Rear Admiral The Honourable Fred J. Mifflin, P.C.
Born: 6 February 1938
Died: 5 October 2013
After a brief illness Fred died peacefully, surrounded by family at Montfort Hospital in Ottawa on October 5, 2013 at age 75. He is survived by his loving wife and best friend Gwenneth, daughters Cathy (Vaun) and Sarah (Willie), son Mark (Lisa) and grandchildren A.J., Riley, Eryn, Kathleen, Heather and Sam. He is also survived by brothers Roy and Don and sisters Liz, Vina, Frances and Cathy. Predeceased by father Cyril, mother Kathleen and brothers Clive and Bob.
Fred left Bonavista, Newfoundland at age 16 to join the Royal Canadian Navy. He graduated from Venture Naval College in 1956 and over a 33-year career he commanded both at sea and ashore. In 1972 he attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island and in 1981 he attended the National Defense College in Kingston, Ontario. He achieved the rank of Rear Admiral and from 1985 to 1987 he was the Deputy Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy.
He took early retirement from the Navy to run for parliament and in 1988 was elected the Member of Parliament for Bonavista/Trinity/Conception. He served at various times over the next 5 years as Defense, Energy, and Veterans Affairs critic in opposition. In 1993, as a member of government, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for National Defense and Veterans Affairs, in which capacity he assisted in the overhaul of Veterans, Benefits Legislation, and in the production of the 1994 Defense White Paper. From 1996 to 1999 he was Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister for Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agencies. Since 1996 he served as Honourary National Chairman of the Navy League of Canada.
After retiring from politics he was a member of the Canadian Association for Former Parliamentarians where he served as Director and Treasurer. In 2011 he was awarded the Robert Hendy award for his national and international contribution to Maritime Affairs. In 2012 he was invested into the Order of St. George as a Knight Commander.
Fred will be fondly remembered as a loving and dedicated husband, father and grandfather. He touched the lives of many in every walk of life.
Many thanks to the staff at Montfort Hospital for their care and support.
Friends and Family are invited to visit at Beechwood, Cemetery and Funeral Services, 280 Beechwood Avenue (east of Vanier Parkway), Ottawa from 2-4pm and 7-9pm Thursday October 10, also from 9:30 am on Friday October 11, until A Celebration of Fred's Life in the Sacred Space at 11 o'clock follow with Committal at the Beechwood mausoleum.
In appreciation of Fred's avid love of animals, donations in his memory can be made to The Ottawa/Carleton Humane Society.
Published in The Ottawa Citizen on October 8, 2013
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