Obituary of Andrew Seamus Milner

Andrew Milner, adored son of Ellen Milner and Billy MacIntosh, died on April 23, 2019, two weeks shy of his 20th birthday.  We are devastated.

Andrew had a passion for basketball from an early age, befitting his Indiana roots. It spilled into ball spinning talent show acts, science fair projects, and countless hours in the Aux gym.  Starting at age 15, Andrew went to Nationals with Team Nova Scotia, then the University of Calgary, winning bronze, gold, gold, gold and silver. He did not win MVP, score the most points, or even dunk, but he arguably won the most hearts.  He represented his family, schools, community and province with humility and gratitude for all the support he received, but he may not have understood how he helped bring people together and created spaces for those around him. The emptiness he leaves is immense.

Andrew is survived by his siblings, Sophie and Jack, whom he loved fiercely.  His grandparents, Marilyn and Phil Milner, were his biggest fans and his touchstones.  Godmother and aunt, Beth Milner, and uncle Paul Milner provided questionable guidance and unmatched love.  Andrew cherished his MacIntosh clan: aunts and uncles Dorothy and Ken Black, Jim MacIntosh and Delores Burton, Susanna and Steven D’arcy, Sandy MacIntosh, Joan MacIntosh and David Wilson, Struan MacIntosh and Donna MacDonald, and Greg MacIntosh and Py Tien.  And the cousins! Never enough time to spend together but close despite the distances, with Andrew transitioning from the kid-cousins to the grown up-cousins: Godfather Geoff (Marita; Charlie and Lucy), Meghan (Andrew; Tom and Jeannie), Stephanie (Joel), Patrick (Lindsay), Nora (Shane), Ellen, Charlotte (Mark), Polly (Shane), Duncan (Jaimie), Sacha (Brandon; Nash), Shane, Allan, Marguerite (Tyler), Reilly (Kyle), Sam (Sonja), AJ, Jackie, and the lone Milner/Vasilyev cousin, who was more like a brother, Alec.

Andrew also leaves behind pockets of love, laughter and loyalty that he wove together wherever he went.  We could start the list but it would be impossible to finish, and leaving someone off would be decidedly unAndrew-like.

Andrew was predeceased by his Grammie ‘Tosh, Pauline MacIntosh, who helped shape him into the well-mannered man he became, and grandfather, William MacIntosh.

He will rest in MacIsaac Funeral Home, 61 Pleasant Street, Antigonish, on Wednesday, May 1 from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday at 2:00 pm in St. Ninian Cathedral, Rev. Donald MacGillivray presiding. Burial in the parish cemetery. Family flowers only, please.  If desired you may make a donation to Cranbrook Search and Rescue, Strait Area Ground Search and Rescue, or a local charity of your choice. www.MacIsaacs.ca

In Andrew’s words, “Never forget what made you who you are.”  Knowing him made us better.