he would be there. That was how John loved people—by being there, being dependable, and making sure the people he cared about were okay. And then there was Mary. John loved his wife more than he probably ever found the right words to say. Together for 63 years, they built a life together. They had adventures, travelled, laughed, ate out, went on drives, and made a home together. John supported Mary in whatever she wanted to do—sometimes after a little grumbling, but he supported her nonetheless. Their love wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t about grand gestures or big declarations. It was getting up every morning and choosing each other again. It was knowing that someone was beside you through the good days and the hard ones. Mary was John’s partner, his best friend, and his home. In his final days, when he didn’t have much left to give, John called out Mary’s name. Perhaps that says everything that needs to be said about how much she meant to him. John’s family hopes he will be remembered not for what he didn’t have or what he didn’t give himself permission to enjoy, but for what he did give them. His time. His work. His humour. His stories. His music. His no first than his yes. His “Sharkyisms.” And, most of all, his presence. We loved him and knew he loved us all dearly. John hoped his family would carry the lessons he tried to teach them: work hard, keep your word, be responsible, show up for the people you love, and always tell the people you care about to “drive safe.” But perhaps one of the greatest lessons his life leaves behind is one he didn’t always manage to follow himself: Enjoy the good things. Don’t wait for the perfect time. Take the trip. Order the dessert. Sit a little longer at the cottage. Have the beer. Laugh at the joke. Let people do something nice for you. And never believe that you don’t deserve the good things in life. His family will carry those lessons with them, forever grateful for the life they shared, the love he gave in his own way, and the memories they made together. Drive safe, Dad, and don’t worry, we’ll be there early. Cremation and burial have taken place. A Celebration of Life will take place at a future date, with details to be announced. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia in John’s memory. John’s family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Rachel Harvey, the nurses, and the CTA staff of Halifax Infirmary 4.1 for the care they provided to John during his final months.

John Lawrence MacAdam

September 5, 1951 - September 3, 2026