Obituaries

VOGEL, Bertrand (Bert), age 69, of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, passed away peacefully at the QEII Health Sciences Centre on January 30, 2026, following a brief illness.

Bert was born in Metz, France, and from the very beginning lived life with curiosity, determination, and an open heart. He had a deep love of learning and an eagerness to understand how things worked—whether it was computers, motorcycles, or the world itself. He joined the French Navy, where he travelled to Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. Those early adventures ignited a lifelong passion for travel. After a brief term in the Navy he returned to France and opened his own motorcycle shop. which he ran successfully for several years. Still being in his early 20’s he sold his shop and decided to spend several months exploring Africa with friends, experiencing different cultures and cuisines that he spoke about fondly for years.

In 1980, Bert immigrated to Canada to join his twin brother, Laurent, in Laval, Quebec. It was there that he met Penny Nielsen, the love of his life and wife. Together they eventually made their home in Nova Scotia, a place Bert grew to love deeply. Bert was a man of deep devotion. He cared for Penny, his wife of 35 years, until she passed from Alzheimer’s in 2022. During her illness he took great care of her, keeping her at home until it was no longer possible. When she went into a nursing home, he visited daily for two years until her passing. The staff knew him well and appreciated his help and kindness. Approximately two years after Penny’s passing he was fortunate enough to be introduced to Joanne Beauchamp. They came into each other’s lives at a perfect time, hitting it off immediately and remaining together until his final days. He took great care of Joanne, and when the time came, she remained by his side throughout his illness. How lucky he was to have found love twice in a lifetime.

Bert could master anything he set his mind to. He was a meticulous learner and a handyman extraordinaire, often helping neighbors and friends and never once refusing a request. If Bert took on a project, it would be done perfectly. He completely redesigned and renovated the interior of his home on McCarthy Street on his own. He once dismantled his BMW motorcycle to create a detailed electrical blueprint so precise that BMW later requested his authorization to include it in their official manual. His love of motorcycles also connected him to people around the world through a BMW Bike Owners website which he developed and managed, and where he generously shared his knowledge.

Professionally, Bert worked in hydraulics and information technology and spent more than 20 years as an IT Supervisor with the Halifax Regional Center for Education, retiring in 2016. If there was something he didn’t know, he would quietly research, study, and master it—then help everyone else do the same.

Bert was a true innovator in technology with an extraordinary depth of knowledge, yet he wore his brilliance lightly. He always had an answer, but even more importantly, he always had the patience to help others find it too. His work ethic was unmatched, but it was his kindness and generosity that truly set him apart.

Bert was driven by a desire to make things better and more efficient—not for recognition, but simply because he believed in doing things well. His co-workers shared that he could spend hours perfecting a script while others joked, “Bert, it’s faster to do it manually.” He’d smile and reply, “Yes—but next time it will take you half the time it did today.” He was always right, and before long, we were all asking for his scripts. He had a rare gift for explaining complex ideas in a way people could understand—once you got past his French accent, of course.

Bert’s sense of humor was ever-present, and you could always count on him for a daily chuckle. His cheerful, kind, and caring nature earned him a wide circle of friends who admired and loved him deeply. He made people feel supported, capable, and seen. His absence leaves a space that cannot be filled.

Bert is survived by his brothers Laurent of Laval, Quebec, Brice (Florence) of Metz, France; his loving partner Joanne Beauchamp, brothers-in-law Christopher and Peter; sisters-in-law Kathy Pipe and Karen Nielsen; niece Erika Pipe; nephews Julien and Martin; great-niece and great-nephew Astrid and Soren Guilbert. He was predeceased by his parents, René and Françoise Vogel, and his wife, Penny Nielsen.

At Bert’s request, there will be no service. Cremation has taken place. He will be deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.