Obituary of Ron Bagnell

It is with deep sadness that the family of Ronald Eric Bagnell shares with you the news of his passing on Thursday, August 28th, 2025, in the palliative care unit of Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital.

Ron was born on December 27,1949, in Saint John, New Brunswick, to the late Lennox and Eleanor (Moore) Bagnell. He was proud to say he was raised as a “West Sider” from that city. He eventually moved up river to Fredericton, where he engaged in a career in social work with the Department of Justice, a vocation that suited Ron’s desire to reach out to others and help where needed. You could always count on Ron to jump in and find a way to make things happen. After that first career, Ron switched over to Service New Brunswick, where he dealt with geomatics and business, helping to develop programs in this area.

Ron was a volunteer throughout his life. He was always willing to jump on board whenever anyone needed help with anything. He was formerly an active member of St. Paul's United Church, and later became an active member of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Fredericton. He volunteered extensively for the New Brunswick Highland Games, and in his younger years, he coached softball and worked with the Boy Scouts of Canada. He was the ‘go boy’ for Lintuhtine Music Academy of Oromocto, lugging sound equipment from venue to venue, making rental agreements, making sure concerts were properly heard, and the list goes on. More than this, Ron was the enthusiasm behind each event the choir held, from concerts to cabarets to road shows. Ron also spent many years organizing and providing sound for the weekly Oromocto Summer Concert Series. In addition, he recorded many singers, giving them an opportunity to create their own CD.

Being a lover of animals, Ron volunteered with CARMA cat rescue, brought needed supplies to the SPCA, and it should be noted that most of the pets in the McKinnon-Bagnell home were rescue animals placed under their care.

Ron’s interests were many. He loved music and played several instruments; mandolin, ukulele (4 and 8 string), handbells, 3-string strum stick, and guitar (6 and 12 string). His singing voice was wonderful to hear, and he took it with him, along with a guitar, to many jam sessions over the years. He enjoyed contributing to the music but also to the discussions about music and life. He was a singer-songwriter who composed many songs over the years. His warm melodic voice was especially well suited to ballads, which he loved to share. Ron was a supporter of art and could share, with artists, what he appreciated about their work, always providing positive comments about anything he viewed. He had an interest in model trains and was able to help build a train diorama in the basement, having lots of fun creating landscapes and collecting miniature cows, people and trains to set in place. He found aircraft to be intriguing and spent many hours at his computer in simulated flight programs. And, yes, he had skills with computers and with technological machines in general, such as sound recording devices. Ron had a keen curiosity about many aspects of both history and nature. He wanted to learn as much as he could about tall ships, wars, genocide, injustices, destruction of the environment, etc.

Not all his interests were indoors. Ron liked spending a day on the golf course with his friends, and enjoyed driving around the countryside while Helen took many, many photos. He was always keen on visiting the ocean at New River Beach or taking a day to just enjoy nature. In later years, he became an avid gardener.

Ron had a very quick sense of wit, and his sense of humour would brighten any conversation with him. He saw the lighter side of things and found puns to be extremely ‘punny’. But he also was a good listener who could give support in the darker times, was genuinely kind, and wanted to help wherever he could.

He is survived by his wife, Helen Mórag McKinnon-Bagnell; brother, Bruce (Sherry); son, Stephen Holmes; grandson, Simon; daughter, Shannon Williams; stepdaughter, Erinn McKinnon-Beal; stepson, Angelo Speranza; step-grandchildren, Alexa, Meg, Rocco, and Riley; brother and sister-in-law, David and Catherine Homer; brother-in-law, James Leland; cousin-in-law, Ellen (late Eric Bagnell), and several step-nieces, nephews, cousins, and cousins-in-law.

Ron wanted to express his gratitude to all those who assisted him and his family with such kindness and care during his lengthy illness, especially Dr. Gordon McDonald and team, Dr. Stéphane Paulin and team, Dr. Bea Sainz, Rev. Darryl Levy and Rose Carolyn Smith, Hospice staff, Palliative Care Unit staff, Extra Mural staff, Integrity staff, family members, neighbours, church members and special friends, and the Lintuhtine Singers.

The world is darker without Ron in it. We already miss his enthusiasm, his curiosity to learn, his wit, and his willingness to do all the things he would undertake.

Visitation will be held on Friday, September 12^th, 2025, in the St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Sanctuary, 512 Charlotte Street, Fredericton, from 6-7:30 p.m. This will be followed by a music jam/informal concert in the church hall, from 7:45-9:30 p.m. A Celebration of Life service will take place on Saturday, September 13^th, 2025, at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, beginning at 2 p.m., with Rev. Darryl Levy, Rev. Michelle Armstrong, and Rev. Douglas Blaikie as co-officiants. A Zoom link is provided for those unable to attend the Celebration of Life,  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83443594611?pwd=CVgp30a985rmLE9yGBDeHGtIUNPmhO.1, Meeting ID: 834 4359 4611 Passcode: 733459. Following the service, there will be a reception held in the church hall.

For those who wish to make memorial donations, it is Ron’s preference that they be directed to either the Chalmers Foundation (Palliative Care Unit), Hospice Fredericton, the Oromocto SPCA, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Explore Gaelic (bursary fund), or the Lintuhtine Music Academy of Oromocto.