Harry James remembered as a man who was ‘all about people’
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Michael James stated nothing meant extra to his father than individuals in the neighborhood.
Harry James, recognized to many in P.E.I. as an equipment restore particular person, volunteer hockey coach, 50-50 ticket vendor at UPEI hockey video games and a person who put all the time placed on a powerful Christmas lights show exterior his Stratford dwelling, died on Could 26 on the age of 81.
“It was all about individuals,’’ Michael James, 60, stated on Could 30 in an interview with the SaltWire Community. “The extra individuals he received to fulfill, the extra individuals he needed to fulfill. Typically when he was working (in his equipment restore enterprise) individuals would complain that he was working late. Properly, it was in all probability as a result of he was speaking a lot on the home he was at. He simply needed to be round individuals.’’
One in every of 5 kids Harry had along with his spouse, Donna (Garnhum), who died seven years in the past, Michael stated his father’s ardour for serving to individuals typically meant Harry wouldn’t take cash from shoppers of Harry James Restore Service. He began the enterprise in 1966 and was nonetheless working with Tyler Collette, Michael’s daughter’s boyfriend.
“When it got here time to paying him, some individuals paid him with cookies or biscuits. Cash wasn’t necessary to him. It was simply the way in which he was. He as soon as informed me if somebody couldn’t afford to pay him,’’ Michael stated, pausing to compose himself, “he would all the time say the children in the home must go to highschool with clear garments. He’d additionally return to repair these machines.’’
Christmas lights show made the season particular
Michael stated his father additionally needed to make the Christmas season particular for the general public.
Harry first began placing his spectacular show of Christmas lights three a long time in the past when he lived on the nook of Kensington Street and Riverside Drive.
Michael stated when the province widened Riverside Drive and turned it right into a bypass freeway in 2008, Harry was decided to discover a new place to dwell so he may stick with it the custom.
“So, he went and regarded for a home and located a home with a whole lot of bushes he may put Christmas lights on and that’s how he ended up in Stratford.’’
Michael stated his father would all the time host a public barbecue on the home on Dec. 1 earlier than the lights had been flicked on. These barbecues drew as much as 400 individuals previous to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“He’d provide the drinks,’’ Michael chuckled. “It was fairly an occasion. However, for him, it was like going to a hockey recreation, he was that blissful. He by no means informed us what his electrical invoice was. We all the time questioned it, and he would all the time say he had it taken care of.’’
Harry’s hockey ardour
Hockey was one other of Harry’s ardour, particularly when it got here to the UPEI Panthers or the Sherwood-Parkdale minor hockey system.
“Panther video games … these had been his child. He offered 50-50 tickets and received to fulfill individuals. I can bear in mind going to Panther video games with him in 1972 and serving to him flood the ice on the previous UPEI rink. I’d be on the shovels, and he’d be doing the barrels. … He did it simply so that youngsters had a spot to go.’’
Former UPEI Panther Doug Currie, who stated he has been across the James’ household since he was six years previous, stated Harry James outlined what it means to be devoted to the group.
“He was simply such an unselfish, giving form of particular person,’’ Currie stated. “He was a reasonably particular man … who made a profound impression on a whole lot of us.’’
Currie stated Harry James labored laborious to make minor hockey video games occur.
“Whether or not it was placing down traces or ice, you possibly can wager your backside greenback Harry could be entrance and centre doing no matter it took to make the hockey season occur for the children in the neighborhood. I can bear in mind him driving youngsters to minor hockey tournaments,’’ Currie stated. “The sacrifice and dedication he made simply to make experiences occur for youth in the neighborhood was so very, very strong.’’
Michael James stated whereas it’s nonetheless too early to speak concerning the future, he expects the equipment restore enterprise will proceed sooner or later.
As for the Christmas lights, the household hasn’t determined but what is going to occur with the home or the seasonal show.
“We’ll do one thing to recollect him by,’’ Michael stated. “The grandchildren, I do know, gained’t let that one go.’’
The funeral will be held May 31 at St. Dunstan’s Basilica in Charlottetown at 10 a.m.
Dave Stewart is a reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island.
