PEARSE, Dr. Harold Edward

Early in the morning of March 28, 2020, Harold Pearse of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia was released from a short and intense battle with cancer. Born in Comox, British Columbia to John and Margaret (Crockett) Pearse in October 1942, Harold’s life journey took him from coast to coast. A graduate of the University of British Columbia, he began his career as an art educator at Richmond High School, before moving to Montreal for graduate school at Sir George Williams University (now Concordia University). From there he moved to Halifax to teach in the Art Education Department of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, where he spent 30 years as an art education professor, department chair and Associate Dean. During this time, he earned his PhD from Dalhousie University and maintained an active studio practice. For the fifteen years he then spent in Edmonton, he taught in the Education, Fine Arts and Extension Faculties and was thrilled that relief from administration responsibilities afforded him more time for his studio practice and to be involved in various arts community projects. Since retiring to Lunenburg on 2015, Harold continued to teach in various capacities, continue his studio work and become involved in the community, most notably as Chair of the Folk Harbour Festival and its acquisition of the Lunenburg Opera House. Most rewarding for him was the chance to find a whole community of friends, fellow artists, readers, and solvers of the world’s problems over Friday lunch. “It didn’t take long to see how fine, how gentle, how public service minded, and how deeply cultivated a person Harold has been. He has clearly led a profoundly sensitive and civilized life”. (Men’s reading group member). Dr Pearse’s legacy to art and art education is felt across the country and internationally through the work of the many art teachers and scholars he has inspired, his scholarly work as a researcher, writer, editor and presenter, but mostly through the joy and commitment he felt when working with students from pre-school through to seniors, new artists to graduate students. His commitment to art making, both his own and that of others, was the core of his being. “Harry was such a vital, creative, generative and steady force in the world. He was wise and kind, and oh so creative and his scholarship, amazing. He will always remain one of my favourite art educators.” Dr Rita Irwin Harold is survived by his wife Virginia Stephen; son Lukas (Melissa Andrew) of Halifax and his ’Grands’ Zella and Lila, of whom he was immensely proud; brothers Ken (Chris) of Victoria and Doug (Kathy) of Comox; his nieces Amanda, Kati, and Kristin, and nephew Daniel and their families. He also leaves his former wife, Linda Hodgins (Dartmouth). And, of course, his four-legged family members and subjects of his daily drawing practice, Sophie and Frannie. Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will be held in Lunenburg at a later date. Donations in Harold’s name may be made to Canadian Society for Education Through Art, The Lunenburg Opera House Fund of the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society, or Elderdog. www.sweenyfuneralhome.ca