This week, Acadia is mourning the loss of a beloved member of our campus community. Joe Benjamin passed away on Monday, March 3 at the age of 61, one day shy of his 25-year milestone anniversary with Acadia’s Sodexo Physical Plant.

In the 25 years that he spent on our campus as a custodian, Joe was a constant source of joy for those around him. His incredible work ethic on campus was only matched by his commitment to volunteering outside of his work hours. Joe’s outstanding dedication as a volunteer was recognized with the Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2022. He is one of few Canadians to receive this award twice.

We could list all the biographical info of Joe’s life, but his life’s work was in building connections and giving back to his community. What speaks louder than the details about where he was from and where he spent his time is the impact that Joe made on the lives of everyone around him. Here is what the Acadia community has to say about Joe.

On campus, Joe was known as someone who always went out of his way to help, no matter what. Nancy McMullin, Joe’s manager, recalls that “it didn’t matter how many times you called Joe. He would drop everything, and no matter what it was, he would say, ‘no problem, I’m going to get over there right now and get that done.’ He wanted to make people happy.”

Derek Parker says Joe was “inspirational and motivational to our employees at Acadia and beyond. He was passionate about what he did, but even more so he was passionate about the university itself and his community.”

“Everyone wanted him in their areas for service. You could find someone from every department at Acadia that has something great to say about Joe.”

“Not only was Joe a hard worker, he was friendly and outgoing and took the time to get to know us within the office,” says Jo-Lene Burton Kehoe. “Joe had something special about him where you always feel good being in his presence, even if it was brief. He was a wonderful man who will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him.”

“Joe Benjamin was one of those people who are absolutely crucial to the success of any group, organization, or collection of people if they are to work well together: he was a kind heart with an exceptional soul and a passion for work that made the lives of others just better,” says David Duke. “At Acadia he was loved by the inhabitants of "his" buildings - Horton Hall and more recently the Biology Building. He was warm and funny, often exactly what was needed by people as he made his rounds late in the day.”

Eveline DeSchiffart reflected that “Joe graciously stepped in as our custodian whenever needed, caring for our space with great dedication. We remember his warmth and humor, as he greeted each of us with kindness while moving through our offices and corridors. His presence on campus will be deeply missed.”

Visitation will be held between 6:00 and 8:00 pm on Monday, March 10 at the White Family Funeral Home in Kentville. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, March 11, also at White Family Funeral Home, with livestream available. To read more about Joe’s life, please see his official obituary.