Obituary of Cyril Francis Poole

Age 91, of Sackville, New Brunswick, died on October 20th, 2016. Born in Pilley’s Island, NL, he was a son of the late Dorman and Blanche (Watkins) Poole. Educated at Dalhousie University and the University of Toronto, Cyril was a philosophy teacher and administrator at Bishop’s University (1957-65) and Mount Allison University (1965-77). In 1977 he returned to Newfoundland where he became principal of Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in Corner Brook. In 1990, he was appointed editor in chief of the Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador, helping to complete the project started by Joey Smallwood. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 1991. Cyril wrote several books on Newfoundland subjects, often funny, always full of keen observations about the people and places that meant so much to him. He cherished time spent sailing the “ancestral waters” of Notre Dame Bay with family and friends aboard Primrose II, Primrose III and Shamrock II. Cyril is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jean (Parsons), Sackville; daughters, Janet (Bill Geier), Sackville and Deborah (Eric Sloan), Murray Corner, NB; son, Stephen (Margaret Doane), Halifax; grandchildren, Stephen (Megan Mitton) and Michael Geier, Erin, Laura and Patrick Sloan, Matthew, Emily and Lucy Poole; great-granddaughter, Quinn Geier; sister, Joyce, Wisconsin; brothers, Mervyn, New Waterford, NS and Edward (Marlene Penner), Delta, BC. He was predeceased by daughter, Karen; sister, Dorothy in infancy; brother, Winston; half-brother, Roy and half-sister Una. In keeping with Cyril’s wishes, there will be no visitation or service. Special thanks to the staff at the Sackville Memorial Hospital and the Westford Nursing Home in Port Elgin, NB. Memorial donations may be made to the Sackville Hospital, Westford Nursing Home or to a charity of the donor’s choice. On-line condolences & sharing of memories may be forwarded to the family through our website www.campbellsfuneralhome.com or by visiting the funeral home Facebook page.