Obituary of John Howard Oxley

John Howard Oxley September 30th, 1945 - December 19th, 2019 John Howard was born in Halifax where he spent his formative years, attending Tower Road School, Queen Elizabeth High School and Dalhousie University where he was part of the R.O.T.C. (Navy) programme. After graduating from Dalhousie with a B.A. in Philosophy, John Howard taught at Tuskegee University in Alabama, where he had many interesting adventures. While there he bought a vintage Rolls-Royce and had many wild conversations with the Alabama highway patrol troopers who stopped the Rolls-Royce just to question this bearded driver who was wearing a black zip-up racing suit, driving gloves and smoking a meerschaum pipe. John Howard came back to Halifax and began working at Dalhousie University in the MacDonald Library (now the Killam Library), got married, and acquired his Masters of Library Science. He worked as Assistant to the Vice President, Lois Vagianos, and then in the Registrar's Office. After graduating with a Master of Information Technology Education degree he travelled to Atlanta, Georgia, where he taught computer technology at the American Intercontinental University. When asked if he could time travel back in history, where would he go, he answered: to a tea room in London, England, to talk with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle about his Sherlock Holmes stories ; and to the Battle of Midway on a battle cruiser (one that wasn't hit and sunk). John Howard was active in the Sherlock Holmes Society and the Chebucto Community Net. His interests included military history, war board games, BMW automobiles, science fiction, computers, dark chocolates, brandy and cigars, not necessarily in that order. John was prone to misadventures, and got into jams often involving, but not limited to, keys and wallets. Fortunately he had a circle of friends who were always there to extract him from his dilemmas. Unfortunately, this latest jam was not one that we could solve, although we tried our best. John Howard died after a yearlong battle with cancer. He faced his ordeal with courage and stoicism (the endurance of pain or hardship without the display of feelings and without complaint). Predeceased by father, Howard Campbell Oxley and mother, Edith Marie (Zwicker), step-mother Charlotte; son Howard and sister Anne. Survived by brother Robert Oxley, St. John's, Newfoundland. He greatly appreciated the support of friends and family during the past year, and was comforted by the warmth and special care of the Palliative Care Unit staff of 7A of the VG. Cremation has taken place, no service by request. Donations in John's memory to the Chebucto Community Net, Room 006, Chase Building, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2. To share condolences and stories: T.J Tracey Funeral Home, Tribute Wall at: www.tjtracey.com. "Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome." Isaac Asimov