Tribute to Dr. Allan George Tucker
Compiled with information contributed by
Silas Tucker, Maureen Holloway, Margaret Parker, Marlean King, Kevin King, and Sandra Tuck.
Dr. Allan George Tucker
St. Jones Within’s harbour is a elongated inlet that is surrounded by hills that offered shelter to many vessels that sought shelter from high winds that could easily create white caps in Southwest Arm. The community originally was used by settlers to harvest the vast wood resources found in the valleys around the harbour. James J. and Susanna Tucker arrived here sometime around 1890s. Silas Tucker was the second child of James J. and Susanna, born in 1893. Silas married Lavinia Wallace Miller on March 8, 1914. Allan George was born on March 4 1928. He was the middle child of twelve siblings – 7 boys and 5 girls in an area locally known as Tucker’s Point. The house that George was raised in is still standing and is used as a summer home by the Tucker family.
Home of Silas Tucker
Skipper Silas Tucker owned and operated two schooners – Ruby L.M. Smith and the Aileen – and sailed each year to the Labrador. Children were expected to contribute to daily life and boys chores included getting fire wood, bringing water from the well, tending the animals and helping with making the hay and fish. When Spring came, the “Point” was a hub of activity from May 1st until mid June preparing to go to the Labrador. All boats, including the two schooners, had to be cleaned and painted, the codtraps mended and “barked” and rope tarred. Everyone was expected to pitch in and help.
Dr. Tucker sailing
There was still plenty of leisure time for things like trouting, snaring rabbits, hunting partridge, sailing around the harbour in the punts and of course, fishing and chasing bull birds. Pictured to the right is George passing time sailing and sculling around St. Jones Within harbour in his punt with his oilskins on.
Dr. Tucker hunting with his beloved golden retriever.
George and his cousins participated in quite a lot of improvised sports like football and boxing, (after the grass was cut). George had a very strong interest in boxing and subscribed to the Ring Magazine, which he read from cover to cover. He acquired a set of 12 oz boxing gloves and fought many bouts with his brothers, cousins and friends in an improvised ring outdoors on the grass ground. George was a body building/fitness fanatic and studied Dynamic Tension which he learned from a Charles Atlas book.
Dr. Tucker enjoying cod fishing.
George received his early education at St Jones Within in the one room school on the bog by the Squires’ house. Around 1940 they hauled the old school down the road and set it up just east of the church on The Old House Ground where he attended until about the mid 40’s at which time he moved to Hickman’s Harbour where he took his grade 10. He went to Prince of Wales College in St John’s in 1947 for grade 11 and then to Memorial University where he graduated in 1951 with a BA.
While attending Memorial, George joined the UNTD, (Reserve Navy) a three-year practical and theoretical naval course, training one night per week during the winter months and fourteen weeks ashore and afloat in the summer at Naval bases, and on board ships of the Royal Canadian Navy.
George came home to help out during the summer and joined his family in the Labrador fishery. One year, while studying at Memorial University, George and his cousin Silas went to the Labrador on the SS Kyle, a passenger/freight/mail boat. The Kyle now rests on a sandbank at Harbour Grace.
Evelyn and George Tucker.
George met Evelyn Saulnier in the summer of 1955 while spending summers in Halifax completing his commitment to the navy. During this time he was studying Internal Medicine at the University of Toronto. They married on May 19, 1959.
George graduated from the University of Toronto specializing in Internal Medicine in 1957 and was a FRCP (Fellow of Royal College of Physicians). He spent time at Toronto General, East General, Sunnybrook and then pursued the practice of aeronautical medicine. He spent his final years at Air Canada where he was a Chief Medical Examiner.
(l to r) Evelyn Tucker, Silas Tucker, Wallace (Lavinia) Tucker, Dr. George Tucker.
He was likely the first individual to study medicine and graduate as a Medical Doctor from the Southwest Arm area. He became the pride of St. Jones Within and provided inspiration to those that followed.
He continued his love of the outdoors and was an avid skeet shooter
Hunting with his beloved golden retriever.
George and his brother Aubrey Tucker.
George and his brother Aubrey Tucker went on 51 duck hunting trips together to Presqua’ile Provincial Park. Evelyn also accompanied him on the hunting trips.
George would visit during the summer season and always looked forward to the recreational cod fishery. He had grown up and spent his youth at fishing and the fishery gave him an opportunity to reminisce with his family and friends. He is shown here displaying one of the many cod that he caught over his lifetime. You can see the Big Hill in the background as he cleans his fish at St Jones Within. He remained a loyal son of Newfoundland and with his beloved wife, Evelyn went back to visit for 27 summer holidays with his family and friends.
Dr. Tucker and his golden retriever.
George also had a passion for gardening, to him it was a science to be studied and analyzed. He purchased his seeds from catalogues from across Canada and all his plants were started from seed in his basement. He enjoyed experimenting with different varieties of vegetables. He also had fruit trees that he was very proud of. Not only did he supply fruit and vegetables for themselves but his neighbours and some lucky family members as well. It also kept Evelyn busy preparing the fruit and veggies for the winter.
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Reprinted from The Cap and Gown, MUN, 1951
Everyone Knows George! Last year he was numbered with the (ugh…) Pre-Meds. Since then however he has joined the ranks of the Science students and has made a name for himself in the field of foreign affairs. He hails from St. Jones Within, Trinity Bay. He received much of his education there and at Hickman’s Harbour. He also graced Prince of Wales College with his person for a year or so. George is a real sports enthusiast, particularly in the fields of football, hockey and boxing. He is a member of the U.N.T.D. and is inclined to disbelieve the old saying that all the nice girls love a sailor. Needless to say George, though quiet, is a friendly chap and well liked here at Memorial. Up to the time of writing he is not quite sure if he will graduate with a B.A. or a B.Sc., this year. He hopes it will be the latter. Next year George will be found among other Old Memorials at Dal. where he will complete his medical training. All the best George!
Transcribed by Lisa Garrett, March 2018
These transcriptions may contain human errors. As always, confirm these as you would any other source material.
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