‘He had a gift’

Face, voice of the Men of the Deeps Yogi Muise dies

“He was really a gentle teddy bear.” Stephen Muise

NEW WATERFORD — A man noted as excelling as an educator, musician, devoted friend and as a gentle teddy bear, has died.

Yogi Muise, the voice and face of the Men of the Deeps, died Thursday afternoon at his beloved log cabin in George’s River, surrounded by family. He was 85.

Son Michael was travelling home from Ottawa and arrived about half an hour before his father passed away.

“He waited,” said daughterin-law Jenn Sheppard. “Michael arrived and said, ‘I’m here, Dad.’ Yogi raised up his hand, told his wife he loved her and then passed away.”

Muise was diagnosed with Melanoma – skin cancer — last year.

“It came on him very quick and took him very quick,” Sheppard said. “It hardly seems fair.”

In a passionate tribute on her Facebook page, Sheppard described him as “A mountain of a man. Known and loved by all.”

Sheppard said he became a dad figure or a grandpa to everyone who ever met him.

“A husband and an amazing father to his own family,” she said. “An educator, a mentor, a business manager, a music man. He orchestrated his death the way he orchestrated his life; with music and family and plenty of stories.”

Sheppard actually met Yogi when she was in Grade 9, he was her teacher and instantly her favourite. Sheppard said when you were speaking with Yogi, it was like you were the only one in the room.

“He had a gift, he made everyone feel that way,” she added.

Yogi — whose real name is Wilfred — was only eight years old when, as a catcher on a baseball team, he earned the nickname. At first, he thought they were calling him that because he was so big, tall and strong and didn’t like it until he discovered it was after Yogi Bear.

After that, Wilfred was only his name on paper.

“He wouldn’t answer to Wilfred,” she said. “Even when you’d have to take him to the hospital or where ever you’d go, if someone would announce the name Wilfred, he wouldn’t answer.”

A WONDERFUL DAD

Muise worked in the coal mines for two years from ages 16 to 17 and then spent two years in the Air Force before beginning his 30-year teaching career.

Along with excelling as an educator and musician, he did excel at home as well.

“He was a wonderful dad,” said son Stephen Muise.

Stephen said his father provided any opportunity he and his three siblings ever wanted whether to play soccer, golf or baseball, both parents would ensure it happened.

“Whether you were playing baseball, were refereeing a soccer game or playing a recital, Yogi was always there, and you knew it,” he said. “Just having his presence and it meant so much to us as kids growing up.”

Muise joined the Men of the Deeps in 1969, two years after it formed.

Stephen said his dad was nervous auditioning as a professional conductor, the late Jack O’donnell, came from Antigonish for his audition. Yogi got accepted right away in the baritone section.

“Once they met, they became the best of friends,” Stephen said.

In 1976, the choir went to China and while there their business manager became ill. Being a teacher, Yogi was asked to take over to get them home. They flew home from China and landed in Vancouver to an Air Canada strike. Yogi had to organize the journey home through the United States, eventually to Bangor, Maine, busing them back to Cape Breton.

“Once they got home the hand never changed and Yogi stayed as business manager for the group doing all the dealings and arrangements for the group worldwide for 33 years,” Stephen said. “Over the years, it was thousands of engagements.”

FOLLOWING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS

Stephen followed in his father’s footsteps and is music director at Breton Education Centre, and conductor/business manager and technical director for the Men of the Deeps.

The first tour Stephen went on with the choir, member Nipper Macleod, who toured with his own father for about 25 years, pulled him aside and said, “You’re never going to forget this moment, to travel to these different theatres and make all this wonderful music with your dad.” Stephen said he was right. “My dad and I toured with the Men of the Deeps for 15 years together and we loved every minute of it,” he said. “It was something special to be able to sit there and watch him perform to sold out theatres all across Ontario. It was such a joy to have that experience.”

Stephen said his father was proud of all his children’s accomplishments, his brothers David and Michael and sister Susan.

“He was very proud of my sister, that she had the courage to work in the palliative care system,” he said, adding it was comforting to the family to have her to help guide them through the process.

Everyone knew and loved Yogi which Stephen credits to his dad being such a good listener. Anyone sitting with him would have his full attention.

“It was a very unique charm that you wouldn’t expect a man of his statue — a big, burly like man like he was – would have,” said Stephen. “He was really a gentle teddy bear.”

BEST FRIEND

Jim Maclellan, a member of the Men of the Deeps, was Yogi’s roommate when touring on the road for 35 years. Maclellan said they got very close fast and confided with each other over the years about everything knowing nothing would ever be repeated.

“He was a good roommate,” Maclellan said. “Never a glimmer of anything that was said between us was repeated. It was like that throughout it all.”

Maclellan said Yogi was manager for over 30 years and it included a time when the mines were going and the men were working all kinds of different shifts. Organizing concerts shifts had to be changed and so on.

“Yogi never stopped,” Maclellan said. “Jim was the director, but Yogi was the engine, he made everything go. “

One highlight was 2008, the choir had four trips that year but the cream of the crop for them all was to Las Vegas. The choir was in the United States early in the new year as far as Arizona and then went to Florida where they met officials with Caterpillar, manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, planning a convention in Vegas and were interested in the choir performing.

“Yogi insisted our wives would be able to go as we’d never be allowed to go otherwise,” he said.

Saddened by the news of the loss of his friend, Maclellan’s voice quivered as he said he’ll miss him deeply.

“I already do,” he added.

SERVICES FOR YOGI

Visitation for Yogi Muise will be open to the public and will be held at V.J Mcgillivray Funeral Homes in New Waterford on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at Parish of Saint Leonard on Monday at 10 a.m. Due to the pandemic, the service is by invitation only. The funeral service will be livestreamed. The website address wasn’t known as of Friday but when known will be shared on social media.