Widow supports lenient sentence for man convicted in crash that killed her husband
In 2014, Rev. Canon Rob Fead presided over the Hamilton funeral of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, who was killed during the Ottawa terrorist shooting on Parliament Hill.
“My job, in the midst of all that chaos and fear, was to bring some sense of hope,” he told the media at the time of the service.
His dedication to serving the community — whether it was as rector at St. Jude’s Anglican Church in Oakville or as a military chaplain — ended abruptly on April 30, 2018 when the motorcycle he was riding was struck by a pickup truck in rural Wainfleet.
The 54-year-old, who had previously served at St. George’s Church in St. Catharines, suffered “significant blunt force injury” and died at the scene.
In an Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines on Thursday, 29-year-old Dillon Willick made a tearful apology to Fead’s family and friends.
“I am very sorry from the bottom of my heart,” he said. Willick, a resident of Dunnville, pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving in connection with the crash.
The Crown and defence offered a joint submission to the judge, requesting the first-time offender receive a conditional sentence of up to two years. A conditional sentence is served in the community and not behind bars.
Fead’s wife, Veronica, told court she did not feel a custodial sentence was the “right solution.”
“Robert wouldn’t have wanted that,” she said.
She also urged Willick to honour her husband’s memory by committing to helping others in his community.
The grieving widow described her husband as a man who was well-liked, respected and admired by many.
“He was a man of mercy and compassion.”
She said her husband “quite literally, made everything better” and her days are now filled with “immense and immeasurable heartache.”
“I feel like, mostly, I have died and they forgot to bury me. My life without Rob is devoid of hope.”
Fead started as a Catholic priest in the Hamilton diocese in 1993. He transferred to the Anglican Church in 2002 and joined the Niagara diocese.
He was the rector at St. George's church in St. Catharines between 2003 and 2014 and served as chaplain at the St. Catharines Fire Department. He and his wife were also billet parents to former Niagara IceDogs player Mathew Maione as well as his brother, former Niagara RiverHawks player Christopher Maione.
“It is clear Robert Fead led an incredible life,” assistant Crown attorney Andrew Brown told Judge Joseph De Filippis.
“Truly the community, indeed the country, has suffered a loss at his death.”
Fead also served as padre to 31 Canadian Brigade Group. As chaplain to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Fead conducted the nationally-televised service for Cirillo in October 2014.
The 24-year-old Hamilton soldier was shot dead in Ottawa by a man who then stormed the Parliament building before being fatally shot by security staff.
Fead called Cirillo “Canada’s son.”
“Your death is such a tragedy, but yet it's not in vain,” Fead told the crowd gathered at a Hamilton church. “Because of you, every Argyll and every man and woman who is honoured to wear the uniform of the Canadian Forces stands prouder and taller this day.”
The fatal crash occurred around 2:30 p.m. at the intersection of Wellandport Road and Willford Road.
De Filippis said he would accept the joint submission, but postponed imposing sentence until March.