Raymond 'Bozo' Steele
Passed on: July 31st, 2008
71, Victoria Mines Raymond ‘Bozo’ Steele, age 71, of Victoria Mines, and a former resident of Mt. Carmel Avenue, New Waterford, passed away on Thursday, July 31, 2008, in the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney, surrounded by his family. Born in New Waterford, he was the son of the late Charles and Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ (Campbell) Steele. Bozo was a lector, usher and former member of Mt. Carmel parish council. He worked 34 years with the N.S. Liquor Commission both in New Waterford and Dominion. Bozo did freelance work for the Cape Breton Post and always promoted sports in the local area. At one time he owned and operated Town Taxi on Plummer Avenue. He was known as a great volunteer and community minded man. Bozo was named citizen of the year in 1985. He was one of the original directors of the Coal Bowl basketball tournament in New Waterford. He played basketball for the N.W. Strands and scored 50 points in one game. He also played baseball, rugby and was an avid Leafs and Dodgers fan. Bozo served as co-chair for the 1989, 50s Reunion at Mt. Carmel School which was an overwhelming success. He was a former member of the K of C, Council 3209, New Waterford, and the Cercle Evangeline Club. Bozo also was a member of the N.W. Pensioners Club. Hockey was important to Bozo and he was very active with the N.W. Cavalier Junior Jets. As a past time, Bozo and his wife Mary collected pop tabs and gave the money to the ALS Society. For 15 years, Bozo and Mary would escape the cold Cape Breton winters and head to Florida to enjoy the sunshine and fellowship of all the new people they would encounter. While in Florida Bozo was active in a softball league and played up until 2005, when his team won the Senior Softball Olympics. Bozo is survived by his best friend and wife, the former Mary Fahey; one daughter, Helen (Paul) Snow and their children, Jonathan and Josh, Bridgewater, N.S., and one son, Charles (Lisa) Steele and their children, Charles William and Chelsea, Victoria Mines. Also surviving are five brothers, Ronnie (Carol), New Waterford, Frank (Ann), Waverly, Peter, Sydney, Harry (Flo), Gregg, both in Ontario; and two sisters, Peggy (Jim) O’Halloran, P.E.I., and Anne Marie (Gerry) Caulfield, Ontario. Bozo will also be sadly missed by numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Saturday evening, Aug. 2, 2008, from 7-9 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 3 from 1-4 and 6-9 p.m. in the V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 380 Smith St., New Waterford. The funeral mass will be celebrated Monday, Aug. 4 at 11 a.m. in the Parish of St. Leonard, Mt. Carmel Church followed by interment in the parish cemetery. Rev. Doug MacDonald officiating. All are invited to the reception at the K of C Hall, Plummer Avenue. As an expression of sympathy for Bozo, donations in his memory may be made to the Cape Breton Chapter, Palliative Care. Condolences to the family can be expressed at: www.vjmcgillivray.net.
