Charles Kealey Cummings

Kealey Cummings, 91, passed away peacefully December 9, 2017 at Windsor Park Manor in Ottawa, Ontario with family by his side. Kealey was born January 24, 1926 in Timmins, Ontario to Charles Gilbert and Ellen Sophia (Kealey) Cummings. Predeceased by his wife Lucille (Clusieau), daughter Ellen and his partner Frances Burns. Survived by his children Michael and Charlene. Proud grandfather to Daniel.

Kealey was a WWII veteran who served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1944 to 1946 aboard the HMCS Ottawa II. Following his discharge, he worked as a diamond driller and gold miner before joining Ontario Hydro as a construction electrician and becoming chief union steward in 1952. He was elected as Ontario Hydro Employees Union (OHEU), which became the Power Workers Union (PWU), first full-time president in 1957 and held that position for thirteen years.

From 1955 to 1963, Kealey served as General Vice-President of the National Union of Public Service Employees (NUPSE) and he is considered one of the founding fathers of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) which was formed in 1963 following the merger of the National Union of Public Service Employees and the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE). He served as a General Vice-President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees and was elected as CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer from 1975 – 1985. The last few years of his career were spent in London, England as Labour Counsellor to Great Britain and The Netherlands before returning to Canada.

Retirement was spent in Ottawa with winters in Florida. Golfing was something he loved to do and to be able to golf all year was wonderful. Further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Kealey will be fondly remembered by family and friends as a loving father, uncle and friend, strong union leader and proud veteran. Services will be private. A celebration of his life will be held on Tuesday, May 22 at the Strathcona Branch of the Canadian Legion, 1940B Bank Street, Ottawa starting at 5 pm. Interment will take place in Timmins.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Stephen Lewis Foundation in Kealey’s name would be greatly appreciated.