Sussex Mourns Longtime Councillor

Town councillors in Sussex are mourning the loss of one of their longtime colleagues.

Coun. Ralph Carr, who spent more than 30 years as a municipal politician, passed away early Monday.

Mayor Marc Thorne said Carr was well-respected in the community and cared deeply about everyone.

“People knew that and anyone that had a conversation with Ralph knew that he cared about their family, cared about them and cared about their well-being and that always shone through,” said Thorne.

Carr first joined Sussex town council in 1988 after being elected in a municipal byelection.

Thorne said he did not get a chance to really know Carr until he was elected to council in 1997.

“We became quick friends as well as colleagues,” said Thorne, who noted they were “a bit of a team” for a long time.

Thorne threw his support behind Carr when he ran for mayor in 2001 and went on to serve as his deputy mayor.

Carr became the town’s longest-serving mayor and held the role until 2012, when he chose to run for council again.

“When he decided to step away from the pressures of leading the town as mayor and I ran, he ran for council because even though he had done enough, so to speak, for this town, he still wanted to continue to serve. As it turns out, he always got the popular vote and so he served me as my deputy mayor,” said Thorne.

Carr continued to serve as deputy mayor until his health forced him to retire from that position two years ago.

Thorne said Carr often told him his heart fully belonged to Sussex from the moment he and his family moved there.

“He was always interested, concerned about everyone’s well-being, how well the town was performing. He was just a pleasure to serve with. He always brought good humour and wisdom to the table.”

Thorne said what he will always remember about Carr is his pride in the town.

“His pride in being a member of this community, his pride in the community. He thought that Sussex was the best place in Canada to live.”