Kempton, Stanley Brian – passed away on October 6, 2023. Brian was born in Yarmouth County to Stanley and Kay (Harlow) Kempton. He was the youngest of four siblings, all predeceased; Kendall (Verda), Jordan (Shirley) and Kaye (Gary Weese.)
He had a fun and rambunctious youth. He was nick-named “Turk” by his rugby team, played badminton, obtained his sea plane private pilot licence in 1951, rode and tinkered with his motorcycle and spent hours dutifully polishing his dad’s police uniform boots. He carried on with that kind of detailed maintenance and repair of his homes and gardens the rest of his life. Brian married home-town beauty and smart-as a-whip Sally Pinkney when they were twenty-one and twenty-two. He worked at the bank and they moved several times throughout NS as Dad’s career progressed. They transferred to St. John’s, NF where they had son and daughter, Steven and Tami (Maurizio Braggio). His fond memories of good friends and fishing and camping there never faded. In 1968, Brian moved his family to Pointe Claire in Montreal where he succeeded as International Sales Manager for NCR. He was a great dad, encouraging his children in sports, and school and providing for a beautiful home environment. He also looked mighty fine in his 70’s era sear sucker suit, tie and polished shoes. Sally and Brian helped with coaching and managing sports teams, attended school and church meetings, and shared a wonderful community life with neighbours on Alston Street. He was skip of his curling team before he ruined his knee jumping over a fence while playing hide and seek with us kids. Brian moved his family back to NS in 1979 where he and Sally became award winning real estate agents until Sally’s death in 2012. Their attention to detail, super-human work ethic and sincere empathy for their clients was their key to success. Both he and Sally loved Nature and all its creatures and created heavenly gardens at home for birds, butterflies, deer, bears and other critters. They helped with a stray cat issue by paying to spay and neuter, foster and adopt out hundreds of kittens and cats over their last decade in Lakelands, Hants Co. Rescued Rag doll cat, Oliver, was Brian’s constant companion for twenty years. Brian was a superb cook and his French onion soup and homemade rappie pie was a reason never to miss dinner. A good feed of clams and lobster always made his eyes sparkle. His last years were rife with medical issues but he marched on, seemingly indestructible at times, out of love for his children, and especially his granddaughters whom he adored, Stephanie and Marine Robertson Kempton. Brian was an avid fan of the Montreal Expos, Montreal Canadiens, Maritime curling teams, European soccer (Man U) and was an animated and vocal armchair athlete! He had great stories to tell and loved a good laugh, often at his own expense. Brian went to sleep peacefully Friday morning after battling progressive cancer and heart disease. He will be deeply missed by his children, grandchildren, son-in-law, and remaining family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. There will not be a service, but donations to an animal shelter of your choice or to Bide Awhile shelter in Halifax. in his name would be most appreciated.
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