~2004/2006 Mann Cup Champions!! 2005 Mann Cup Finalists!! 2006 Minto Cup Champions!!~
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Passing of Bob Joseph
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The following is from the OLA fan forum. Bob Joseph, a long time supporter of the Peterborough Lakers and lacrosse throughout Ontario has passed away. Bob will be sadly missed by the lacrosse community. Below is from the OLA fan forum:
Eastern Ontario lacrosse lost a great supporter of the game and a man with a passion for the sport that ran very deep. Robert (Bob) Joseph passed away yesterday after a lengthy illness. He will be missed dearly by his family, friends and all lacrosse enthusiasts.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations in Bob's memory to the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame & Museum. Contact: Mr. Tom Succamore, 18 Ixworth Road, Etobicoke, Ontario. M9W 4R8. Telephone: (416) 742-8630. Confirmation of donations, by receipt, will be acknowledged.
For those of you unfamiliar with Bob’s contribution to the game, please see the following:
During his youth in his hometown of Orillia Ontario, Bob Joseph participated in baseball and hockey, but his passion was lacrosse. And lacrosse in Ontario benefited from his passion. Bob Joseph’s reputation in lacrosse was built on his continued commitment and involvement, serving at the club, league, district and provincial levels. His significant contributions include coaching, managing, sponsoring, fund-raising and holding executive member positions for minor, junior and major teams.
Bob Joseph unselfishly gave of himself, his time and financial resources, contributing in whatever way he could. He was an outstanding lacrosse person who had a long-term commitment. His contributions were significant in Kingston and the entire eastern Ontario region. In addition, he contributed to lacrosse in the cities of Orillia and Peterborough.
At the time of his induction into the Kingston and District Sports Hall of Fame, Cam Devine, then coach of the Orillia Junior “A” lacrosse team noted that “Bob Joseph is held in the highest regard in lacrosse circles – One thing that stands alone about Mr. Joseph is that he has a genuine love of the game of lacrosse”.
A Builder
Bob was active in the development, promotion and management of lacrosse at minor, junior and major levels of the game since 1970. He was an active franchise owner, coach, manager, executive member and sponsor at all levels of the game during the past thirty-six years.
1970 – 1979, Kingston and District Minor Lacrosse Association
Bob Joseph was the driving force for Kingston lacrosse in the 1970’s. He served in various executive positions including President, sponsor, coach, and manager.
Bob’s direct involvement included managing the 1972 Ontario championship Juvenile team from Kingston.
He founded the Kingston Kings Junior team that won the Ontario championship in 1973. He was the Kings’ general manager and coach.
1973 to 1976 – Eastern Ontario-Quebec /Interprovincial Lacrosse League.
Bob served as an executive member of the Ontario-Quebec Interprovincial Junior Lacrosse League as well as coaching and managing the Kingston Junior Lacrosse Club.
1981 to 1983 – OLA Executive Member
Bob’s passion, dedication and commitment to lacrosse led to his involvement at the provincial level. He served as a member of the Ontario Lacrosse Association’s Board of Governors in 1981 and 1982 and he was second Vice-President in 1983.
Orillia Kings Junior Lacrosse Club
In the 1980’s while still living in Kingston, Bob Joseph opened a business in his hometown of Orillia. Mr. Joseph sponsored and sat on the board of the Orillia Junior “B” lacrosse club, which named the team the “Kings” in honour of him. This team was very successful becoming Ontario champions three times between 1990 and 1995 and Canadian champions twice in 1994 and 1995.
1995 to 2006 – Peterborough Lakers Major Lacrosse Club
Co-sponsor and Honourary Vice- President of the Peterborough Lakers Major club since 1995. Bob Joseph served as a special advisor and co-sponsor of the Lakers Lacrosse club. The Lakers won the Mann Cup in 2004 and 2006. Lakers president Ted Higgins credits Joseph with helping to keep the team afloat.
“Bob had always followed our junior team,” said Higgins. “He started coming to the odd one of our games and he was a small sponsor at one time but we got really down and out there for a time. Bob made some pretty hefty payments for three years in a row to help me keep this thing going and I’m deeply indebted to him for that.”
“We became Canadian champs and we can thank Bob for helping to keep it alive. I was telling him a while ago, I said, Bob, if you hadn’t been around I think I might have just let it go. It was too much for me.”
1999 – Inducted into the Kingston and District Sports Hall of Fame
In 1999 Mr. Joseph was inducted into the Kingston and District Sports Hall of Fame in recognition for his 30 years of service to lacrosse.
2000 – Inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame
In the year 2000 Mr. Joseph was inducted in the Builder category into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
2002 – Inducted as a Life Member into the Orillia Minor Lacrosse Association
In the year 2002, Mr. Joseph was inducted as a Life Member into the Orillia Minor Lacrosse Association.
2005 – Inducted as a Life Member into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame
In the year 2005, Mr. Joseph was inducted as a Life Member into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame. As many of you know, this award has only been bestowed a few dozen times in the history of the game. As Dean McLeod once stated “I’m a life member, I’ve been elected to the Brampton Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame, and also the Ontario one, but it’s a higher honour to be elected Life Member.”
2005
Although too ill to attend many of their games, Mr. Joseph was an avid supporter of the Ottawa Titans Junior 'A' team. He found tremendous satisfaction in knowing that the best junior age lacrosse players in Eastern Ontario finally had a team they could play for.
And that lacrosse fans across Eastern Ontario had their own team to cheer on.