Colin Wackett did so much in his lifetime, and so much for the community, one could write a book about it.
His family couldn’t even fit all of his accomplishments and volunteer activities into his obituary.
“I just don’t think he could say no,” said his wife, Cathy Wackett. “The next-door neighbour would say, ‘You’re tall. I need your help.’ So, he would.”
That’s just one example of the generosity of Colin, who died Jan. 18 at the age of 84.
His passion for volunteering started when he offered to serve in the British Royal Air Force at 17. He then became a police officer at 20. Two years later, he moved to Canada, where he took a job as a police officer in Toronto.
He decided, after a decade on duty, it was time for a career change, and he started selling life insurance. That’s how he met Cathy, who worked for the same company. Five years later, they were married.
Colin kept busy as a volunteer in Toronto, and that dedication didn’t waver when the family moved to Orillia in 1997. He soon joined the Royal Canadian Legion and the Orillia Channel Cats.
He held a number of positions with the Legion over the years, including president, chamber of commerce representative and deputy zone commander. Colin was one of few to be named a life member of Branch 34.
He kept busy with numerous endeavours, and he used that time to share his knowledge with others.
“Some people know a lot about one thing. Dad knew a little about everything, which, I think, is why he connected with so many people,” said his daughter, Alex Wackett.
One of the causes that took up much of Colin’s time was prostate cancer awareness. He was diagnosed with the disease in 1999. He was initially told he didn’t need radiation, but eventually ended up undergoing 35 treatments.
He joined the Orillia Prostate Cancer Awareness Group shortly after it was formed in 2000, and he chaired it until his health forced him — “begrudgingly,” as Alex explained — to step down in September.
The group’s goal is to educate people about prostate cancer and the treatment options available. Colin often brought in doctors and researchers to share the latest information with members.
“He didn’t want people to go through what he did, with no one to give him any answers,” Cathy said.
The group would set up a booth at fall fairs in the area, but Colin wasn’t one to sit at a table and wait for people to come to him.
“He just decided at the fair one day to approach men and ask if they knew where their prostate was,” Cathy said with a laugh.
Colin knew there was lack of education, and no lack of apprehension, among men when it came to talking about prostate cancer, so he took the conversation to them.
“He was not shy,” Alex said. “Shyness was not one of his attributes.”
His desire to educate people about the disease continued when he joined the Huronia Motorcycle Ride for Dad committee in 2005. Seven years later, he became its chair.
Last year, during the 15th annual fundraiser for prostate cancer research, 120 riders showed up to take part. Since it started, the local ride has raised $1.4 million.
Those efforts were part of the reason Colin was named Orillia's 2016 Citizen of the Year.
Colin’s smile and sense of humour seemed ever-present, but he was serious when he needed to be. When it came to the Legion executive, “he was all about the rule book,” Cathy said.
The seriousness could be seen on his face when he would march with fellow Legion members in parades and at events. He loved to march, Cathy said, and he took pride in showing others how to do it correctly.
Gerry McMillan, chaplain with Orillia's Legion, Branch 34, became close friends with Colin. The two often sat together during executive meetings.
"He was a person of service. He got involved with so many things," McMillan said. "He cared about people. He cared about doing right. He was a real statesman."
When McMillan began his chaplaincy with the Legion, Colin became "a mentor," he said.
"He was a real, true leader. I'm having a hard time with him gone," he said. "It's a big loss not only for the Legion, but for the whole community."
Despite his declining health, Colin "would not feel sorry for himself," McMillan recalled.
"I think his greatest frustration was that he couldn't do as much as he wanted," he said. "Even with cancer, he never let that sway him. I mean, this last Ride for Dad — good grief — there he was."
The military was important to Colin. He, his two brothers, his father and his grandfather all served. It led to a passion to help veterans.
“He genuinely cared about veterans and the mental illness and homelessness that came along with it,” Alex recalled. “He felt it was an absolute travesty that these people who served their country were not being taken care of.”
Colin’s experience with war went back to his time as a young boy in London, England. He grew up during the Blitz, when Nazi Germany relentlessly bombed Britain. His family slept in a bomb shelter in their yard.
His father was with the military and his mother was working, so Colin and his two brothers were sent to Wales to keep them safe. However, Colin was with one family and his brothers were sent to another. He was in Wales from the age of five to seven.
All of those experiences over the years — the good and the bad — shaped the man he became and the strength he had. He maintained that strength while dealing with his health problems.
He was willing to undergo more radiation treatment, but it wasn’t long before he was given a certain amount of time to live, and he began receiving palliative care.
His fight ended at home on Saturday.
Visitation will take place Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. and Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Carson Funeral Homes’ Doolittle Chapel — the same place Colin worked for a decade as a funeral pre-planner. The funeral will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. James' Anglican Church.
