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Ed Gould was known as a hard-working overachiever.
Ed, who was 70 when he died on April 27, graduated from St. Paul’s College before attending the University of Manitoba.
He finished an arts degree, worked as a professor’s assistant and was on the Dean’s Honour List.
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After that, Ed lived in Paris, Montreal and Boston before continuing his career in corporate public relations in Toronto.
Because of his personality, he was very good at his job. He helped make National Public Relations one of the top firms in the country.
“Ed was proud to be involved with the Apple team launches and the introduction of Walmart to Canada,” his family says.
“Ed was blessed with quick wit and a quirky sense of humour which engaged his numerous associates, many of which became long term friends.”
Ed always made sure he would come home to Winnipeg to celebrate Christmas, birthdays, and other special occasions.
His passions were travelling as well as Wheaton terriers. Somewhere along the way in life, he even played drums in a jazz band.
Ed was living in his dream home when, in his late 50s, he suffered a stroke in 2011. While his life changed dramatically, he worked hard to meet his many new challenges.
He returned to Winnipeg in 2018 and developed his own speechless communications system while living at Brightwater Senior Living.
In the last week of his life at St. Boniface Hospital, his many colleagues and friends came to visit him to share their life experiences and admiration for him.
“(It) made his final week with us so very special.”
Ed was predeceased by his wife, Shelby, and survived by his two sisters, two nephews, and two great-nephews.
Read more about Ed.
How They Lived
It was an achievement for Shirley Makl to live out her last years in a community like Winnipeg.
That’s because Shirley, who was 80 when she died on April 18, lived with disabilities during a time long before inclusion and today’s group homes in neighbourhoods.
She spent more than 70 of her 80 years at the Manitoba Developmental Centre in Portage la Prairie, with others living with intellectual disabilities.
In recent years, there has been a push to close the institution and allow people to live in the community. She was one of the residents who transitioned out, and that allowed her to spend the last few years of her life living in a community residence.
Read more about Shirley.
Gary Plouffe helped bring the magic of theatre to life.
Gary, who died on April 29, at 58 years of age, worked as house stagehand at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre.
He was the one who would pull the levers backstage to lift and drop set pieces to change scenes during plays.
Fittingly, his celebration of life was at the very theatre he worked so hard in so that patrons could enjoy seeing the plays.
Read more about Gary.
Marilyn Abosh was born with cerebral palsy. While it stopped Marilyn from becoming a nurse, it didn’t stop her from helping others.
Marilyn, who died April 29, helped teach Tai Chi as an assistant instructor for beginners, and passed the St. John’s Ambulance First Aid Emergency Course.
Marilyn even received the MLA Red River Award for all the volunteering she did at the Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre.
Read more about Marilyn.
Roy Ward may be dressed for summer in his obituary photo, but he did a lot in winter.
Roy, who died on April 19 at 78 years of age, chaired the family program and jackrabbit ski program for the Manitoba Naturalists Society (now Nature Manitoba).
He also was the chairman of jackrabbit cross-country ski youth programs at club, provincial and national levels. As well, he served on the boards of Nature Manitoba, Boreal Shores, and the Ingolf Campers Association, and he volunteered with the Ingolf Fire Department, serving as chief for six years.
Read more about Roy.
Lisa McRorie was the author of several books but wasn’t recognized in her writing by that name.
Lisa, who was 55 when she died on April 29, wrote under the pen name Lisa Emme.
She wrote several books, including five in the Harry Russo Diaries series.
After the birth of her son Quinn and his diagnosis of Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome, Lisa was a strong disability advocate for him. She travelled to national and international conferences and met with other families and researchers.
Read more about Lisa.
Margaret Collins was known for her voice.
Margaret, who was 88 when she died on April 23, was a soloist at St Philip’s Church for more than four decades.
And, in earlier years, she also sang with the Winnipeg Girls Choir and Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir. She even met her husband through music: Margaret sang in the choir at St. Jude’s Church and Gerry was the organist.
More recently, Margaret was the choir director in the choral unit of Sphinx Temple, No. 116, of the Daughters of the Nile.
Read more about Margaret.
You could say Gloria Lavallee was Lundar’s Tims.
When the family farm was sold in 1994 and she moved to Lundar, Gloria, who was 92 when she died on May 1, began baking donuts. And not just a few for her family.
Gloria baked and sold thousands of over a 21-year span, many times simply leaving them in a freezer in the garage with a margarine tub on top for money. The family says the money was always there.
In fact, Gloria would have continued to make donuts but, around 2015, she no longer trusted herself with making sure the stove wasn’t left on by accident.
Read more about Gloria.
A Life’s Story
Mad Mountain Mike may have intimidated and taunted people in the wrestling ring, but he was a softie and prankster outside of it.
Mike Philips, who took on several personas during his wrestling years, died last year at 57.
Mike Phillips as JR Bundy. (Supplied)
“He was so funny,” recalled fellow wrestler Dan Turner, once known as Dirty Dan Denton.
“You know, in this business, you have a lot of ups and downs. You could be on the worst, miserable tour and he would always make you laugh. What a great guy.”
To read more about Mike’s life, whether it was as Sgt. Tommy Steele, JR Bundy, or Sgt. Psycho, you can go here.
Until next time, I hope you continue to write your own life’s story.
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