By Craig Westcott/October 28, 2021
Well known Holyrood businessman, raconteur and country music fan Brendan Hunt left a deep impression on most people who knew or met him over the years, including Holyrood Mayor Gary Goobie, who paid tribute to him at last week's public council meeting.
Hunt, who had a long and successful career in the investment business and also operated The Tea Room in Holyrood, passed away October 2 at the age of 69. In addition to his business activities, Hunt also spent some years serving on Holyrood council in the 1990s.
"He was a trailblazer," said Mayor Goobie. "He was quite a guy in many ways. He was a builder and he was a difference maker in the business world, during his tenure on council, with the parish and in his family life."
Hunt established First Atlantic Financial in 1992 and expanded it to Ontario this past August under the banner of First Atlantic Private Wealth.
“He and his wife Marie made incredible improvements and renovations to the former Carroll property on Northside Road, converting out buildings into beautiful dwellings and B&Bs," Goobie added. "On the southside of Holyrood they acquired the original Olaf Olsen (heritage) property in 1991 and turned it into the successful Tea Garden, which operated for many years."
During his time on council, meanwhile, Hunt was the driving force behind the creation of the Festival Grounds, Goobie noted.
"He and Marie were also very committed to supporting the church and (Holy Cross) parish in numerous ways over the years," Goobie said. "Marie was also his best friend. They were inseparable, and they were a team."
But it was Hunt's personality that particularly registered with Goobie, and many others who knew him.
"Brendan had a no-nonsense approach," said the mayor, "and never accepted the attitude that something could not be done. He was relentless in his pursuit of making things happen, both for his family and for his community."
Goobie said Hunt, whom he viewed with the utmost respect and admiration, served as a mentor during his own early years on council.
"So, I'd like to share a story that has stuck in my mind for many years," said Goobie. "It's about the Green Acres subdivision. Brendan was vexed one night at a council meeting that these residents were living in an unpaved subdivision for years, literally choking on dust from the gravel road. He said, 'You can't even hang out a pair of drawers on the line.' When we asked where the money was going to come from, his response was pretty blunt. ‘Well, there's lot of money over at the bank. Go get a loan and get it done,' he implored. And that was exactly the way he said it. Needless to say, when he got on a little rant, we weren't going to get in his way. And lo and behold, the pavement was laid sooner than later. So, when you drive down Green Acres, think of Brendan Hunt, because he was the guy who made that happen. And I could go on and on with the stories, and I'm sure many of his friends and acquaintances in our community could share many a story and pleasant laughs about this wonderful gentleman."
Goobie extended sincere condolences on behalf of the Town of Holyrood to Hunt's wife Marie and all his family, which includes four sons and a daughter, as well as grandchildren and a large circle of relatives, in-laws and friends.
