Heaven's hockey rink has another "corner boy"

WILSON, Harold William - Lower Sackville, passed away January 16, 2008, at home after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Louisbourg March 23, 1948, he was the only son of Jessie (Hanham) Wilson, Sydney, and the late Harold Wilson (2006). Harold taught for 30 years with the Nova Scotia Community College, retiring from the Nova Scotia Institute of Technology in 2004. He was active in the Nova Scotia Teachers Union and served as president of the Nova Scotia Community College Teachers Association from 1994-1998. Following his retirement from teaching, he continued working and enjoyed many shifts with his colleagues at the Halifax Metro Centre. A resident of Sackville for 35 years, Harold contributed greatly to his community, his church and many professional committees and associations. Harold was actively involved in Sackville hockey programs for more than 25 years and for the last 10 years was president of the Sackville Junior B Blazers. His community involvement extended to positions as a school board trustee, service with Scouts Canada, and numerous committees supporting Sackville community development. His greatest roles were husband to his wife of 36 years, Colleen (Monk) Wilson, and father to Karen Wilson (Jim Howard), Lower Sackville, and Alan (Amy) Wilson, Ottawa. He is also survived by sister, Caroline (Calvin) Pitcher, Louisbourg; nieces, Melanie and Jennifer, and cousins, aunts and uncles. He will be fondly remembered by Colleen's parents, John and Iva Monk, and extended family of the Monks and Keatings. He will be missed by his many colleagues from NSCC, friends, and his cottage neighbors from Canoe Lake. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. W. Moryzcki, Veronica Tanner, Dr. Ron Killeen, Linda Killeen, Continuing Care and the Palliative Care Home Unit for their care and compassion. Family will receive friends from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Sunday, January 20, in Atlantic Funeral Home, Lower Sackville. Memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Monday, January 21, in Bedford United Church, Bedford. Reception in church hall to follow. Interment in Willow Grove Cemetery, Louisbourg will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Harold's memory to a charity of choice. On-line condolences may be sent to: www.atlanticfuneralhomes.com

Anyone who spent any time at the Sackville Arena or the Community College knew Harold. Harold was a great friend of my dad's for many years, and we all knew him well. They spent many nights travelling with the Blazers to away games. Harold volunteered much of his time with the Blazers, which is how we all got to know him and his wife. It was just as much of a family thing to them as it was to us. When Harold was first diagnosed with cancer, he stepped back from his responsibilities with the Blazers and became a "corner boy". The corner boys are at every hockey game. They are the older men who always sit in the top corner of the opposing side and cheer for the home team. They were the ones who yelled the loudest at the bad calls, and loved to torment the players from the away team. This is where Dad also sat when he was not able to participate, and I know they were both proud to be called a "corner boy".

Much of the week that Dad died is a blur to me, but I do remember Harold. Harold was very ill in November, as cancer was ravaging his body. I remember seeing him when we walked in the church sitting in the very front with his wife Colleen. He was very upset during the ceremony and stopped me afterwards. He told me that even towards the end when my Dad was sick and on oxygen, he always stopped in to see him and chat. Harold was too weak at his point to be out and cherished the times that Dad stopped in. They would talk about hockey and just "shoot the shit". They talked about how each was sick, and Harold told me that he never expected that dad would "go before him". I will always remember him whispering to me in a hug as we were both crying " it should have been me, I should have went first". He was such an amazing man and I will miss him just as much as I miss Dad.