WHITE, Russell Blair — of Kennetcook, Nova Scotia, passed peacefully after a very brief illness on October 10, 2025, in his 97th year. Born August 21, 1929, he was the son of the late Frank E. and Lillian V. (Anthony) White.

Russell lived a life that came full circle. From his small village beginnings, he saw most of Canada, much of North America, the Caribbean, and South America. In his mid-90s, he returned home to Kennetcook, still amazed by it all.

He began his four-decade Scotiabank career at age 18, working in Kennetcook and across mainland Nova Scotia before joining the bank’s travelling inspection staff. That role took him coast to coast, from Prince Rupert, BC, to Churchill, MB. It was during one of his return visits to Kennetcook that he met his match, “Julie,” from the then-unfamiliar island of Cape Breton.

Next came postings in Toronto, Fredericton, and Saint John. When a call came for “Kingston,” Russ thought back to Ontario. But the bank meant Jamaica. From there, he began his Caribbean chapter, working in Jamaica, Curaçao, Aruba, and St. Maarten with Scotiabank and its affiliates Maduro & Curiel’s Bank, Caribbean Mercantile Bank, and Windward Islands Bank. Finally retiring, he stayed “island,” settling with Julie in Marble Mountain, Cape Breton, where he was an active community member.

Russ loved exploring. Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nashville, and Memphis were favourites. He also made time to visit and learn from places facing hardship, such as Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Colonia Tovar, Venezuela. He often appreciated that the same boy from Kennetcook had been to Saba, more than once.

Numbers, family and colleagues, keeping the faith, and good storytelling always counted to Russ. However, his quiet pride came from lifelong volunteer work, especially with the North Mountain Cultural and Recreation Association, their team’s restoration of a stretch of Bras d’Or Lake beach and being named a CTV News “Maritimer of the Week” in 2013.

Russ is predeceased by his wife, Juliet Lawley (Carson); seven brothers, Cyril “Cidge,” Basil “Base,” Kenneth “Ding,” Frank “Boo,” Elmer “Em,” Glen “Leo,” and Melvin “Meb”; and his only sister, Viola Singer, widely known as “Sis,” as well as several much-missed nephews and nieces, in-laws, and extended family members.

He is survived by his daughter, Anne “EA” White (Mike Harry), Toronto; his dear brother, Curtis “Curt” (Roma) White, Moose Brook, NS; beloved niece, Rosalyn Grant, Kennetcook; and many valued sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and “young relations” near and far. In recent years, he relished being “adopted” by the Singer siblings and the Thompson-Grant family (Greg, Michelle, Lawson, Zoey).

Russ also particularly prized four long-time connections: nephew John “Johnny Nic” Carson (Claudia), Kanata, ON; client-turned-friend Rudolf “Rudy” Ratzenbock and the Chalet Suisse family, Aruba; neighbour George Chant (Carolyn), Marble Mountain; and son-in-law Mike, his personal IT and roofing department.

Thank you to his nieces Lori Vroegh and Shelley White, great-niece Andrea Smith, neighbour Tammy Ettinger, and Rev. Mike Poworoznyk for their in-person and digital check-ins during his final week, as well as to the dedicated nurses and staff of the Colchester East Hants Health Centre, Unit 3-D and Palliative Care, including Dr. Nas and Dr. Smith.

Russ believed, “Every place is what you make it.” In lieu of flowers, he’d encourage prompt donations to a local hub in your community, and, above all, that each of us also pitch in, hands-on, to help another.

Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 8, 2025, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kennetcook Fire Hall, 32 Martin Walsh Road — prayers and eulogy between 2:15 and 2:45 p.m., followed by a reception. Wearing plaid or check shirts is warmly welcomed. Interment at Lime Hill Cemetery, Cape Breton, will take place later.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the compassionate care of the JW Allen Funeral Home, Hwy 354, Kennetcook (Phone 902-362-2440 or please visit our website at allenfh.ca if you wish to sign the guest book and/or send private condolences.