Obituary of Frank Gerard Pierpoint

Frank Pierpoint, born March 3, 1937 in St. John’s NL, passed away peacefully on July 1, 2021 at the Fredericton Hospice House. The only child of the late Harold and Lillian (nee Spooner) Pierpoint, Frank leaves behind his beloved wife of 60 years, Shirley (nee Goodyear), and daughters Karen and Lynn (Marc-Alain). He will be missed by many dear friends and of course by his beloved little dog, Mini. Frank retired from the RCMP at the rank of Staff Sergeant in 1984 after 28 years of service. He enjoyed every moment of his career with the Identification Services Division and leaves behind many of his close RCMP friends. Following retirement, Frank and Shirley moved back home to St. John’s NL. In 1989, Frank received a phone call that would later become a defining moment in his life. Frank, along with 5 or 6 other retired RCMP members were asked to join UNTAG, a United Nations peacekeeping force being deployed to Namibia to monitor the peace process and elections there. The elections took place in November 1989 peacefully, freely and fairly resulting in Namibia's official independence and the successful conclusion of UNTAG. It’s an event he recalled fondly over the years – telling us that the group dubbed themselves "The Geriatric Club". Frank enjoyed life and had many passions. He was a member of both the Shriners and Masonic Lodges, volunteering often and especially at Christmas time selling trees. He was past president (1990-1992) of one of St. John's most respected clubs, the Crow's Nest Officer's Club. First built as a warehouse after the Great Fire of 1892, the building’s top floor of "The Old Butler Building" on Water St. became a "hideaway" for seagoing naval officers in 1942. Up the infamous 59 steps, Frank’s plaque still hangs there today. Following Frank & Shirley’s final move to Fredericton in 1996, he became a proud member of the Garrison Club. Frank will be greatly missed by his loving family and many friends. A special thank you to Dr. Brian Reid and Dr. Stéphane Paulin for their care during the final days of Frank’s life. And especially to the staff of Hospice House in Fredericton. After a 4 month stay in the hospital, the Hospice staff were a welcoming, caring, patient group of professionals whom we won’t soon forget. We have no words to express our gratitude for how they cared for him and how they accompanied him with love in his journey while in his second home. Thank You! There will be no visitation or service per Frank’s wishes. For those who wish, donations in Frank’s memory can be made to the Fredericton Hospice House or The Shriners Hospital for Children.