By Derwin Gowan
MIRAMICHI – Employees and fellow business people recall Thomas Marven Creaghan as a good person to work for and with.
Mr. Creaghan, vice-president of the former J.D. Creaghan Co. Ltd., died at the Miramichi Regional Hospital after a lengthy illness Wednesday evening. He was 73.
The Creaghans at one time ran clothing stores around New Brunswick and elsewhere before winding the company up in the 1980s.
The Creaghans, of Irish Catholic stock, made their mark since arriving on the Miramichi Valley in the 1800s. They contributed two mayors* to the former Town of Newcastle, at least two justices of the New Brunswick Court of Queen’s Bench and a medical doctor as well as their business activities.
They were known to support the Progressive Conservative Party through thick and thin – and Paul Creaghan, now a judge, served in former premier Richard Hatfield’s cabinet. They were heavily involved in community social life.**
They are scattered across the country and further now, working in all sorts of occupations and careers.
Marven Creaghan was the last of a generation to stick with the family business.
“Marven was a good guy,” said Nicky Dolan, who worked at the Creaghan’s store in Newcastle for 36 years, which Marven Creaghan managed for many years.
“We always had a good business relationship and I always found Marven a fine honest man,” said Rowland Crocker – who ran Crockers Men’s and Boys’ Wear in competition with and just up the street from Creaghans.
Ernie MacMillan worked for Mr. Creaghan in the years when Mr. Creaghan chaired the Miramichi Region Development Corporation and Mr. MacMillan was general manager.
“The Miramichi certainly has a lot to thank Marven for...he was a good boss to work for,” said Mr. MacMillan.
He recalled that Mr. Creaghan chaired the commission in the early or mid 1980s in the years leading up to major developments that changed the face of the river – building the finished paper mill and locating the prison at Renous among other things.
“That group of people sort of laid the foundation for the Miramichi as we know it today... he was part of that, and for that we can thank him,” Mr. MacMillan said.
The face of downtown Newcastle changed, too – the closing of Creaghans included among the changes.
“We old fellows don’t hardly recognize it any more...business today is a far different proposition than what it used to be,” Mr. Crocker said.
Until quite recently you could still find Marven Creaghan at The Goodie Shop restaurant on most days – at morning coffee break time. He still followed politics and current affairs.
Mr. Creaghan was a past president of the Pastoral Council at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, a past president of the Miramichi Golf and Country Club, past chairman of the Miramichi Region Development Corporation, a former member of the Rotary Club of Newcastle, secretary to the Air Show Committee, a past president of the local branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association, a past president of the Newcastle Downtown Merchants’ Association, a regional coordinator for Red Cross canvassers – and a member of the Newcastle Curling Club at the time of his death.
He was the son of the late John A. and Alice (Marven) Creaghan. He is survived by his wife Davida (Cunningham) Creaghan; three children, Tara (Bernard Morrison), Tim (Deborah Van Norden) and Christopher (Ruth MacDonald); six grandchildren; two sisters, Clare and her husband, Bernard Flinton of Florida, Carol and her husband Jules Picot of Fredericton; one brother, William and his wife Thérèse Creaghan of Fredericton; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Mrs. Marion Friel (Donal Friel) and brother, Donald A. Creaghan (Barbara Foran).
Friends may visit at Davidson’s Funeral Home, 597 Old King George Highway, from 2–4 p.m. and 7–9 p.m. today. Funeral Mass will be at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church at 11 a.m. Saturday. Father Arnie Hachey will officiate. Burial will follow in Alderwood Cemetery, Riverview. The family would appreciate donations to the St. Mary’s Restoration Fund, the Red Cross or a memorial of one’s choice.
* There were actually three Creaghan mayors of Newcastle – Jack, Don, and John. Jack served one term. Don and John each served two.
** Marven’s brother, Bill, was also a judge and was a Conservative Member of Parliament.