Remembering those who left us in 2014

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/01/2015 (4108 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Keeping a record of the athletes, builders and volunteers lost to the Manitoba sports community during the year is never a pleasant chore.

For 2014, the list seems extremely long. Now Memories of Sport has the opportunity to recognize them for their accomplishments and contributions.

Jack MacDonald of badminton, Dr. Ian Reid of water skiing, Doug Steeves of football and John Trager from 10-pin bowling were honoured members of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame. Buck Matiowski contributed to several sports including boxing and hockey. Gordie Mackie was a trainer whose hands touched most sports in our province. All were inducted into the HOF as builders. Swimmer Cay Kerr was inducted as an athlete for her success in the pool but she also was a dedicated volunteer for both the competitive and synchronized versions of her sport. One of our province’s greatest all-around athletes, Fred Dunsmore was a finalist for Manitoba Centennial athlete in 1970. He’s in the sport, baseball and hockey halls.   

Football was hit hard. Steve Patrick’s ability on the Blue Bombers line for 13 seasons in the 1950s and 1960s earned him induction into the Sports HOF. His Bomber teammates Bob McNamara and Buddy Leake battled for the Western Conference scoring title in 1956 with the versatile Leake winning by one point. Dick Thornton was a larger-than-life two-way player who starred for both the Bombers and the Toronto Argonauts in the ’60s and ’70s. Bill Boivin played on the Grey Cup champion teams in 1939 and 1941 and later was the club’s GM. Gerry Deleeuw also was a Bomber, Ian McTavish played for the Bombers while still junior age and later joined the Calgary Stampeders. Bobo Sikorski, who played junior hockey for the Winnipeg Monarchs, was an original B.C. Lion. Ermanno Barone and Bob (Bad Boy) Roe were members of the 1968-69 St. Vital Bulldogs team that was inducted into the Sports HOF in 2007. John Hamilton played for the 1961 St. James Rods, inducted in 2009.

The Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame recognizes deaths  in The Final Face-off column in its newsletter on the HOF website. In 2014, more than 60 had connections to hockey in our province so space does not allow us to mention everyone.

Wally Hergesheimer, who starred for the New York Rangers and had a long minor pro career, is in both the provincial sports and hockey halls. Joe Bell and Chuck Scherza are also in the hockey HOF. Cal Swenson was an original Winnipeg Jet. Jim Pritchard, the junior Jets captain, and Brian Marchinko, a Flin Flon centre, took part in Jets/Bombers battles before turning pro. Earl Fast played for the 1941 Canadian junior champion Winnipeg Rangers.

The past year was a tough one for the senior Winnipeg Maroons squad that finally won the Allan Cup in 1964. In addition to their captain Dunsmore, Sheldon Bloomer, Murray Couch and Chuck Lumsden, who also played football for the Blue Bombers, were lost.

Dunsmore’s best sport was baseball and he played junior for six seasons with the Rosedales organization that will be inducted into the Manitoba Baseball HOF in June. Other Rosedales who died this year were Don Bridge, Murray Brown, long-time hockey coach and scout Ray Frost and John Robertson. Better known for his media work than his pitching, Robertson was the “founding father” of the Manitoba Marathon. The original Winnipeg Goldeyes lost manager Vern Benson and Ray Sadecki, who went on to pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals.

All-around athlete Hugh Turnbull played a season with the Bombers, junior hockey for the Monarchs and a summer as the playing coach of The Pas TeePees, a team in the Baseball HOF. He also made a Manitoba senior golf team. Lorne Lilley and Don Sumner from Brandon were inducted into the baseball shrine. Sumner also is an honorary life member of Curl Manitoba. Albert Olson curled for three straight Canadian senor men’s championship teams. Pat Brunsdon skipped the 1969 Manitoba women’s champions. Gladys Innes curled for Manitoba in the first Canadian senior ladies championship in 1973. Margaret Ford and Betty Ann Houde represented Manitoba in Canadian golf championships. Margaret Moffat was a pool and snooker shark who was winning medals in Senior Games at age 90.

Dora (Shero) Witiuk, nicknamed Baser for her speed, played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Steve Brezden coached the 1967 Molson Canadians, the only Manitoba team to win a Canadian senior men’s fast pitch championship. Fred Taylor was inducted into the Manitoba Softball HOF in 2014 for his pitching prowess with Kiewel Seals. He also was involved in the formation of track and field camps at the International Peace Gardens.
Tennis and badminton said farewell to Norm Sweetland and Judy (Borland) Peake, who was Manitoba’s female athlete of the year in 1969, and tennis said adieu to Boris Bachynski. Bernie Fratkin played for the 1952-53 Winnipeg Light Infantry basketball teams that won the Canadian junior championship. Ron Hocking was with the 1992 Winnipeg Fury soccer team and coached field hockey and gymnastics. Anne (Walton) Grape swam for Canada at the 1968 Summer Olympics. Jared Timmerman was setting world records in the swimming pool before his death at 105. Alex Gyori was a member of the Canadian trap shooting team that medalled at the 1995 Pan Am Games.

Luelle Robertson was a past-president and life member of the Manitoba Lawn Bowling Association. Howard Threlfall served as president of the Manitoba Swimming Association. Deb Taylor was the “heart and soul” of the Springers Gymnastics Club. Jim Tepple served as chair of the Manitoba Section of the Canadian Figure Skating Association. Jerry Budyk had been honoured with a Manitoba Golf Association volunteer award for 25 years of service. Dale Hughesman served as president of Pine Ridge Golf Club and chair of the MJHL board through his involvement with the Selkirk Steelers. Jim Wright, who was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing HOF, operated Assiniboia Downs for 20 years.

Officials who deserve to be remembered include Herb Abrahams of ringette; Clint Bradley and Len Cowie  —hockey; Michael Crawford — boxing and soccer; Jack Da Silva — soccer; France Gunn and Gordon Linney — figure skating; Lorne Knowles — curling; Keith Lewis — alpine skiing and track and field; Doug Mooney —softball; Adam Niessner — track and field; Bob Shinnie — lawn bowling; and Percy Stapley — speed skating.

Memories of Sport appears every second week in the Canstar Community News weeklies. Kent Morgan can be contacted at 204-489-6641 or email: sportsmemories@canstarnews.com