Sydney, NS
August 24, 1937 - November 25, 2024
We, the family, regret to announce the death of Donald James “Don” Crouse on November 25th, 2024 in Celtic Court, Sydney, at age 87.
Born in Sydney on August 24, 1937, Don was the son of James and Katherine (Foote) Crouse.
Don is survived by his children, daughters, Karen (Peter) Crouse, Cape Dauphin and Anne (Amer) Ahmad, Halifax; son, Sandy (Brett) Crouse, Salt Spring Island B.C.; grandchildren, Rachelle Porter, Nicole (Justin) Humphrey and Connor MacDonald of Sydney; great-granddaughter, Madison Lorraine Humphrey; great-grandson, Christopher Donald Humphrey of Sydney; sister, Elizabeth (Don deceased) MacLaren; niece, Kathy MacLaren; and nephew, Donald MacLaren of Truro.
Don was predeceased by his parents and his wife, Joan (MacMillan) Crouse.
Don’s life was an enjoyable mix of teaching, music and hobbies. In his youth, he studied classical piano for ten years, with teachers in Glace Bay, New Glasgow and Sydney.
He was a graduate of Riverview High School (1954) and Acadia University with his Bachelor of Arts in 1957 and his Bachelor of Education in 1958.
After “testing” whether music would be his career, he began his teaching career with one year at Halifax West High School in Halifax, then six years at Moncton High School in Moncton, N.B. until 1966, and nearly 26 years at Sydney Academy, retiring in December 1992.
Upon returning to Cape Breton in 1966, Don discovered that New Brunswick paid its teachers more than Nova Scotia did. As a result, he went back into the “music business.” In Moncton, he had served as a church organist and choir leader but had not played in dance bands.
A friend recommended Don for a gig at the Lingan Golf Course on Wednesday nights, playing for members and guests to increase the revenue of the bar for the club. This gig led to others, including radio shows and dances at Branch 12 Legion’s Lounge on Friday nights. Then Don was hired to play at the Pier Legion on Saturday nights with a band that included Chippy MacDonald, Red Mike MacDonald, Joe Waye Sr. and Ethel Miller. This gig reminded Don of his previous dance band experiences at Acadia and Halifax.
The Lingan Golf Course gig led to his meeting with George Rennie, the best singer he had ever accompanied. George joined Don at the Branch 12 Legion on Friday nights.
In 1967, Don formed his own band, the Don Crouse Trio, which featured Don, George and drummer Stan Smith. The band performed at the East Bay Legion, Big Pond Fire Hall, other legions and curling clubs.
The Don Crouse Trio had a number of “firsts” that increased their popularity. They were hired for a cruise ship to St. Pierre, the reception party for the cast of the movie “The Bay Boy”, and gigs at Keltic Lodge for conventions and political parties. One of the best compliments Don received came from families who praised the quiet music his band provided at parties (where families wanted to talk to each other without hollering). Don always asked Stan to use his drum brushes instead of drum sticks. He used the expression “stir the soup”, which Stan agreed to do. Don never cared for noisy drumming.
The band was hired to perform at the Isle Royale Hotel on occasion. Don would play background music for the cocktail and supper hours and then George and Stan would join him for the dance. He had purchased a Lowrey electric organ, and would play the piano and the organ together, one hand on each, and the pedal bass notes with his feet. The hotel sometimes required him to accompany a singer, and on one of those occasions he accompanied a singer from Nashville, a star on the TV series “Hee Haw”.
Don also provided music and accompanied singers from Las Vegas at political fund-raisers and campaign receptions. These solo events did not include George or Stan.
Another “first” for Don was to play the organ at Centre 200 for the first hockey game played there. The game involved a team from the USSR and Canada’s national team. His ability to remember melodies “saved” the event from being cancelled. He was asked to play the USSR’s National Anthem from memory because a tape of this anthem had been misplaced. He was told that the USSR team would leave the ice if their anthem wasn’t played. Fortunately, Don had listened to the 1972 series of games between Canada and the Russians, which was decided by Paul Henderson’s winning goal. In 1989, Don returned to Centre 200 to take over playing the organ for the Cape Breton Oilers home games when the club needed a replacement after Johnny Aucoin’s heart attack.
Don retired from teaching in 1992, and ended the dance band as well, bringing its 25-year existence to an end. He then resumed his career as a church organist and choir leader. He served in four churches, First United and the United Baptist in Sydney, Westmount United and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Sydney Mines.
His musical career was enhanced by a number of excellent piano and pipe organ teachers. There were three notable lessons learned that stood out. The first lesson given in Glace Bay in 1947 involved accompanying singers – Don was advised to always provide soft, quiet accompaniment, and to let the singer set the tempo. Another occurred in New Glasgow in 1951 when Don realized he could “transpose” (change the key) at sight without writing out the notes. Then the third was his ability to remember melodies. The last two he inherited from Christina Foote, his maternal grandmother. He wished he had met her, but she died in May of 1937 and Don was born in August of 1937.
Then in 1998 the Cape Breton Trio was formed. It included Louise (Honey) Mann, Jackie Stephenson and Don. They performed Broadway show concerts and gospel church services throughout Cape Breton. The Trio was featured on the TV show “On the Road Again” and in 2000 was nominated for an ECMA award in the Gospel category.
His last musical efforts were with the group Don Crouse and Friends performing at churches and nursing homes throughout Cape Breton. Don lived his final months at the Celtic Court, where he and his men had so frequently performed.
Don’s hobbies included fly-fishing and golfing. He particularly enjoyed the fly-fishing at Trout River in Lake Ainslie, River Tillard outside St. Peter’s, Black Brook and Trout Brook in Mira.
He was a member of the Lingan Golf Club for 30 years, highlighted by a hole-in-one in 1974. He often said he would never have played golf if the fishing remained consistent all summer. Some of his finest memories were the four years he owned a trailer at Ainslie Village on Lake Ainslie.
Don loved to travel with his family. He made 17 trips to Florida, most of them during March Break.
In 1977, Don set out from Sydney with his family to travel to Los Angeles by car with many stops including Ohio, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, returning by way of stops in Vancouver, Banff, Ottawa, Quebec City, and Truro. The trip took 35 days. The family of five, Joan, Karen, Anne, Sandy and Don, had a wonderful trip. Don wanted them to see some of North America before they finished school and left Sydney.
Don was very proud of his children and their sincere interest in helping others and actually doing the helping as Good Samaritans.
Don was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Canada and at one time was an Elder and founding member of the first Presbyterian Church in Riverview, New Brunswick.
Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held in the Bethel Presbyterian church on Saturday the 7th of December from 1-3 pm, followed by the service at the church at 3 pm. A reception in the church hall will be held following the service. The burial will be at the Forest Haven Cemetery in the Spring. The service can be viewed live on the Sydney Memorial Chapel Facebook page.
Memorials may be made to Union Presbyterian Church, Albert Bridge or the charity of your choice.
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