Joseph (Joe) Aloysius Feldman
October 31, 1949 – November 12, 2017
Died peacefully at home in Victoria BC on November 12, 2017, his wife and daughter by his side. He was the cherished husband of Anna Feldman Gronau and beloved father of Evelyn Meigs Feldman. A much-loved brother, Joe is mourned by Michael Feldman and his wife, Barb, Harsens Island, MI; Peggy Feldman, Detroit, MI; and Mary Feldman, Chicago, IL. Fondly remembered by his inlaws: Anna’s mother, Alix Gronau, Victoria, and brother, James Gronau, Milford, ON; Joe’s niece, Magalí Toy, and her mother, Leslie Toy, Toronto, ON. Joe was born in Detroit on October 31, 1949 to Lucile (Russell) and Tom Feldman. His early life was full of love and happy social activity. While attending Wayne State University, Detroit, Joe was drafted. In 1969, aged 19, he emigrated to Canada rather than fight in Viet Nam. He became a Canadian citizen in 1975, and was eternally grateful to and appreciative of his adopted country. Based in Toronto, Joe started out doing factory work, then built a career – first in building architectural and engineering scale models, then in computer drafting and design. In 1988, Joe married Sandra Meigs. Daughter Evelyn was born in 1993. The family soon relocated to Victoria BC. To spend time with Evelyn, he commuted 100km each way to his engineering-related job at a pulp mill. Joe was endlessly curious, knowledgeable on many subjects, and adept at solving technical problems. An insatiable reader, and proud “nerd,” his varied interests included: history, science, politics, literature, architecture, and sports – especially Blue Jays baseball. At a true low point, Joe’s marriage ended; and he rang in the millennium in hospital, recovering from surgery for colon cancer. But soon Joe reconnected with Anna, an old flame. They married at Anna’s summer home, Port Milford, in 2001, then settled down in Victoria. He had two further surgeries for colon cancer, survived, and thrived. Joe loved to spend summers in Prince Edward County, which became the home of his heart. Discovering indoor rowing in his sixties, Joe won National Champion in his category at the Monster Erg regatta at University of Victoria in 2012, and qualified to compete in the Boston world championships in 2015. Joe’s warmth, humour, and positivity touched his many friends. In 2014, he developed incurable prostate cancer. Through a long, tough struggle, his optimism and focus on the good in life amazed, inspired, and kept us going. There will be a memorial gathering in Picton, summer 2018. Details will be published when available. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe’s honour to prostate cancer research, BCCA, Vancouver Island Centre, or Victoria Hospice Program are gratefully requested.