Obituary of Daniel Sylvester LeBlanc

Daniel Sylvester "Syl" LeBlanc Daniel Sylvester LeBlanc (Googie White), 86, of Reserve Mines passed away December 15, 2020 at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital surrounded by family. Born in Reserve Mines, he was the son of the late Charles and Catherine (Deveaux) LeBlanc. Known to many as “Googie White”, Dad was an altar server at St. Joseph’s Church in Reserve Mines. He served with the Royal Canadian Navy and became instrumental in the Sea Cadet movement in Cape Breton earning many Marksman medals during this time. He was commissioned by the Queen to the rank of Lieutenant and would serve in excess of 20 years with the Cadets. He was a founding member of the Reserve Mines Corp. He started working for Pepsi Cola at the age of 12 as a helper and worked for the company for 10 years. After this, he worked for Havelock Home Building Company until he opened his own wholesale, LeBlanc Wholesale. He served many convenience stores for 20 years in industrial Cape Breton. Dad and mom bought their own convenience store which they ran together for several years, and thoroughly enjoyed. After that endeavor, they moved to Ontario where they obtained jobs managing apartment buildings. The company then moved them back to Halifax, where they resided for many years before retiring back to Cape Breton Island. Dad made time to enjoy his favorite hobbies; broomball, bowling, golf and most of all fishing. His favorite fishing spot was New Boston. He was an important member of the annual slow pitch tournament in Bateston, and helped to organize a Girls Gymnastics Club on the island. Syl was a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Maple Leafs; as well as a member of the Junior Maple Leafs. To list all of Dad’s deeds and accomplishments would require the writing of a novel. Daniel is survived by his wife Margaret Joyce (Gillard) of 65 years; his three sons, Gordon (Katherine), Kenneth( Marguerite), Blair (Jacqueline); his four daughters, Patricia (Spencer) Brown, Anne Shirley (Ken) Pickford, Catherine (Bruce) Currie, Sandra (Bram) Whittaker; his two brothers, Stephen (Eileen) LeBlanc and Gary (Donna) LeBlanc; and his two sisters, Charlotte (Murray) Owens and Jeanette (Dave) MacMullin. Daniel also has 23 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and an extended Gillard family. Besides his parents, Dad is predeceased by his sisters, Rita Westhaver (Victor) and Lena Young (Gerald); brothers, Henry LeBlanc and Wilbert White (Barbara); as well as his grandson, Aaron Gordon Sylvester LeBlanc. Cremation has taken place under the care and guidance of T.J. Tracey Cremation and Burial Specialists, 370 Reserve St., Glace Bay. (902) 849-4199. Due to COVID Restrictions, a Celebration of Life will take place in the summer of 2021. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph’s Church, Reserve Mines. Special Thank you for the care provided by Dr. Paul Murphy and to the nurses and staff of 4C, as well as Palliative Care at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family by visiting www.tjtracey.com. Loved by family and friends, he will truly be missed! “Rest in Peace Googie.”