Former N.S. deputy premier Rollie Thornhill dies at 90

The former Dartmouth South MLA remembered as 'people person' devoted to his constituents

Former Nova Scotia deputy premier and longtime Dartmouth South MLA Roland (Rollie) Thornhill died Thursday. He was 90.

Premier Tim Houston offered his condolences in a statement, noting that Thornhill was "a gifted debater, with a quick wit and booming voice."

Thornhill was born in Newfoundland in 1935. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie, and sons Jeff and Chris.

After serving as mayor of Dartmouth, he entered provincial politics in a career that spanned 1974 to 1993.

Cape Breton University political science professor Tom Urbaniak said Thornhill was a major political figure in the province for more than a generation.

"I would say confidently that he was one of the most prominent and influential Nova Scotia cabinet ministers who never became premier of Nova Scotia," he said.

Urbaniak recalled how Thornhill would "work a room" and "influence a room when decisions had to be made," yet remained a "people person" who forged direct connections with constituents.

He said Thornhill continued to do work out of the public eye well into his retirement, including serving as chair of the board of governors of Cape Breton University.

Former MLA Tim Olive, who represented Dartmouth South after Thornhill, said his predecessor was a proud "Red Tory" who was always concerned about the public losing faith in government.

Olive said Thornhill always paid attention to the people and was dedicated to doing his job at the constituency level no matter what position he held.

"He believed in Dartmouth," Olive said. "It's going to be a legacy that will stay with the older people."

Jim David, former provincial director of the Progressive Conservative Party, also recalled Thornhill's deep ties to Dartmouth, saying he was well respected in the community.

David said when Thornhill lost to Donald Cameron at the party leadership convention in 1991, his loyal followers were deeply disappointed.

Like Urbaniak, David said Thornhill's civic-mindedness remained active long after his political career.

He said after his move to Baddeck, Thornhill became a "driving force in that community" who would walk the streets and get involved in community issues.

Thornhill's career was not without controversy.

He survived allegations concerning his personal finances, with fraud-related charges stemming from personal debt forgiveness ultimately dismissed in 1991.

Urbaniak said that while those issues were likely stressful, "he was a survivor" who continued his public service.

David said the controversy "didn't appear to affect his success with his thousands of supporters, not just in Dartmouth, but around the province."

A notice from the Kiwanis Club of Cape Breton, of which he was a member, said Thornhill's funeral will be held at Knox Church in Baddeck on Tuesday, July 28, at 11 a.m.

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