Harold Leslie Marks

It is with deep sadness that the family announces the passing of Harold Leslie Marks, of St. Martins, on October 27, 2020 at the Saint John Regional Hospital. Born at home on October 14, 1934 in West Quaco, NB, he was the son of the late Harold and Lily (Hunter) Marks, and loving husband of over 50 years to the late Marlene (Knox) Marks. An artist under the trade name “Haddie,” starting in Mystic, Conn. in the mid 1950s, Harold worked in oils, watercolors and pastels, producing in excess of 1,500 pieces over his lifetime. He was also a carver of wood and a model-maker.

A union carpenter by trade since 1962, Harold built homes, bridges, paper mills, oil refineries, potash plants, and shopping malls, contributing to such signature Saint John spaces as the Harbour Bridge, Market Square, and Saint John Regional Hospital. He was dedicated to no single company and loyal to the workplace at hand. He had military service in the US Army.

Harold enjoyed a good rowboat, a piece of natural ice for skating and enough snow to make a ski track. He was a rifleman sharpshooter from the age of 12, a hiker with a sense of direction but not of distance, a picker of berries and taster of wild apples, a true outdoorsman. A loving husband, father and beloved “Papa” to his grandchildren, he shared his love of nature, art and travel with his offspring, giving them the confidence and skills to pursue their own adventures.

He is survived by his sons Eric Leslie (Heather Craig) and Greg Thomas, both of Saint John; brothers Eugene (Dorothy) of Laval, Quebec and Ted (Sherry) of Squamish, BC; sister Lorraine Redstone (John) of Saint John; grandchildren Samuel and Noemi; best friends Brian and Barb McKiel; several nieces and nephews and many cousins.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased by his brother Robert James.

The family would like to thank Dr. Craig Brown and the Staff of Surgical ICU for the wonderful care given to Harold during his illness.

Arrangements are under the direction of Fundy Funeral Home, 230 Westmorland Road. A private family interment will be held in Mosher Hill Cemetery with a public commemoration of Harold’s life as an artist to follow at a later date. Donations in his memory may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, or the Alzheimer Society.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Harold Leslie Marks, please visit our floral store.