Mr. Joseph Samuel Lipson

Born to Hyman Lipson and Jean Seidman in Cote-Saint-Luc, toddler Joseph was called “Chuckie” by older brother Barry and his many aunts. Bright and literary from an early age, Joseph became good friends with music reviewer Barry Corber when the two were still in grade school, with the friendship lasting over 50 years. He enjoyed athletic summers at Camp Maniwaki in Nominigue QC in the early 1960’s. Graduating with honours from Wagar High School, Cote Saint Luc in 1969, Joseph enrolled in Concordia University. The death of his father in his first college year took Joseph out of studies and into the world of commerce, where he and his brother Barry continued operating Hyman Lipson & Sons rare coin shop at Gare Centrale in Montreal for 12 more years. He participated in several stage plays including a notable performance as Felix in Neil Simon’s ODD COUPLE.

Joseph relocated to Toronto in the early 1980’s and continued with theatrical roles. His business venture with the Second Cup in a new 1984 location on the west side of Church St. just below Wellesley became particularly successful, located on the morning commuting route for many CBC personalities. The concrete steps in front of the coffee shop became a community gathering and people-watching place, immortalized by the KIDS IN THE HALL, members of whom were Joseph’s employees before being signed to a TV series. Joseph combined theatrical action with community activism during the 1980’s, notably with multiple roles in the FRUIT COCKTAIL variety show fund-raiser.

After selling Second Cup, Joseph ran a restaurant briefly and acted in plays, as well as in short films by young film-maker Chris Trebilcock. He worked as distributor for franchise networks for a number of years. Joseph enjoyed travel, visiting Amsterdam, London, Cairo, Jerusalem, Texas, Los Angeles, East Africa, Key West, Fire Island, the Abacos, New England and Cuba. In later years he devoted increasing amounts of time to caring for his mother and brother, both of them becoming infirm at the same time.

In 2004 He published a chap-book of children’s poems, ON MALLARD FEET, and wrote CRICKET SONG for children’s chorus, which was never performed in his lifetime.

Friends are invited to a memorial visitation on Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 12 noon at the Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home & Chapel, 467 Sherbourne St. (south of Wellesley), Toronto. A Service of Remembrance will follow at 1 o’clock in the Coach House Chapel of the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Joseph’s memory may be made to the Mississauga Humane Society – www.mississaugahumanesociety.com