Alexander Walter Playfair
1946 - 2022
Alexander Walter Playfair
Service Information
Service Location
A Private Family Celebration of Life Service will be held.
Requested Charity
CARMA Antigonish
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Playfair, Alexander Walter 75, of Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia, passed away peacefully on April 27, 2022, surrounded by family and loved ones. Alex will be dearly missed and always remembered. Born in Edmonton, Alberta, to Richard and Lena (Hill) Playfair, the family moved to Calgary in the early 1950s. He grew up, graduated high school, and met his wife and love of his life, Barbara May Cook - a romance that lasted over 54 years.

Alex and Barb had aspirations of moving to beautiful Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia, in 1974. They built what would become the family home, raising their children, Jamie and Steven, in the quiet Maritime Village. Early on, Alex worked numerous jobs, including some time with Sherbrooke Village as a labourer, and with Anderson's Store delivering groceries and other duties. Later he would go on to a career as the Assistant Postmaster, retiring in 1992.

Retirement was a launchpad for adventure for him and Barb. In 2004, the couple bought their first RV, spending summers at Harbourlight Campground in Braeshore, NS; building new lifelong friendships that lasted the entirety of his life.

Always up to discover new activities and destinations, trips included shopping in New Hampshire, trips to PEI, and enjoying shows at the DeCoste. Cuba became an annual destination, travelling south for numerous years with many of their friends.

Alex’s favourite memories included watching the Calgary Stampeders, walking the beach with his sidekick Izzy, and searching for sea glass. His thoughts were always on his family, which overfilled his heart with love.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; sons, Jamie (Tonya), New Glasgow; Steven (Cherie), Petersburg; and sister, Gloria (Schaaf), Edmonton; grandchildren, Caitlin, Jason, Brandon, Nicole, Ryan, and great-grandchild, Taylor; sisters-in-law, Wendy Cook, Kelly Kaiser (Ronald), brothers-in-law, Owen Cook (MaryAnne), Mike Cooke (Inge), and many nieces and nephews.

Alex was predeceased by parents, Richard and Lena (Hill), sister, Georgina (Victor) Syryda; brothers-in-law,  Leo Schaaf and Gordon Cook.


In lieu of flowers, we would like donations contributed to CARMA Cat Rescue Maritimes (please select Antigonish in the donation form) at www.ca-r-ma.org/donate/. A private family celebration of life service will be held. Funeral arrangements are under the dignified and compassionate care of G.W. Giffin Funeral Home Ltd., St. Mary's Chapel, 34 Main Street, Sherbrooke.

Alexander Walter Playfair