Longtime Welland Tribune photographer ‘NEVER HAD TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF’
Mitchell a ‘fixture’ of the community
Cecil (Cec) Mitchell was a “cornerstone” of Welland and its local newspaper.
That’s according to former Tribune sports editor Wayne Redshaw, who worked with Mitchell for more than 30 years.
Mitchell had a 46-year career as a photographer with The Tribune. He died Sunday at age 92.
Redshaw, who remained friends with Mitchell after they both moved on to retirement, said the popular shooter was known throughout the city.
“When he went to an event or function to take pictures, he never had to introduce himself,” said Redshaw, who until recently would meet with Mitchell and several other friends every other Wednesday at a local Tim Hortons to catch up. “People knew who he was.” While Mitchell would snap sports-related photos for Redshaw, he also captured images for all news beats.
“He was a very talented photographer who took a lot of pride in his work,” said Redshaw, noting it seemed the Tribune high school basketball tournament and Welland Rose Festival parade were his favourite annual events.
“It was not unusual to see a couple of cameras dangling from his neck.”
Redshaw said Mitchell was very much a “family man” who often spoke about his wife Margaret and their two children.
Ruth Ann Watt said life at home with her father was “different every day,” as she and her younger brother Paul would at times tag along to assignments.
“We could be at home on a Sunday afternoon, then all of a sudden we’re in the car on our way to an accident scene so Dad could take pictures,” she said.
She recalled her dad being a chaperone on a school hiking trip in the Effingham area of Pelham. He brought his camera and turned the outing into a story for her and her classmates.
He often had his pockets full of lenses and film, and “always had the smell of developer about him,” she quipped.
She said it was rare to hear someone in the community not know who he was.
“Everyone had their picture taken by him” at some point, she said, adding one photo he was most proud of was of the last vessel to travel the Welland Canal under Main Street Bridge downtown.
Margaret and Cecil moved into St. Charles Village retirement home earlier this year.
In his later years, Cecil continued to be the family photographer, never showing up to a gathering without a camera. He always loved the power of a printed photo over one displayed on a screen.
“He’d insist on still printing pictures. You can’t just look at them on a computer,” he would say, said Ruth Ann.
He also drove a vehicle that stood out — a lemon-yellow Volkswagen Beetle from the early 1960s.
“Everybody knew my dad was at an event because they’d see his Beetle outside.”
Mitchell was active with St. David’s Anglican Church. He is survived also by four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Ruth Ann said he died at Niagara Falls hospital after suffering respiratory distress, which was followed by him breaking his hip Friday.
Paul, 62, recalled sirens from a nearby fire hall waking his dad many nights to get photos.
“That was a fairly common occurrence,” he said, also reminiscing about joining him at junior hockey gamesand being tasked with carrying some of his dad’s equipment in the arenas.
“He certainly loved his job, and was well known for it.”
Mike DiBattista worked with Mitchell for five or six years starting in the mid-1980s.
“He was excellent at what he did,” said DiBattista, who would later join the Niagara Falls Review after his time with The Tribune.
He called Mitchell a “fixture” of the community who was a “terrific guy” that everyone enjoyed the company of.
“I’ve never heard anyone say anything but a kind word about him.”
Amemorial service will be held at St. David’s Anglican Church, 369 Thorold Rd., at 11 a.m. Friday.