It is with deep sadness that the family announces the passing of Evan Moffitt, at the Chaleur Regional Hospital on April 3. Evan was a pillar of the Bathurst business community, a great family man, and a friend to many. He was married to Lynnette (MacLeod) Moffitt for over 50 years, and she will miss him dearly.
Evan began his career as a bookkeeper in St. Stephen, NB, with Lawson Motors in the late 1960’s starting at $25 per week. His first duty was measuring the gas in the tanks each morning and evening to reconcile the sales receipts with the actual sales and to catch any thieves. While bookkeeping, he had the opportunity to try sales and taking in trades. He excelled and soon caught the attention of Mr. Lawson.
With a newfound love and passion for sales driving tremendous results, he was promoted to sales manager at the main dealership in Saint John where his success continued. Running the showroom in Saint John soon gave him the confidence and desire to acquire his own dealership. In 1973, when Evan was the ripe old age of 32, he and Lynne moved to Bathurst with their life savings to purchase Bayside Chrysler Dodge, which was in receivership. Evan then set the record for the quickest dealership buyout from the holding company in Chrysler’s history.
Over the years, he acquired the Chrysler dealership in Tracadie-Sheila in the 1980’s, Kia in 1999, Mazda in 2006, Hyundai in 2009, and most recently, as a young man of 79 years old, he acquired Nissan and began construction of a new dealership on St. Peter Avenue in Bathurst. Together, these businesses became the Bayside Auto Group, or as he often called it, his Bayside Family.
Evan was never interested in retirement. He had such a love for life, growth, and learning that even at 80 he was planning his next projects. Over the years, he was an avid golfer and president of the Gowan Brae Golf Course, President of the Rotary Club, a pilot, a boater, a snowmobiler, a bird hunter, a wine and cigar aficionado, a fly-fisher, a lover of the French language, an amazing chef, and a seasoned traveller. When limited by the pandemic, he began studying history and continued his lifelong quest for self-improvement undaunted.
Evan will be remembered for his laughter, his humour, and his love of a dry martini by those he leaves behind, including his wife Lynne, children Jason (Jennifer), and Maryann (Aaron), and grandchildren, Audrey, Sophia, and Arthur. He is also survived by his brother Ralph (Eva) and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Gilbert and Ruth (Gibson), his brother David, and his sister Brenda Toth.
Visitation will be at Elhatton’s Funeral Home (www.elhatton.com), Bathurst on Thursday, April 7, 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 pm, and the service will be at First United Church, Friday, April 8, at 2 pm. Donations are welcome to the First United Church and Canadian Cancer Society – New Brunswick. Masks are required for the visitation and at Church.
