Obituary of Fred Donald Hazel

The Death of Fred Hazel, a long-time New Brunswick journalist, occurred on August 12, 2016 at Saint John Regional Hospital following a lengthy illness. A former editor-in-chief of the Telegraph Journal and the Evening Times-Globe, he travelled widely in a news career that spanned six decades. After his retirement in 1992, he continued to write a weekly “People and Places” column in the newspaper. Reporting assignments took him all over New Brunswick and to a number of Canadian and world centres. He campaigned against drunk driving. He was an advocate of better understanding between the province’s English and French speaking people. In 1989, he won an Atlantic Journalism enterprise award for a series of articles promoting English-French harmony in the province. Born in the Saint John suburb of Fairville in 1928, he was a son of the late Charles and Florence (Murphy) Hazel. He attended St. Rose School, St. Vincent’s Boys’ High and Saint John High School before obtaining a B.A. Degree from St. Francis Xavier University in 1949, the year he started at the newspaper. He was a hands-on journalist who rose through the ranks from cub reporter to city editor, news editor, managing editor and editor-in-chief of the two newspapers then published in Saint John. He also contributed articles as a correspondent to The Globe and Mail, Time Magazine and other publications. He travelled across Canada for Managing Editors’ Conferences and hosted the first national convention of Managing Editors ever held in Saint John. He studied modern journalism at the American Press Institute seminar at New York’s Columbia University. Early assignments included coverage of the Saint John police beat, Common Council and the New Brunswick Legislature. Later he brought a local focus to international events with in-depth reporting tours of Ireland, Israel, Egypt, Taiwan, NATO in Brussels, and the Vatican in Rome, along with personal reports on a number of world tourist attractions. As an editor, he became a mentor and father figure to a number of aspiring young journalists. His autobiographical book, “Get Yerself A Shin O’Heat” was published in 1996, in conjunction with New Brunswick’s commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Great Irish Famine. He was a founding member of the Irish Canadian Cultural Association, and of the International Gathering of the Irish in New Brunswick. With his wife Alma, he made 11 personal tours of Ireland, the land of their ancestors. In retirement, he cherished family, friends, international travel, and the joy of singing. Public service recognition awards included the 2002 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Province of New Brunswick Merit Award, and membership in the St. Francis Xavier University Alumni Hall of Honour. Predeceased by his parents, brother Dr. Joseph J. Hazel (Joan) of Ottawa, he is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Alma (Crowley) Hazel; two daughters, Patricia Duplisea (Reid) of Saint John and Margaret Hazel of Ottawa; grandchildren Thomas MacKenzie (Stacy) of Saint John; Christina Sfeir of Toronto; Patrick Sfeir of Ottawa; brothers-in-law Arthur (Doreen), William (Barbra), John Crowley (Ruth), Robert A. Quinlan, and sister-in-law Rose Riley, Constance Crowley, and a number of cousins, nephews, and nieces. He was a parishioner of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in West Saint John and a founding member of its parish council. Arrangements are under the care of Castle Funeral Home, 309 Lancaster Ave, Saint John (634-1701). Visitation will be held on Monday August 15, 2016 from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm and Tuesday August 16, 2016 from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. A Funeral Service will take place on Wednesday August 17, 2016 at 12:00 noon from Our Lady of the Assumption Church. Interment will follow the service at Holy Cross Cemetery. A Reception will follow the interment at Castle Funeral Home. Donations in Fred’s memory can be made to the Assumption Church Building Fund, New Brunswick Extra Mural Program or a charity of the donor’s choice.