The sound of music and laughter appeared to expel the excruciating heat outside the place that Oscar “ Mr. Popeye” Joseph calls home as he effortlessly danced to the tune of Jim Reeves “He’ll have to go,” demonstrating just how sprightly he still was at 100 years, and counting.
The man, who is well known in Dominica for his ice cream and his famous ice cream truck, celebrated his 100th birthday on the 2nd of September 2015, with a church service at The Lady of Fatima church in Newtown followed by a party for the rest of the day at the parish hall.
He clearly intends to remain in the land of the living for quite some time.
Perched in his comfortable living room during a visit by DNO, Joseph told the story of his life saying he has no regrets except that he wished his mother, who died 16 days after he left home for employment as a driver in Antigua in 1938, had lived a little longer.
However, he said, he is contented that he did what he always wanted to and that was to get to know other lands and to sail.
And sail he did.
As a sailor he has visited many countries around the world including the United States of America, Japan, England, Ireland, Bermuda, Scotland, Ireland, and South America. However he stated in his sailing days, he has not been to China, Australia and a few other countries that he would love to visit.
Joseph grew up in Roseau, near an area called New Street now renamed to Kennedy Avenue with his mother and other siblings. He never knew his father.
When the opportunity arose for him to go to Antigua for employment, he left with the blessings of his aging and unwell mother. He never saw her alive again.
He has two siblings; a brother and a sister. The brother has since passed and his sister he doesn’t know about since she left Dominica while he was in Antigua during what Joseph described as the “England fever.”
While in Antigua, where he spent 13 years, he met his wife, Daphne Dover and the relationship produced five children: three girls and two boys.
The family relocated to Dominica and two years later the opportunity arose for him to work on a Geest boat which transported bananas between the Windward Islands and the South of Wales.
That is when his sailing days began and for the next 13 years he sailed the high seas.
But just how did the legendary Mr. Popeye get his name?
As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end but before his sailing days ended, Joseph began preoccuping himself with what life would be after he made dry land his home again. One day while in the South of Wales, he sighted a van parked on the jetty selling ice cream.
And so the proverbial light bulb went on in his head because it looked like just what he needed to earn a living back home. He began working on acquiring an ice cream van and with the help an Irish friend, he was successful.
He acquired a van with the mural of the cartoon character Popeye on it and he brought it home and began experimenting on various flavors of ice cream.
And the distinctive taste of Mr. Popeye’s ice cream was born and the name of the cartoon character became his own.
Since the original van, Joseph has purchased two more and the newer of the two was even featured in the music video, “Ice Cream Man” by Dominican Colton T. The video was a hit.
These days Joseph enjoys gardening in a tiny plot outside his Goodwill residence where he grows chives, seasoning pepper, cabbages among other vegetables.
He said he delights in putting his feet up, eating, dancing, exercising and in short, enjoying life. He stated that he is healthy as ever and apart from a slight eye problem, is still able to drive.
At 100, Joseph has outlived his wife Daphne, who died in 2001, but still maintains management of the business and occasionally assists in ice cream production. However, he has long ago handed the keys to the Mr. Popeye truck to his sons Hanif and Lester.
Just as the DNO team was contemplating an exit, Joseph’s son, Lester, drove up and gave a sample of pineapple ice-cream, which melted in mouths.
It was the perfect recipe for the late but still blazing afternoon sun and a reminder of Mr. Popeye’s Ice Cream which has been tickling the taste buds of Dominicans for some 50 years.
Well done Mr. Popeye.I must admit that, the ice cream was great.Give GOD all the glory for great things HE has done…You could not ask for anything more,especially in these days of great turmoil and stress..it’s done only by the grace of GOD.
Happy birthday Mr. Popeye…
This is a heartwarming story which I enjoyed reading. His is an interesting life.
100 years and still healthy? Even gardening! Wow! Would be great if everyone lived to this ripe age and healthy.
He is young at heart and has a good disposition. He loves music and dancing. This makes for a healthy person with longevity.
A Happy Birthday to you Mr. Popeye. May God continue to bless you with some more years and with health and strength.
God’s richest blessings and many more to come MR> POPEYE> i did enjoy ur ice cream over the years.
Mr. Popeye:
A belated HAPPY BIRHDAY to you Sir, and CONGRATULATIONS on a long and productive life
Not every man launches a business that he works past the age of 100 years. The very best to you and the
family.
That is one beautiful van.
Allow me to share my favorite scripture.
”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
What does John. 3:16 has to do with his longevity? The man worked and enjoyed life. May I congratulate him, on his belated birth day
I am wondering if this is the same guy who drove all over the place selling ice cream.
Many HAPPY RETURNS Dear Friend on your achievement. You are someone, who was part of my growing-up in to man-hood, who got me a job working as a mechanic on a Banana- Ship with you, going to England and seeing all the great Cities on the way.
As you may remember; On our last trip, we spent three days in Belgium as tourist, sight-seeing and having fun,, where we left the ship and was flown home. (The ship had to remain in Belgium).
You Dear Buddy and that time of my life, will always be part of me.
It’s truly a pleasure to have known you and to wish you, many more years, full of GOOD HEALTH and HAPPINESS.
GOD BLESS.
Errol Hyson.
happy birthday popey I hope you enjoy your birthday
Happy Birthday Mr Popeye!
I am so happy to see Mr. Popeye ‘s face. God is a good God. I remember as a young girl walking up to Goodwill and seeing the icecream van. I pray that he will continue to take good care. Blessings
Happy Birthday Mr. Popeye. Was amazed when I met him two years ago still driving and not wearing glasses. That’s amazing. A good long life. Blessings.
Hello DNO,
This was a wonderful ‘human interest’ piece of news.
A respectful suggestion: It would be a wonderful thing to have such heart-warming human interest on a Friday afternoon. To sort of remind us that behind every person there is a story.
Well done, DNO, Well done.
Who can forget Mr. Popeye? That was my Sunday treat as a kid. May you live to see many more years.
I remember enjoying a few of his ice creams in my youth. I am pleasantly surprised to know he is still in the business.
I grew up knowing Mr. Popeye, ooh such a lovely person and family. Happy Birthday to you and wishing you many more to come. I am longing to taste your delicious ice cream again.
Happy birthday Mr. Popeye from the James family in South Wales. My dad is from Roseau and also worked on the gueest ships x
happy birthday mr popeye
I remember the sound of his van and the delicious hard vanilla ice cream in my high school days. Over the years there were so many other Ice cream businesses in Roseau… he was always a nice man… he outlived them all
bless UREADY!
Mr.Popeye Happy BDAY,GOD BLESSING ON YOU SIR.
Happy Birthday Mr. Popeye. Wishing you many more.
Many more years, Mr. Popeye
What a lovely piece DNO…and happy birthday to Mr. Popeye.
To use an ice cream metaphor…we got a nice “flavour” of who he was,
his travels, his family and his love of life.
Happy Birthday Mr. Popeye I really enjoy your ice cream
yes can`t forget this was my favorite ice cream when I came to town.Sometimes he traveled to other villages to sell his product.ENJOY life Mr.Joseph.Give God thanks and praise along the way..
Happy birthday and well done!
Bravo! Bravo! Congratulations Mr. Popeye
Notice the man not looking anything like his age. All you going to start dancing too eh!!!
this is a great story… I read to the end and enjoyed it! May you live to see many more years Mr. Popeye.. God bless you and your business.