TRIBUTE TO PHIL NOVOKSHONOFF
June 29, 2014
When I offer words in commemoration of someone’s passing, I do so from my personal perspective and knowledge of that person.
I had met Phil on the Talarico Wing construction, back in 1991 while he was installing the fire sprinkler system. I had earlier known his father Joe, who was a Director of the Doukhobor Benevolent Society while building Parkside Villa in Grand Forks as well as members of his family at various Doukhobor functions. I found it was easy to talk to Phil and that first meeting seemed like it started a relationship that now I wish to high light.
It appeareded that Phil had an interest in what the Doukhobor Cultural Association was doing as he would take his father, Joe, to the Doukhobor Sports Days and so when he heard that we were starting the development at Whatshan he approached me during a Talent Night Kootenay Choir performance in Grand Forks and offered his assistance should we require anything Mechanical. The Doukhobor Heritage Retreat Society #1999 had many capable volunteers but the Building Inspector required that all Plumbing must be installed by a Journeyman Plumber in order to meet the requirements of the Building and Plumbing Codes. In due course, I made the call to Phil which went something like this.
After briefly outlining the scope of the Retreat Building, Phil asked the question, “Well what would you like me to do?”
Of course I took this opportunity to present my wish list:
• “Well pump and related piping
• Water line from well to Retreat Building
• Power hookup for well
• Pressure tanks
• Septic tank pump to 2,500 foot field
• Showers piping
• Kitchen stove
• Stove propane piping”
There was absolutely no hesitation in his response, “that is no problem. I will charge the equipment at cost and my hired Trades people labor at cost. My time and equipment will all be donated. We just need to find a suitable time slot when to do it. I will research the well Suppliers as well as the other equipment”
I was shocked at this as it was a tough job building something in the hinterland away from normal supply houses and equipment with volunteer help, donated materials and no sure source of funding.
Phil called and said that he would arrive on site on this appointed date. It was a sight to see as a large truck, pickups and a crew of men arrived and began work just as if they had all been there before. A derrick attachment was set up on the back of a flat deck and the process of lowering the pump along with steel piping and electrical wiring began, Work inside the building was also taking place. All continued until complete within three (3) days and the water system was operational.
What a significant boost to the morale of the Volunteers who now did not have to haul water in water jugs from Castlegar.
Phil looked at the kitchen stove that we wanted to convert from natural gas to propane and shook his head. “Elmer it would be a waste of time as this stove is better off in the dump”, he consulted.
“If you can spare $5,000 I will get you a reconditioned unit that will be shop tested. I will bring it from Spokane and then make all the propane connections”, he added.
This came to pass and he called me to see if I could pick it up at his shop and transport it to Whatshan. Of course I agreed but alas, I was unable to find a suitable truck and a willing person to make the delivery. So I advised Marilyn that we would detour via Grand Forks and just pop in at Mainstream Mechanical to pick up the stove on “Silver” my little Ford pickup.
I had no idea where Mainstream was located in the first instance and absolutely no concept of the size and weight of the steel stove and besides this would be on a shortcut over the summit that would take me past Edgewood.
So Peter and his brothers were given the task to help me load this stove which was a simple transfer from their flat deck to Silver. I didn’t blink an eye when I saw that this was like hauling an elephant on a child’s wagon. The boys in their stead were very business-like as we all labored with this challenge. When the stove finally settled in on the box, Silver immediately raised his hood desperately trying to stay with all four wheels on the ground.
I think it was Peter who offered the first comment “pretty heavy load, eh?”
I nonchalantly countered with “Silver is used to all this work”, trying to show my confidence which was blocked by a choking tongue.
“How do I get over the hill?” was my parting comment.
“Oh, so you were never on that road?” all the boys were now curious as they contributed to the directions.
As I got into Silver, Marilyn was looking for assurance with “so you know where you have to go?”
“No problem” and we lurched slowly into motion.
On the flat stretch, it was just a chore to keep Silver running straight as every curve swayed him from one side to the other. When I started climbing the mountain, though, it was difficult to see over the hood which was now higher still. This was certainly a potential good ad for Ford as Silver groaned his way up the summit while I looked for signs that would tell me I was taking the correct fork.
Suddenly I realized we had crested as Silver started to pick up speed and I geared right down to first and thought of what I was going to do if the gears failed. I want to remind you that even going downhill, Silver’s hood was still raised. Marilyn had already turned green and was no support whatsoever. Then I recalled my mother’s hopeless effort to teach me Pasallmee which I never did master. Let me assure you that I recited all six of them three times on my way down that hill. The outskirts of Edgewood looked like New York when we finally made it down.
When Phil and his Gas Fitter arrived later, he looked at me and asked “did you have any difficulty getting it here?’
“Piece of cake!”
And so this is the way Phil and his sons established an assistance program that carried on to plumbing five cabins and the Whispering Pines Centre. More recently that involved “On Demand” Hot Water in the Retreat Building and replacement of the Kitchen Stove complete with a new automatic starting mechanism.
When I saw the young Novokshonoffs work, They applied their trade as grown adults even though they were barely teenagers at that time. Most important to note is that they followed their father’s instruction completely.
I watched as a thirteen year old jumped into a pickup and backed a trailer into a spot like a seasoned Trucker, in a straight line with no hint of a jack-knife . Our mouths dropped open in disbelieve.
My continuing visual picture is Phil sitting on a stool in the middle of the yard while they were working on piping in the septic tank. What amazed me is that Phil was knew exactly what they were doing as he would offer advice from his location some 25 feet away “with try that wrench, it will work better!”
In the evenings we had many occasions to talk and I learned that Phil had a deep understanding of “What is a Doukhobor” as that is the way he lived his life.
This is a Celebration of Phil’s life and so I need to mention another humorous incident that took place when I visited Phil in the hospital during his challenges with weight reduction. He had been transferred from Calgary and was in the West Kootenay Regional Hospital and on the second time I visited with Phil, he told me this story and I admit we laughed heartily.
Phil started with “these guys were not providing me with enough food so I called 911 at 7:00 P.M.”
“So what happened?” I was surprised to hear.
“Well the Paramedics came charging into my room to the surprise of the Hospital Staff”, Phil explained.
“When everyone finally settled down, I said that they are starving me here!” as we both laughed at his sense of humor.
“That is not all, Elmer,” Phil continued, “I called in for a Pizza delivery and got two pizzas into my room before anyone caught on.
I believe that I can speak from all of us at the Doukhobor Heritage Retreat Society #1999, we wish to express our sincerest thank you to Phil and the entire Novokshonoff family for your contributions to the development of Whatshan.
Let Phil’s spirit become synonymous with all those great spirits that have blessed us here on Earth and now he can continue with his greatest mission yet.
Elmer Verigin, President
Doukhobor Heritage Retreat Society #1999
Written June 28, 2014