Kenneth H. Mann

MANN, Kenneth Henry

- It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our husband, father, grandfather and friend, in Halifax, on January 24, 2010, at the age of 86. He was born in Dovercourt, England, to the late Henry and Mabel (Ashby) Mann. He was predeceased by brother, Eric (age 3) and is survived by sister, Margaret Needle, England. He is survived by his much loved wife, Isabel (Ness), to whom he was married for 63 years. Survived also by his children, Ian (Lois), Sheila, Colin (Shelley) and grandchildren, Jenna, Rebecca, Graham, Alex and Malcolm. He enjoyed the many visits from his nieces and nephews and their families from the United Kingdom. Ken was born in August, 1923 and spent his childhood and early schooling in Dovercourt, Essex. At the age of 11, he was successful in sitting a scholarship exam gaining entry to the local high school. During his school years, cycling was a major hobby and he covered up to 80 miles a day with friends around the countryside. The Second World War began while Ken was in high school and at the age of 17 was, along with his sister and fellow students, evacuated away from the English coast to an inland village where he finished his high school. Again, his bicycle was his main connection with his parents and grandparents and he would regularly cycle 100 miles in a day for visits. Following high school, Ken started teacher training college at St. Luke's in Exeter, however by the spring of 1942, bombs began raining down on St. Luke's College and the students and staff were transferred to Cheltenham. He was then offered the opportunity to take a six week summer school in electronics at Exeter University and eventually was accepted into the Air Force as an officer. He served in the RAF until the end of the war at which time he returned to St. Luke's, however this time in the company of Isabel, who he met at a radar station during the war, and married in 1946 in Scotland. He earned a B.Sc in 1949, a Ph.D in 1953 from the University of Reading and a D.Sc, awarded by University of London in 1965. In 1967, Ken and Isabel, with their three children, emigrated to Canada, where Ken took up a position at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography. It was a great transition, but the family settled in and the move to Canada became permanent. Ken's scientific career at both BIO and Dalhousie University spanned well over 25 years and he continued to write and publish until quite recently. He was Professor and Chairman of Biology at Dalhousie University from 1972-80 and was Director of the Marine Ecology Laboratory at BIO from 1980-87. Over the years, he was a mentor to post-doctoral students, many of whom remained lifelong friends to both he and Isabel. He published over 170 papers in scientific journals and authored or co-authored a number of books. Ken's significant achievements in the Aquatic Sciences and his role as a model for students were recognized in 1994 with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography. In 2003, he was presented with the Gulf of Maine Visionary Award by the Council on the Marine Environment for his commitment and leadership as an internationally recognized Marine Ecologist. He was awarded, in 2008, an Honorary Degree by Cape Breton University. Throughout his life, he shared with Isabel his love of gardening which had been instilled in him by his father. His passion for nature was enjoyed with Isabel and their children, and with a constant stream of relatives and friends, at their summer cottage on Cox Lake, where they spent time both summer and winter. The cottage was the location for many gatherings with close friends and family. Ken's love of classical music was constant with regular attendance at symphony concerts over many years. He derived great pleasure from his attendance at his grandchildren's school concerts, hockey games, and graduation ceremonies. He was a longstanding active member of the Gurdjieff Society of Atlantic Canada where he has many dear friends. He will be greatly missed by all friends and family. Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 30, in St. David's Presbyterian Church, 1537 Brunswick St, Halifax, with a reception immediately following in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, memorials or contributions may be made to The Arthritis Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia or nature charity of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to J. A. Snow Funeral Home Halifax. To send condolences to the family please visit: www.MeM.com