Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/134411
Legacy Funds A dedicated volunteer, Brad Joseph found a way to continue his support long after he was gone | BY DONNA BARKER "Brad had personality-plus! He made friends no matter where he went," says his mother, Bernice Joseph. "We had a very close relationship. He came on many holidays with us, met his dad and me in Vegas for our 50th anniversary, and surprised his dad by flying home for his 75th birthday. "His death was such a shock to us. I still can't believe it," she continues. "Even though he passed on April 20, 2009, it still feels unreal." Terry Twentyman laughs, "Brad and I were great friends for over 30 years. He loved to travel, to camp, to volunteer. And he had a crazy sense of humour. We went to Peru together and he wore spandex shorts and tank tops for the entire trip, just for fun." And according to longtime friend Kelly Kellogg, "Brad was just open arms all the time. He would help out anyone he could. He was always there, dedicated to backing up his friends. And he was always happy." In talking to people who were close to Brad Joseph, an accountant and former Canada Revenue Agency auditor, two things become clear. Joseph was a loving and committed friend, brother and son. And, he was a man who embraced every opportunity and challenge that life threw his way. When he was diagnosed with HIV, back before the HIVsuppression drug therapies that are available today, he didn't expect to live 12 months – so he bought an open-ended airline ticket and spent what he thought would be his last year travelling the world. page 16 I Vancouver Foundation l Spring 2013 p16-17 Brad Joseph.indd 16 friend friend Life for "To his great surprise, he ended up having to settle the huge credit card debt he accumulated on his trip," laughs Twentyman. According to Twentyman, "the whole HIV thing made Brad angry. Angry that people are HIV positive. He'd do whatever he could to help people in his situation. And not just people with HIV, but anyone who was terminally ill." In fact, Joseph's compassion for people living in their final years started long before he received his own diagnosis. "Brad was always eager to visit his great-grandmother, who lived out of town. He'd tell us, 'since I don't know how long she'll be here.' And he could make my mother laugh like nobody else could, calling her 'his sexy grandma.' She thought he was the best," Bernice (Joseph's mother) says. After one of his own friends passed away from HIV, Joseph took it upon himself to care for that friend's 80-year-old mother, Ann. Photos courtesy of Bernice Joseph 13-05-22 1:01 PM