In Memory Joseph Solomon Wilcox 85, New Waterford 18 November 2007 New Waterford will miss community activist Joe Wilcox by LeRoy Peach Cape Breton Post On Nov. 10, Joseph Solomon Wilcox, 85, was laid to rest in his beloved New Waterford. In that storied mining town, he was a memorable character. A community activist of the best kind. He had a keen sense of what was right and what was fair. Small in size, he was huge in heart. At the funeral home I saw a scrapbook of his accomplishments. On the cover was a picture taken in the 1930s of a plump child looking out on the world with defiance and determination. That was Joe’s persona throughout his life. Retired from Devco after 48 years, Joe “shone in use.” He fought to rehabilitate an old graveyard eroding near the ocean. He was active in the preservation of the New Waterford watershed. He was a regular on the radio phone-in show “Talkback.” His daughter Shirley told me he always wanted to help. His biggest cause was the New Waterford hospital. He rallied the troops against its closure in the early 1990s and the closure of the emergency department later. At one gathering of 600 residents, Joe went toe-to-toe with officials of the Cape Breton District Health Authority. As Shirley said, “He gave it to them straight.” He had that wonderful New Waterford trait of forthrightness. One official, John Malcolm, made it a point to attend Joe’s wake. And then there was the selling of the even split. He raised thousands of dollars for the New Waterford hospital auxiliary. By going door to door, he averaged about $900 a month. The money went to buy equipment for the hospital. For his efforts Joe was presented, in 1994, with the Maritimer-of-the-Week award by ATV. An environmentalist, he was fearless in his opposition to strip mining in Point Aconi. He would get right up into the faces of politicians and other officials and give them the “what for.” Only two months ago, he raised in New Waterford in excess of $400 in donations toward a court challenge that the Citizens Against Strip Mining in Point Aconi are planning against the provincial government, the aim of which is to have the industrial permit granted to Pioneer Coal revoked. When he went to a fundraising dance in Millville recently, they presented him with a plaque. A local doctor very appropriately gave him three hats that she collected in her travels: A Greek captain’s hat, a Russian hat for rallying the troops and a Chinese hat. It was symbolic, for Joe wore many hats in his life time. Although, he lay gravely ill in hospital, on Tuesday morning, Nov. 6, he told his daughter that he needed to be discharged because he was not giving up the fight to stop the desecration on Boularderie Island. At 10:30 p.m. the same day, he passed away. Joe Wilcox was a champion who hated injustice and hypocrisy. He was no fence sitter. He led the way for all those people in our society who still believe that one person can make a difference. He shall be missed. It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Joseph S. Wilcox at the New Waterford Consolidated Hospital, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007, surrounded by his family and friends. Born in New Waterford, in 1921, he was the eldest son of the late John and Ella (White) Wilcox. A veteran of the Second World War, he was a member of All Saints Church. Joe worked 48 years for the Dominion Coal Company and Devco at the number 12 colliery site and the mechanical shop in Glace Bay. After retiring in 1988, Joe spent most of his time supporting the New Waterford Hospital Auxiliary. He was known throughout New Waterford and surrounding areas for his relentless effort selling even-split tickets door to door. He was tireless in the campaign to keep the New Waterford Hospital and the ER open to the residents of town. He also joined the group of concerned citizens in their fight to stop strip mining in Point Aconi. Joe is survived by his wife, Olga (Campbell) Wilcox; two daughters, Shirley Aucoin (Ervin MacNeil) and Mary-Jo Wilcox; two granddaughters, Danielle and Mary Olga; and three great-grandchildren, Robyn, Riley and Ella. Surviving also are three sisters, Ella (Art) Gadd, Susie (Miles) Donovan and Shirley (Sonny) Fiske, all of Ontario Besides his parents, Joe was predeceased by three brothers, Fred, Jim and Edgar (Tax) and three sisters, Ethel Heron, Ann Carr, all of Ontario, and Elsie Detienne, New Waterford. Visitation will be held at McLellan Brothers Funeral Home, 3183 Plummer Ave., New Waterford, Friday, Nov. 9, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A funeral service will take place Saturday, Nov. 10, at 11 a.m. in All Saints Church. Following the burial in Mount Carmel Cemetery, a luncheon will be held in All Saints Church Hall, all are invited. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe’s memory may be made to the New Waterford Hospital Ladies Auxiliary or to a charity of one’s choice. To send condolences to the family, go to www.mclellanfuneralhome.com.