Thunder Bay couple who died in fire remembered for generosity
Family and friends say Wilfred Pott and Anne Chuchmuch turned their lives around and helped others
Friends and family of the couple who died in Sunday's house fire on Brant Street say Wilfred Pott and Anne Chuchmuch were former addicts who turned their lives around and devoted themselves to helping others.
Ben Marki first met Pott in jail in Toronto around 15 years ago, he said.
Two years ago, he was finishing off another prison sentence when Pott encouraged him to come to Thunder Bay and get clean, he said.
"He's like my dad, man," Marki told CBC. "He's found me jobs, taken me off the street pretty well. He's given me a place to live."
Marki said he'll remember his friend by staying clean.
Pott's eldest daughter, Jenn Hamann, recalled forming a relationship with her father when she was a young adult and said she'll remember him as someone who was always there for her and quick to show his love and pride in her accomplishments.
"We talked many times about the fact that he was so remorseful about not having been around for my childhood and my mom while she was raising me," Hamann said, adding that her father was the most self-aware person she knew.
A great person and a great employee
When he decided to get clean, he removed himself from his circle of friends who were also addicts and moved home to Thunder Bay to stabilize his life, she said. He then helped Chuchmuch, who he had first lived with in Toronto's tent city, to join him and clean up too.
"I would like people to know that what he cared about more than anything in the world was helping other people realize that, no matter what their barriers are, that they can receive help," Hamann said.
Pott was a front-line support worker for Shelter House, whose acting executive director, Brad King, remembered him as a "great person" and "a great employee."
"Wil had a wonderful rapport and a wonderful way with people," King said.
Chuchmuch was on the board of directors of the Kiwanis Club of Thunder Bay where she and Pott also volunteered.
"She was just a very loving, caring person, like I said. She was always volunteering," recalled Shelley Marinis, the club's incoming president.
Chuchmuch recently spent more than 20 hours painting large candy canes for the club's float in the Christmas parade, she said.
Kiwanis gave Chuchmuch an award last year for working the most volunteer hours, Marinis added.