A man who made his mark on the Royal City in his business and sports endeavours has passed away.
Russ Briscoe, 94, passed away March 30 after a short illness. While he was born in Brandon, Manitoba, his family moved to New Westminster in 1936 when he was 13.
"That's where he came, and that's where he stayed," said daughter Hope Goss. "Between being active himself, when he retired from ball he was very active with women's softball and minor boys baseball. He was the softball commissioner for Canada."
Briscoe told The Record in 2005 that New Westminster was the perfect place for him to be because softball was extremely popular in the Royal City from the 1930s to 1960s - and softball was one of Briscoe's lifelong passions. A pitcher, Briscoe played softball in New Westminster from 1936 to 1954, then coached for another 20 years.
In the 1950s and 1960s, softball games could attract 3,000 to 5,000 fans to games in Moody Park. Briscoe's team won the B.C. championship in 1941, competed in several world tournaments against professional ball players and placed fourth at the world championships in Long Beach, California in 1959.
In 1985, Briscoe received the Mr. Softball Award for his accomplishments on and off the ball field.
Briscoe was also well known around town as the owner and operator of Briscoe Meats. After working at Safeway for 11 years, he opened Briscoe Meats on 20th Street in 1946, moved it to Columbia Street 10 years later, and eventually relocated to Vancouver in 1966 so he could run a larger operation.
Briscoe, who quit school in Grade 10 to go to work and help his family through the Depression, eventually received a Dogwood certificate. After retiring, he volunteered for 20 years at New Westminster Secondary School, sharpening all the knives for the cafeterias and home economics classes.
In 2004, Briscoe started a bursary at NWSS. Each year the Russ Briscoe Sportsmanship Award is presented to a Grade 12 student chosen by physical education staff and coaches to get the $500 bursary.
Briscoe, who was predeceased by his wife Elma and son Teddy, moved out of New Westminster in 2009. He is survived by daughters Hope (Rob) Goss, Nancy (Doug) Bothamley, Lesley (Al) Davis, eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, three great-great-granddaughters, many nieces and nephews, and his longtime good friend Don Beadle.
A celebration of life is being held on Saturday, April 21 at 2 p.m. at 14835 Fraser Hwy., Surrey.
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