Obituary of John Hirtle

John Fernando Hirtle 89, who in his long and busy life was a Boston-trained classical musical soloist with national radio exposure in the United States, a radio announcer in Halifax, a founding owner of CKBW radio in Bridgewater, a mayor of his town, an enthusiastic barbershopper, and a member of dozens of worthy civic and community organizations, died peacefully in Fishermen's Memorial Hospital, Lunenburg, February 20, 2004. John was born in Lunenburg in 1914, and educated in Bridgewater. As a young man he traveled to Boston to study music and voice, and appeared on dozens of local and national radio programs, especially as a vocal soloist at WHDH and WMEX. In 1940, he joined the announcer-operator staff at CHNS in Halifax, but soon enlisted in the army and spent three years in the Infantry Instructional Cadre at Aldershot. In 1947 he returned to Bridgewater as part owner and general manager of CKBW. In the years following, he became variously president of the Atlantic Association of Broadcasters, director of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, director of the Bureau of Broadcast Measurement and director of the Radio Sales Bureau. John was never one to shirk his civic responsibilities. He was a past president of the Kinsmen Club, past president of the Chamber of Commerce, past president of the South Shore Associated Boards of Trade, a director of the Atlantic Provinces Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, and past president of the South Shore Community Concert Association. He was a founding member of the Bridgewater Industrial Development Commission, of which he later became chairman and then executive director. He subsequently accepted a four year appointment to the Atlantic Development Council. John was an elected alderman for ten years and mayor for six of those; it was during his watch as mayor that the town enticed the multinational corporation Michelin to build a major factory in Bridgewater, a factory that is still a significant employer in the town. During his term in municipal government he was Chairman of the Board of the DesBrisay Museum, chairman of the District Planning Commission, the Lunenburg County Historical Society, the Brookside Cemetery Commission, the Town Finance Committee and a member of the Joint Expenditure Board for Lunenburg County. After he retired he remained active for many years as a member of the Baptist Church Choir, the South Shore Chorale and the Lunenburg County Barbershoppers. He was predeceased by his wife, Edythe (MacKeigan), and survived by his children, Sheila in Lunenburg, and Kenneth in Saint John, N.B., and by grandsons, Austin in Toronto, and Jamie in Halifax. Only the family will be present at the interment. There will be a service in celebration of John's long and fruitful life in Bridgewater United Baptist Church on March 6 at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you kindly send donations to a charity of your choice.