Francis \'Rocky\' MacDougall
Born In: Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada
Born: March 25th, 1943
Passed in: Antgonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: June 12th, 2009
On Friday, June 12, 2009, former Canadian Professional Featherweight Boxing Champion, Francis “Rocky†MacDougall’s valiant fight with cancer ended peacefully surrounded by his loving family at St. Martha’s Hospital, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, at the age of 66. Rocky’s courageous battle was an inspiration to all who knew him and he lived life to the fullest each and every day.
The champ is gone but his memory will live on in the minds of all those who were fortunate to have known him.
Born in Sydney Mines, on March 25, 1943, he was the son of the late Sylvine and Sadie (MacNeil) MacDougall.
Rocky’s favorite pastime was spending quality time with his family whom he loved dearly. He spent most of his childhood growing up in Whitney Pier, Sydney, where he received his education and introduction to his boxing career. Upon completion of high school he enlisted in the R.C.A.F. and after completing his military service he returned to university and graduated from St. F. X. University with a Bachelor of Business Administration & Education Degrees. This enabled Rocky to begin a teaching career in the Antigonish/Guysborough area which lasted over 27years. Although he was an accomplished boxer, he often stated that teaching young children gave him more satisfaction than anything he accomplished in the ring. Rocky had a remarkable career in boxing which started in 1958-59 as an amateur. He turned professional in 1960 and went on to capture the Canadian Professional Featherweight Championship in 1965, a title he held until 1967. In 1969 he regained the Canadian Featherweight Championship, which he held until he retired from competitive boxing in 1972.
Rocky was a member of the Cape Breton & Nova Scotia Hall of Fame and the Canadian Professional & Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame along with being a life member of the Canadian Amateur Boxing Association and Boxing Nova Scotia. As a member of the Canadian Amateur Boxing Association since 1972, Rocky held a number of positions such as a coach in amateur boxing, president and chief official for Boxing Nova Scotia, International Olympic AIBA referee and judge, and national chief referee and judge for the Canadian Amateur Boxing Association. In addition, he was a director of the Canadian Amateur Boxing Association, Boxing Nova Scotia, the Canadian Professional Boxing Federation and a member of the Nova Scotia Boxing Authority since 1999.
In 1974, in Miami, Florida, Rocky represented Canada as a referee and judge at the North American Boxing Championships. As an assistant boxing coach, Rocky took part in tournaments and championships all over the world including the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand, the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, the 1997 President’s Cup, Bogor, Indonesia, the 1998 Commonwealth Games, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the 1999 Pan American Games, Winnipeg, Manitoba, to name a few. He was also the director of the Nova Scotia Boxing Authority.
One of the special highlights of his life was the testimonial dinner held in his honour in Sydney on November 22, 2008, where he and his family had the opportunity to meet and greet former students, members of the boxing fraternity and long-time friends and acquaintances.
Throughout his life, Rocky developed solid and strong friendships with many people and they will miss him greatly.
He is survived by his beloved wife and best friend, Beverly ‘Bev’; son, Sean (Nicole); his two (2) daughters, Stacy, and Jody (Stephen) MacIntyre and grandchildren, Logan, Ayla, Avery, Lily, and Rory. He is also survived by his brother, Donald (Theresa) and their five children, Trevor, Kyle, Dwayne, Guy and Susan and his sister, Margaret (Jack) Carmichael and daughter, Marlene, along with many grandnieces and grandnephews.
He was predeceased by his brother, John in childhood and an infant sister who died at birth.
Visitation will be on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the C.L. Curry Funeral Home, 135 College St., Antigonish. Funeral mass will be held at St. Ninian’s Cathedral, Antigonish, on Monday at 2 p.m., with Rev. Andrew Gillies presiding. Burial in the parish cemetery.
In Memoriam, donations to his angels at the Oncology Department of St. Martha's Regional Hospital appreciated. Online condolences: www.clcurry.com
