There is no doubt Dan Hiscock will be most remembered for his work with the union according to long-time friend and former Grand Falls-Windsor Mayor Walwin Blackmore.
Mr. Hiscock's obituary reads of his many accomplishments in the town."Dan was a member of the Oddfellows Lodge, Anglican Sidesman, and Local 88 Papermakers Union. Dan retired from Abitibi-Price on March 1, 1990."
Mr. Hiscock died Aug. 22 at the Dr. Hugh Twomey Centre in Botwood. He was 77.
"It's difficult to live in Grand Falls-Windsor and not know Dan because he was a very outspoken individual," said Mr. Blackmore. "As Mayor I had a number of conversations with him and dealt with him on a number of situations. I've been in the Oddfellows Lodge with him over the last number of years."
For Mr. Blackmore, there is little doubt Mr. Hiscock's legacy will be his dedication to the union and for workers.
"He was an activist before activists were recognized as being such," Mr. Blackmore said. "When it comes to union matters, when it comes to relationships between the company and the union, I think Dan kept people on their toes. He was quite willing to speak out and let people know that he thought things weren't going as they should be."
And Mr. Blackmore said it was for the betterment of the town.
"Dan, when he saw something that needed to be commented on, something that needed to be done, or something that needed to be stopped, he brought it up," he said. "It could have had to do with the town, the union or our lodge. He didn't just sit around, he mentioned it; in many cases, things were corrected that probably wouldn't have been if Dan wasn't so outspoken and pointed out that problem or fault."
Over the years, Mr. Hiscock became one of Mr. Blackmore's close friends - one he said he would surely miss.
"As the Mayor in particular, after amalgamation, he dropped by to see me at the office quite often," he remembered. "Sometimes for a social call, other times if he had a particular issue with council or just comments along the road. I got to know him quite well and I was quite pleased with the fact that he considered me the type of individual he could confide in or bring issues to and get something done about it."
Former National Representative with the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union Ron Smith also remembers Mr. Hiscock has a strong advocate.
"Dan was president of CEP Local 88 back in the late 60s early 70s," he said. "When the district labour council wasn't so popular, Dan Hiscock went as president and kept that organization together for years under very difficult circumstances. He was totally dedicated to the purpose and principles of the labour movement. He was vice-president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour for many years. He was a moving force behind labour day parades in Grand Falls-Windsor for years, and parade marshal and chairman."
Mr. Smith called Mr. Hiscock a "strong voice for unions".
"Believe it or not, he was one of the few people that actually stood by the IWA during the IWA strike," he said. "He was an independent man. He fought for himself. If the general trend was to go in one direction, and he honestly thought the labour movement should move in another direction, he went in the other direction. He didn't necessary just follow the crowd. I guess that was one of his trademarks. He acted on what he thought should be done."
The two worked alongside of each other on the paper machines for nearly 25 years, and Mr. Smith called his death a big loss.
"Dan's voice was heard on every political issue on behalf of workers," he said. "And it's a big loss I think for the people generally because there was no point too contentious that Dan Hiscock wouldn't publicly tackle. He was one of the few people that didn't mind swimming against the current when it was called for. I think he influenced everybody's life around him. He made changes in the workplace, he pushed hard for safety programs and God knows how many people went home with all 10 fingers and all 10 toes because of some of the safety issues that Dan took on."
For Mr. Blackmore, he's sorry the 'thank-you' is coming just a little too late. "Unfortunately you talk about those things after the person has passed on when they cannot appreciate what other people are saying about them."
Dan Hiscock's funeral was held Thursday at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Grand Falls-Windsor.
