John "Gerard" MacNeil, 70 of Washabuck, passed away suddenly at home on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Gerard was born in 1954 to Catherine (MacKenzie) MacNeil and Bernard MacNeil. Gerard is survived by his wife of 39 years, Josephine (Zina), their daughter Chrissy (Jordan Snooks), son Jared (Rhonda Kaassamani) both of Halifax, a niece Caitlin (Dan Simone) and their children Kayden & Rylee, his mother-in-law Rose MacDonald and his close-knit MacDonald family who he loved dearly.

Gerard’s family moved from Sydney to the USA in 1957 having strong Celtic roots from Christmas Island & Little Narrows and settled in Cambridge, MA. Gerard attended Ridge Tech High School in Cambridge, MA and attended Northeastern University for a year but in his own words “hated it” and took a job at Maytag in Lechmere Square then moved on to Cahill’s Appliance in Lexington where he learned his trade as an Appliance Repair Technician. Gerard headed to Ontario for work then Edmonton briefly before making it back to Cambridge.

Gerard spent his summers back in Christmas Island/Little Narrows with his many 1st cousins and where he ended up finding the love of his life Zina when his cousins convinced him to go to a summer dance in Washabuck, we believe there may have been a “bet” involved. The Washabuck Dance is still our anchor community event of the Along the Shores of Washabuck Annual Festival. Gerard and Zina married in Washabuck Church in 1984 and started their family in 1988. In 1993, they packed up the kids and moved back to the USA to Kingston, NH, so the kids could attend school for the Deaf nearby in Portsmouth, NH. Cape Breton kept calling and they returned back to Washabuck in 1995. Home.

Upon returning back to Cape Breton, Gerard continued doing appliance repair but was always technical and loved computers. He began self-teaching and quickly found his true calling working with Victoria County Community Access Program Society (VCCAPS) and the province of Nova Scotia with the development of broadband. He was instrumental in forming the Victoria County Broadband Committee with VCCAPS in partnership with the Municipality of Victoria County. Gerard was also keen on community development and was involved with the creation of the Central Cape Breton Community Portal and working with all Central Cape Breton organizations and businesses to promote the local area he loved. This led him to a position with the Province of Nova Scotia helping fellow Nova Scotians find employment or assist with funding to retrain in new fields of study or assisting in setting up their own small businesses. Gerard loved his job with the Province, and navigated through several department changes over the years before retiring in 2022 with the Department of Labour and Advanced Education.

Gerard was a long-time member of the Washabuck Community Centre which he devoted his spare time. He and the family spent many countless hours behind the scenes planning and organizing the now Annual Along the Shores of Washabuck Summer Festival. He did this out of his love for his amazing community and never sought praise for his efforts. Gerard also had a love for travelling and he and Zina had the opportunity to vacation south annually with so many of his close friends and family over the past 15 years.

Gerard is predeceased by both his parents Cassie & Bernie, his sister Bernadette, her son Kurt Hutchins, father-in-law Ronald MacDonald and brother-in-law Hans Udby. Gerard was a true family man, and this past weekend had commented on the great weekend he had at home on Kettac’s Place with all who he loved dearly.

The family would like to thank the family and community members who were able to drop everything and come to assist Gerard on Wednesday.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Katie Taylor-Young, who means the world to the whole family. Cremation has taken place. Gerard was an organ donor and his tissues have been donated to the Nova Scotia Cadaver Dog Training Program.

A Funeral service will be held to celebrate Gerard’s life on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 11am at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Washabuck. Burial to follow the service at the Holy Rosary Cemetery. Family Flowers Only. Donations in Gerard’s memory can be made to the Holy Rosary Cemetery.