Obituary of David John Turner
MAJOR DAVID JOHN TURNER
February 10, 1941 ~ May 31, 2024
David Turner died peacefully while in palliative care at the Charlotte County Hospital in St. Stephen, after more than twenty years living valiantly with Parkinson’s. He was born in Croydon UK to parents George John Turner of Leicester Sussex and Hilda Burgess of Kent UK. David joined the Royal Marines as a bugle boy at the age of 15; he was a fitness trainer and served in active duty in Borneo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Malta and Northern Ireland. In 1976 he immigrated to Canada and took a position as Cadet Commander at Bishop’s College School in Sherbrooke QC where he served also as Athletic Director, Houseparent, and retired in 2005 as Deputy Headmaster. He is the recipient of several accolades, metals and awards, notably among them the Queen’s Jubilee Award in 2002. In 2019 David and his wife, the Reverend Carole Martignacco, moved from North Hatley to the coastal town of St. Andrews in New Brunswick.
David is survived by his loving wife Carole, sons Clifford (Suzanna), Darren, daughter-in-law Shelley Hughes; previous wife Patricia; stepchildren Michael and Diana Henderson, and predeceased by their mother Illoma Carr. David is mourned also by stepdaughters Maria, Anna, Lisa and Juliana Martignacco; his brother Malcolm Horsley (Angela) and sister Wendy Shaw-Kew (Richard; grandchildren John, Aliya, Hailey, Colton, Asher, Olivia, Aria, and Damian. Major Turner is fondly remembered by numerous past students and colleagues from his nearly 30 years at BCS, as well as many friends in the Quebec Eastern Townships and in St. Andrews NB.
A memorial will be held here in St. Andrews on Saturday, August 25 at 2:30 pm. A second service will be held September 28 at Bishop’s College School in Sherbrooke QC. The family appreciates the medical team at Charlotte County Hospital for their excellent care in his last days, and all the kind wishes of family, friends and this supportive maritime community.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to the David Turner Scholarship at Bishop’s College School to honour and continue Major Turner’s legacy of steadfast and selfless leadership. www.bishopscollegeschool.com
