Tribute

Jack Dice 95 years, passed away on Sunday January 27, 2019. The son of Powell River pioneers, Sam & Eva Dice, Jack was born in the Townsite in 1923 the second of four siblings, Mildred, Jack, Sam, and Bill. Jack is survived by his wife Alice, Sister in law Betty Dice, sons Brian (Mary), Bob (Kathryn), six grandkids, ten great grandkids and 20+ nephews and nieces.

Jack grew up during the Powell River Company 1930’s blacklisting period and thereafter was quick to take a stand against moral injustice. In the early 1940’s, he began millwork as an apprentice, retiring in the 1980’s as an electrical superintendent.

In 1949 he married Alice Johnson, the youngest, of the building construction family (Burg & Johnson) her siblings were Harold, Henry, Heimer, & Olga. In the early 1950’s Jack and Alice had two sons, Brian and Bob.

Jack’s lifelong passion was Powell Lake, and in the 1950’s with Henry Johnson they built their cabins on Cassiar Island, where Dices and Johnsons – uncles, aunts, dozens of cousins and friends would gather for fun.

A lifelong volunteer, Jack spent countless hours fixing friend’s electrical and mechanical problems. As a community volunteer he was a driving force in the wiring of the old Willingdon Beach Arena, the construction of the Shingle Mill and Mowat Bay boat ramps, and the Cranberry Senior Centre.

Jack was an activist and avid ‘letter to the editor’ writer. He was a key member of the Herring 88 advocacy group and the Concerned Citizens Coalition that prevented proposed landfills in our local watersheds and with his pal Herb Gawley they pressed for the protection and cleanup of Myrtle Creek. Politicians of all levels and all political parties were Jack’s targets as he advocated for environmental, social, and tax reforms.

His hobbies were gardening, fishing, tool shopping, and travelling in his camper. He enjoyed engaging house guests in his favorite topics, politics and health.

Cruelly, dementia robbed him of his abilities – the decline was no fun – so, much thanks to the amazing staff at Willingdon Creek, to Dr White, to family and friends for their support and to Alice his wife of 70 years for keeping the family together while Jack was out saving the planet. Jack’s motto was “to leave the world a better place than he found it” – and for the areas that he was able to influence, he certainly did.