Obituary of Willard Joseph L'Heureux

L'HEUREUX, WILLARD JOSEPH, BA, MA, LLD Peacefully at Toronto General Hospital on April 2, 2005, age 87. Professor and Dean of Physical Education at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, for many years, Bill was a respected and beloved scholar, teacher, coach, sportsman and gentleman. Educated at Assumption College (BA Classics, 1937), Ontario College of Education at the University of Toronto (1939) and the University of Michigan (MA, 1953), he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of New Brunswick in 1967 for his contributions to physical education, fitness and amateur sport. Bill was the author of numerous articles on sport and physical education as well as the book Hockey for Boys (1962) and an internationally acclaimed hockey instructional film used by, among others, the Soviets in the 1950s. He wrote, with the Rev. David Bauer and Max Bell, a definitive Report on Amateur Hockey for the federal government in 1960, outlining challenges for Canada's national game related to education and professionalism. An accomplished athlete, he played defence for Windsor Bulldogs, Chatham Maroons, University of Toronto Varsity Blues, Maxville and Renfrew Millionaires while pursuing his education and starting his teaching career in high schools. He joined the University of Western Ontario as lecturer and football coach in 1950. Generations of students developed their professional philosophies in his course on ethics in sport, and more generally from the self-contained, modest model he provided. He was active in London as a member of the Roman Catholic School board, and he promoted high school athletics as secretary of WOSSA and in countless other ways. He was the first Chairman of the federal government's Council on Fitness and Amateur Sport in 1963. He is a member of the Sports Halls of Fame at both University of Western Ontario and University of Windsor. Bill was born in Port Arthur, Ontario, on February 28, 1918, the second child of Wilfrid L'Heureux, a banker who had played rover on three Allan Cup-winning Port Arthur hockey teams, and Irene Morris, the undisputed source of his tolerance and good humour. Bill's learning was influenced by the Jesuits in his youth and the Basilian Fathers at university. He loved his wife and family, his God, Winston Churchill, poetry, fishing with John P. Metras, Beyond the Fringe, Chariots of Fire, and vegetable gardening. Predeceased by his beloved wife Mary Viola (1997), his sister Mary Lou (1992), and daughter Mary Kay Ajersch (1982). Survived by his daughter Susan Chambers and her husband Jack of Toronto, son-in-law Frank Ajersch and his wife Brede Merigan of Montreal, and his son Willard and wife Janet of Toronto; eight grandchildren, Christopher, Alison and Jennifer Chambers; Mark and Susan Ajersch; Will, Josie and Robert L'Heureux, and three great-grandsons, Luc, Ty and Leo Chambers. Also survived by his brother, Morris L'Heureux and wife Thelma of Sarnia, his sister Elizabeth Brennan of London, and many nieces and nephews. Special thanks to the caring staff at Belmont House, Toronto, and Rose Cadiogan, for making his last years so pleasant, and to Larry Chircoski, a dear friend for many years. The funeral Mass will be Saturday, April 9, 2005 in London at St. Michael's Church, Cheapside and Maitland Streets, at 10:30 a.m. with a reception to follow at Spencer Conference Centre, Windermere Road. Visitation will be Friday 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at John T. Donohue funeral home, 362 Waterloo St., London. In lieu of flowers, donations to the W.J. L'Heureux Award at the University of Western Ontario, Room 16, Alumni Hall, London, ON, N6A 5B9, will be gratefully received.