Obituary of John Garth Mallett
MALLETT, John GARTH – 86, Dartmouth, passed away peacefully in Dartmouth General Hospital November 5, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on November 24, 1937, he was the son of Elmer and Marion (Holmes) Mallett. He is survived by his loving wife Nell (MacBeth), son Steven (Gail), daughter Cheryl Mallett-Skelton (John), grandchildren Julia, Jack, Alex, Jessica, Rebecca, Nadia and Vanya, great grandchild Remi; and brother Deryck (Ann) and sister Joan Clark, sisters-in-law Pearl Howell (Rev. David), Barb MacBeth and many nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by brother Ralph and his wife Georgie, brothers-in-law Jack Clark, Rev. Gordon MacBeth, and Colin MacBeth and his wife Melda.
His engineering career led him to start his own consulting engineering firm, Mallett and Associates Engineering Limited specializing in buildings, bridges and marine structures, which he ran until his retirement in 1995. He was active in volunteer activities with Engineers Nova Scotia, Scouts Canada, Senobe Aquatic Club, Dartmouth Yacht Club, Dartmouth Curling Club and Woodlawn United Church. Sailing was his enthusiastic obsession and he introduced many to the sport of sailing and cruising along the Nova Scotia coast.
A Celebration of Life Service will take place at Woodlawn United Church, 54 Woodlawn Road, Dartmouth, on Saturday, November 16th at 11:00 AM. Reception to follow in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Garth’s memory to Woodlawn United Church or charity of your choice.
HIS STORY
Born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on November 24, 1937, he was the son of Elmer and Marion (Holmes) Mallett. He attended West Kent School and Prince of Wales College. After completing a drafting course at Vocational School in Charlottetown and a year of drafting at the Halifax dockyard, Garth decided to return to university and obtained a Civil Engineering Degree in 1964 from the Technical University of Nova Scotia.
Having married his wife Nellie (Nell) in 1961, who obtained her PHT degree (Put Hubby Through) at Tech, they and their son Steven moved to Ottawa where Garth started employment with Public Works Canada in bridge design. Four years later Garth took a transfer back to Halifax with Public Works Canada in marine engineering, with the addition of their daughter Cheryl.
In 1970 Garth joined Whitman Benn and Associates Consulting Engineers. In 1980 Garth and a co-worker started their own consulting engineering firm, Mallett and Associates Engineering Limited specializing in buildings, bridges and marine structures, which he ran until his retirement in 1995. He had long since reached his long-term goal of having his own firm of a dozen employees. His fifteen-year-old daughter Cheryl was the firm’s first secretary before starting university and son Steven was also employed as an engineer.
Garth had the enjoyment of family with his wife Nell (MacBeth) Mallett, son Steven (Gail), daughter Cheryl Mallett-Skelton (John), grandchildren Julia, Jack, Alex, Jessica, Rebecca, Nadia and Vanya, great grandchild Remi. And brothers Ralph (Georgie), Deryck (Ann) and sister Joan Clark (Jack), sister-in-law Pearl Howell (Rev. David), brothers-in-law Rev. Gordon MacBeth (Barb), and Colin MacBeth (Melda). And many nieces and nephews.
Garth enjoyed carpentry work from a young age and along with his brother Ralph took pride in having built six boats by the time he was eighteen. He developed type 1 diabetes when he was sixteen, but never let it prevent him from participating in any activities or from reaching his goals.
He spent ten years as a scout leader and led a patrol from 1st Woodlawn Troop to the Canadian Jamboree in 1977. Until recently Garth enjoyed having lunch once a month with a group named SIRS (scouters in retirement). He was a member of Woodlawn United Church from 1968, where he served on the Board of Stewards and Session for ten years.
He was a life member of Engineers Nova Scotia, member of Nova Scotia Consulting Engineers, Canadian Consulting Engineers, Fellow of Canadian Civil Engineers. He was a life member of Senobe Aquatic Club, a life member of the Dartmouth Yacht Club, and in retirement a member of the Dartmouth Curling Club. He served on various committees in each of these organizations.
Garth loved sailing and introduced many to the sport of sailing. He had three sailboats over his 35 years of sailing and 25 years of racing with his faithful crew on Second Lady out of DYC. He enjoyed cruising with his wife Nell to the south shore of Nova Scotia, Bras d’Or Lake, Shediac, and back to his home waters of PEI. Garth and Nell enjoyed many years of camping and canoeing with their family, their favourite spot being Keji National Park and March breaks in the sunny south.
Our words – He has lived well, laughed often and loved much, gained the respect of those around him, looked for the best in others and gave the best he had. He has made our world a brighter, better place.
