Nimmo, David Stewart Major (Retired), - Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, loving husband of Beverly Marian Nimmo (nee Ewer), passed away on January 7, 2023 at Dartmouth General Hospital. Born in the Airthrey Castle Nursing Home in Bridge of Allan, Scotland on July 11, 1940, David was the second son of the late Rev. David Mackay Nimmo of Paisley, Scotland and the first born of the late Mary MacLean Stewart of Rothesay, Isle of Bute, Scotland.
David attended Torrance Primary School, Kirkcaldy West Primary School and Kirkcaldy High School in Scotland before immigrating with his family to Canada and completing his secondary school education in Port Hood High School in Cape Breton and Kapuskasing High School in Northern Ontario. David then attended Ryerson Institute of Technology in Toronto and studied electronics, and later completed a Commerce degree at Saint Mary's University in Halifax while serving at Canadian Forces Base Halifax.
David served 28 years in the RCAF and Canadian Forces as a Radio Officer and a Long Range Navigator, serving on 404, 405 and 449 (Argus) Squadrons at RCAF Station Greenwood, NS and 443 and 406 (Sea King) Squadrons at CFB Shearwater. While serving on HMCS Huron with 443 Sqn, he and his crew were commended by the Chief of Defence Staff and by Sikorsky Aircraft for using their Sea King helicopter to rescue five British sailors who had abandoned their sinking cargo ship during a very bad storm in the North Sea.
He also served as an air tactics instructor with the Navy's Fleet School, and as the editor of Canada's Maritime Warfare Tactics Manuals with the CF Maritime Warfare School. In his final tour he served as the Commanding Officer of Maritime Command's Management Consulting Unit.
Upon release, David started a successful engraving business. He was an active radio amateur (VE1NN), instructing electronics and served on the executive of both the Greenwood and Halifax Amateur Radio Clubs. He served briefly as the Maritime Director for Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC), and acted as an accredited examiner on behalf of Industry Canada, conducting amateur examinations for prospective amateur radio operators.
Active in the piping community, David coordinated piping and drumming competitive events at the Halifax Highland Games for several years, and served in various positions with 33rd (Halifax) Pipes & Drums (P&D), NS Tattoo (Black Watch) P&D, "H" Div RCMP P&D, and Clan Farquarson P&D of Bedford.
David is survived by his wife Beverly, his son David Nimmo (former daughter-in-law Lisa) - Dartmouth, his daughter Tanya LaPierre (Blair) - Chezzacook, his daughter Angela Nimmo (Shawn) - Halifax, and his step-children Richard, Chris, Sarah and Patrick Boyce. He was a proud grandfather of Cody Nimmo, Breagha LaPierre, MacKenzie Nimmo and Jacob Nimmo. He is also survived by his brother William Stewart Nimmo - Maitland, ON. David was predeceased by his brother Dr. Andrew Peebles Nimmo, Edmonton, AB
Many thanks to the nurses of the Dartmouth General Hospital and Dr. vanTol. Donations in David's memory, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia.
I first encountered Dave when he was serving at (then) HT-406 Sqn as a flight trainer instructor and I was a student Tactical Coordinator. It was a time of significant change as we former 'stiff wing' Argus Radio Officers arrived in a Sea King community that was still learning how to operate from small ships without benefit of the original HMCS Bonaventure maintenance concept. Our friendship was centred more on our common Amateur Radio experience and I can add to the list of accolades Dave's leadership assembling a crew of "hams" to move city emergency management radio antennas from a collapsed municipal tower in Dartmouth to an adjacent Amateur towers while Hurricane Juan was still in progress. It was my pleasure to have known and served with Dave. He was a consummate professional in all he did, especially in his roles as father and grandfather. See you later Dave.