Obituary of John Douglas Townsend

It is with great sadness that the family of John Douglas Townsend announce his death at the Moncton Hospital on Monday, February 28, 2022, at the age of 70. Born in Fredericton, NB, on February 21, 1952, he was the beloved husband of JoAnne (MacNaughton) Townsend. In addition to JoAnne, John is survived by his son, Jack Townsend (Drew Fournier) of Dartmouth, NS; sister, Alyson Townsend (Steve Ward) of Rothesay, NB; brother, David Townsend (Marlyn) of Calgary, AB; niece, Alanna Ward (Kevin Dunphy) and great-niece, Lydia Dunphy, of Kingston, ON; nephew, Sam Ward of Halifax, NS; and close family friends, Trisha Perry and Matthew Tweedie. John was predeceased by his parents, William and Shirley (Staples) Townsend. A Queen’s Counsel, John had a distinguished legal career which spanned more than 40 years. Respected as both a litigator and an advisor, one of John’s greatest joys was mentoring young lawyers and students. He taught Business Law at the University of New Brunswick and led the advocacy section of the Law Society’s Bar Admission Course. He gave back to his profession by serving on the Law Society’s Conflicts Committee and Insurance Management Committee. In 2016, he received the most prestigious award conferred by the Law Society, the Franklin O. Leger, Q.C. Award, given in recognition of outstanding meritorious service, dedication or contribution in accordance with the highest ideals of the legal profession. In addition to receiving his law degree from the University of New Brunswick, John was a proud graduate of St. Thomas University. He played hockey for the Tommies and (in later years) served on the University’s Board of Governors and as Secretary of the Friends of STU Hockey Inc. Golf was another of John’s passions. In addition to playing the sport for many years, he trained as a Rules Official, and served as a Board Member and (ultimately) as President of the New Brunswick Golf Association. John also loved to mentor and support young golfers in our province. John also gave back to his community by serving on the Board of Pine Grove Nursing Home, the Board of Downtown Development Fredericton Inc., and as Interim Chair and Director of Fredericton Economic Development Inc. John inherited a love of music from his father. He loved good friends, good conversation, good food, and good wine. Most importantly, John was a devoted husband, a caring father, a loyal brother, a loving son, and a true friend to so many. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date with details to be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s memory can be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.