Ian's Instagram post..
"One more personal post, if I may. My family and I are so grateful for all the people who have taken time to reach out about my Dad's sudden passing. I've learned a lot in the last few days. First of all, messages matter. From the simple "thinking of you" to the stories about the connections my Dad made. From thoughtful public posts to the most beautiful private messages . I like being stoic. I haven't been lately. About friends: "Is there anything I can do" means a lot. My parents' friends have been here or given us space as needed. Some will be staying at the house overnight after I leave to help my Mom deal with the awful silence." Ian Hanomansing on Instagram:
Ian Hanomansing | One more personal post, if I may. My family and I are so grateful for all the people who have taken time to reach out about my Dad's sudden... | Instagram
On a personal note: I had bumped into Harvey not so long ago in the local grocery store parking lot and I gave him one of the cards I have given out for over 15 years here in the Maritimes.. we got to chatting as folks do in this friendly small town... and I found Harvey to be a classy, lovely, engaging, sweet, gentle man... You could see where Ian gets his good graces ... Harvey had so much praise for the university and this town and the people here.... and he lived in a grateful heart space.... I know he will truly be missed.. I am so happy I got to meet him after all these years of living in the town of Sackville, N.B. It was also a happy chance that at that point Rima Azar came along and also joined in our conversation and introduced herself joined by Louis, her husband, who I have known for years and chatted with around town on our various encounters.. I'm reminded how important it is to reach out to others and stay connected after all the misery that convid coviets brought to us all ... we must do that simple act of "connecting organically, spontaneously and fearlessly... "
Rest in peace Harvey.. a Blessed life well lived. Condolences to all his beloved family and friends at this time of loss.
Ian writes on his Instagram:
"This is a more personal post than I normally make but my Dad deserves it. He died yesterday. Unexpectedly. I still can't believe it happened. Sometimes greatness is defined by how big someone's impact is. For a beloved teacher in a small town, the measure is how deep. More than thirty years after he retired, I'm reminded of it often. Yesterday, I was in line at the bank in Sackville. When the man behind me learned Dad had passed, he told me about how his wife and her classmates - in Dorchester where he was principal in the early 70's - still speak about how important Harvey was to them. The person behind him in the line overheard our conversation and says he had my Dad for Grade 8 English in Sackville "twice . I repeated the year and I'll always remember how he told me he had confidence in me. He looked out for me." That's two people randomly behind me in line. It happens all the time. He was a devoted parent and husband, grandfather and great-grandfather. I learned more about critical thinking and analysis at the dinner table than at school or work. His family, his students and his community will miss him. So much love and sadness Dad. 💔"
- Ian Hanomansing [born in Trinidad and raised in Sackville New Brunswick, CBC Icon News Reporter, Family Man, Mount Allison Alumni, Tantramar Regional High School "Titan" Alumni.]
I lost my elderly, widowed mother in July 2024 in Calgary Alberta and I am still raw from the finality of never being able to pick up the phone and chat / ask her questions again.... that comforting voice of my Mama Bear is lost... and I'm sure this is something many people say when they lose their elderly parents after many years of having them in their adult lives.. gratitude for the many years that you were given with them gives much comfort and countless great memories.. and I'm glad I got to speak to her on the phone just hours before she passed away in her sleep [an angelic way to pass on] at hospital.. to be able to thank your mother for everything she meant to you and gave to you is a blessing.
Thank you "Bambi" Rima Azar for your blog post and good wishes to you and Louis, as always:
