PAUL FRANCIS POCE

Passed away at Trillium Health Partners Credit Valley Hospital on May 22, 2023, in his 99th year. Beloved husband of Edith Lorraine (née Watt) for 43 years, but friends for 50 years. He was the son of Francesco and Catherina Poce. A cherished brother of Mary Prior and Annette Wall; brother-in-law of May Poce, Elsie Biegler and Lynda Watt Wellman; and brother of the late Elmo, Angelo, Ben and Frank. He will be missed by his many nieces and nephews in Canada and the U.S.; and by his fur baby, Margherita.

As a young teenager he began working after school and on weekends at local stores in little Italy, and worked summers on farms in Niagara. After graduating from high school, he worked at the Inglis Plant making Bren guns until he entered the war.

In 1943, he began his service as a WAG (wireless, air gunner, navigator) Flying Officer. He flew Convoy Duty in Nova Scotia (11 BR) and then relocated to Tofino, BC, in early ‘45. Although he boxed for a couple of years after High School, he changed to running in the RCAF. He won many races and competed with the Army and Navy runners in Vancouver before the war ended.

Afterwards, he worked for GE on DEW line, then Charles Tennant, John Gordon, and Sons and Penmans.

He also worked under Lloyd Percival and his Sports College. He and two others founded the Toronto Olympic Club in 1954. He coached all the distance events and other track disciplines.

In the ’70s, he was made National Distance Coordinator. He was the Director of many races in Toronto, including Labatt’s Marathon, Pru at the Zoo, Silver Relays, and the Club helped at every race held locally. The Club supported and helped the Legion meets every year, and recently was a member of RCL Branch 82.

He was named to many Olympic Teams from 1972 to 1992; and also Commonwealth, Pan American, World Cup, Cross Country and Ekiden Relays.

He was elected to several Halls of Fame, including Canadian Olympic, Athletics Ontario and Athletics Canada; served as Meet Director for the Toronto Star Indoor Games, Toronto Sun Indoor Games, and as Race Director for many area races; was Head Coach of TOC for 69 years, and he ran for 65 years. Athletics was his life and he hoped to help everyone attain their goals, even just by a few seconds.

He loved jazz music, but also classical, and loved to read books from an early age, having a great interest in history and could remember world events and dates. He knew hundreds of his runners phone numbers (before cell phones) and athletes’ times by memory, even coaching these last few weeks by computer. He never wanted to retire.

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made in the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead”- Nelson Mandela

Friends may call at the Turner and Porter Neweduk-Erin Mills Chapel, 1981 Dundas St. West, Mississauga, on Thursday, June 1, 2023, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. A Service of Remembrance will be held in the Chapel on Friday, June 2, 2023, at 3 p.m., after a visitation from 2-3 p.m. A larger celebration of Paul’s life will be held later this summer. For those who wish, donations in Paul’s memory can be made to the Toronto Star’s Fresh Air Fund or Santa Claus Fund. He benefited from both of these funds as a child.