It is with great sadness that we announce the death of John Gerard King Webb on September 14, 2023.
Born in Antigonish, John was a gifted student who was awarded the Bishop's Medal and Trophy for academic and athletic excellence in his senior year at Antigonish High School. He graduated from St. F.X. University with BSc and MSc degrees in Chemistry, and, as a recipient of a National Research Council scholarship, earned a PhD in Chemistry from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.
He conducted postdoctoral research and taught at Dalhousie University before accepting a position with Health Canada in Ottawa where he participated in the approval process for new prescription drugs and in drug research projects. John often represented Health Canada as a speaker at international scientific conferences in North America and Europe. He spent six months in Canberra working with Australian health authorities to harmonize drug submission requirements in the two countries. John finished his career by establishing a consulting company in the pharmaceutical sector and practising, first, out of Ottawa and then from his home in McArras Brook, Nova Scotia.
While living in Ottawa, John became an avid cross-country skier and, after learning the skating technique, participated in several 25km Keskinad races in Gatineau Park. As a young man, he enjoyed flyfishing for trout and salmon. In later life, he and his brother, Don, fished the autumn run of salmon in the Margaree River for many years. More recently, he had fun surf fishing for striped bass from beaches along the Northumberland Strait.
John was also a talented nature photographer, who captured and printed many beautiful landscape and wildlife images. One of his hummingbird images received an award from the Canadian Geographic Society.
John read a lot, mostly non-fiction - the sciences, spiritual growth, and exploration & adventure. He believed learning should be a life-long pursuit in all areas of interest.
John is survived by his brother Francis Webb, Antigonish; his sister Maureen Fleiger (Webb), Edmonton; nieces, Michele Fleiger (Paul), Edmonton; Jacqueline Geremia, Calgary; nephew, Shane Fleiger (Alma), Calgary; great nephews, Andrew and Liam Brown; great nieces Kathleen and Morgan Geremia; and numerous cousins and close friends throughout the Maritimes and across Canada.
Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at 10:00am in St. Ninian's Cathedral in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, with Reverend Danny MacLennan presiding. Burial in the parish cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of C.L. Curry Funeral Home, Antigonish. Online condolences: www.clcurry.com