Obituary of Roger Cyr

Roger Cyr, 78 of Wilmot NS, only son of Delore Cyr, of Old Town, Maine and Jean MacAleese of New Prospect, Cumberland County NS died at home June 2, 2010. Roger joined the RCAF in 1951 and shortly after completing basic training at Aylmer Ontario, he stayed on to study The Safety Systems Trade that moved there from Camp Borden in April of that year. Roger spent the next four years in the Air Force at RCAF Station Greenwood NS preparing for an Air Force career. Finally by early spring of 1955, he had completed all the necessary training and was ready to contribute to the defense of his country. In March of that year, Roger was selected along with a group of senior pilots and skilled technicians to provide helicopter lift during the construction of the Mid-Canada Radar lines along the 55th parallel. While with Air Transport Command in both Canada and Europe, Roger was involved in every Canadian peace keeping mission. In July 1960, he landed in The Congo with the first contingent of Canadian peacekeepers. Returning to Canada in our Centennial year, after serving with our NATO Forces in Europe, Roger worked on the project to set the Canadian altitude record. Following his retirement from the Canadian Armed Forces in 1975, he along with Glenda Dodge, operated a fabric business in Kingston and the Greenwood Mall. During his second retirement he joined the Corps of Commissionaires working in Halifax and at the Michelin plant in Waterville. Following his third retirement he pursued many interests including hiking, camping, canoeing and motorcycling. Roger was also an accomplished storyteller and published writer of many varied experiences and unforgettable characters. For the past five years he was a driving force in the restoration of a WWII Radar Site in Guysborough County near Queensport /Cole Harbour. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, May (Burke); his daughter Lorna Cyr Rawding (Kim) of Weston NS; his son Tim Cyr of Auburn NS; grandson Barry Rawding and two great grandchildren. His grandson Jeffrey Rawding predeceased him. Cremation has taken place, and a celebration of his life will be held with his family and friends in Parrsboro, NS at a later date. In a career that spanned twenty-five years in the Canadian Armed Forces, Roger served his country on three continents and finally he has come home. A special thanks to the VON and Palliative Care Teams of Annapolis and Kings Counties. Many thanks to friends and family for their visits and phone calls at a very trying and stressful time. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Serenity Funeral Home & Crematorium, 568 Main Street, Wolfville, NS, B4P 1E7. Cards of sympathy may be sent to this address or on-line at www.serenityfuneralhome.ca.