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GORDON ALEXANDER MACKIE
January 17, 1922 –
April 27,
2014
After a
richly blessed and generously lived life, our beloved husband and father passed
away at home, on April 27, 2014 with his family by his side.
He will
be sadly missed and lovingly remembered with dignity by his wife Marguerite
(Margo), sister Kay, children Heather, Craig (Jane), Holly (Keith Berg) and
Bonny (Manuel Arruda); three grandsons; three great-grandchildren, and sister
Kay Hermiston. Predeceased by his mother Catherine (Katie), father Alexander,
first wife Margaret, sister June (Cliff Fryers).
Born in
Winnipeg, Gordie demonstrated a drive for sports excellence at an early age,
playing both baseball and hockey. At 15, he pitched two "No Hitters"
in the provincial baseball championships to win the pennant. When his 17th
birthday arrived he was introduced to boxing, a sport that would truly hone a
lifelong passion.
With the
declaration of the Second World War, Gordie enlisted in the Canadian Navy
Reserve at 19 years of age, serving as a signalman on His Majesty's
"Skeena", "Wetaskiwin", "St. Croix",
"Sherbrooke", "Raccoon", and "Reindeer". His
fortunes were realized early as he twice received transfers prior to the loss
of two ships, torpedoed in the North Atlantic. While in the service, he boxed
against all contenders Canadian or American in a "Middleweight"
classification. His record of 25 fight cards ended with 21 wins, two draws and
two losses.
During
shore leave, he shared his love of jazz music with shipmates, attending
concerts at various ports. The likes of Tommy Dorsey's and Benny Goodman's Big
Bands had him front row center. He witnessed the return of Gene Krupa on drums
at the Paramount Theatre in New York.
Discharged
from the Navy, Gordie pursued a professional boxing stint from 1945 to 1949,
where he had six Provincial and National fights, winning all but one. With a
reinstatement to amateur status, he moved to Montreal to take the role of
trainer and boxing instructor for the Y.M.C.A. He transferred back to Winnipeg
to an assistant health director position and boxing teacher for the Y.M.C.A.
and a volunteer spot at the Y.M.H.A. In 1951 he completed his post-graduate
studies in Physiotherapy at a college in Chicago, IL. Successfully finishing at
the top of his class, Gordie returned to Winnipeg as Physical Education
director at St. Paul's College and opened the infamous Madison Boxing and
Health Club in St. Boniface. That year he was head trainer for "The
Norwood/St. Boniface Legionnaire" football team, winning the Dominion Junior
football championship and are proud members of the Manitoba Football Hall of
Fame.
The
following year, Gordie was asked to be an assistant trainer for the football
team at West Point Military Academy under Coach Colonel "Red" Blake
and assistant coaches Vince Lombardi and Bobby Dawes. He returned two years
later to take on the position of head coach of the Canadian Boxing team to
compete in the British Commonwealth Games in Vancouver.
1954
witnessed the launch of Gordie's professional therapy career, as he worked for
Terry Hind's "Winnipeg Goldeyes" baseball team in the summer and Jack
Perrin's Winnipeg Warriors in the winter. Both teams had their successes, but
the likes of Billy Mosienko, Bill Juzda and Fred Shero truly helped put Winnipeg
on the international hockey scene. Gordie followed Fred Shero to Minnesota to
train the Fighting Saints for a season then he got a call for a role he could
not refuse. It was 1959 and Bud Grant's Winnipeg Blue Bombers were hot off a
Grey Cup Championship in Vancouver against Jim Trimble's Hamilton Tiger Cats.
Along with assistant coaches Joe Zeleski and
Johnny Michaels, Grant had put together a formidable balance of American talent
with names like Rauhaus, Pitts, Van Pelt, Ploen, Shepard, Lewis, Grey and
Rigney and "home grown" greats such as Piper, Tinsley, Latourelle,
Miller, James, Miiklechuk (and many others) to win. The following 10 years
gleaned Cup appearances in 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962 and 1965, winning three out
of five championships.
1969
Gordie left his beloved Blue and Gold for a cross-town opportunity, when he
went to take on the responsibility of Head Physiotherapist and trainer for all
University of Manitoba Bison sports teams. He is heralded for the co-founding
of the Canadian Athletic Trainers Association and developing the first
accredited "Student Trainer Programs" in the country.
1970
witnessed the launch of Gordie's international exposure as a top Canadian
Therapist, first in Turin, Italy at the World Student Games, followed by
Canada's entry in the Davis Cup Tennis match. He was awarded the
"Outstanding Service Award" from both the Davis Cup committee, and
the Winnipeg Football Club. In 1971 was the Pan American Games in Cali,
Columbia followed by the Canadian Indoor Track and Field Championships. Munich,
Germany hosted the summer Olympics and started Gordie's invitation to five
years of being the trainer for the C.F.L. All-star games. The World Aquatic
Championships were hosted in Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1973 and of course 1974
had him in Moscow with the three Howe boys (Gordie, Mark and Marty) taking on
the Soviets in a Team Canada tilt in hockey. Cali, Columbia played host to the
World Aquatic Championships and Gordie was there to assist our athletes. That
same year, The Manitoba Boxing and Wrestling Federation named him president, a
position he held until 1978.
In 1967
the Manitoba Amateur Football Association honoured Gordie for his contribution,
and he became the Coordinator / Therapist for boxing, wrestling and
weightlifting at the Montreal Olympics. The "Bike Foundation"
inducted him into their North American hall of fame and in 1978 the C.A.T.A.
bestowed the same honour in their hall.
Probably
his finest recognition came when the University of Manitoba established
"The Gord Mackie Scholarship" program, presented annually to the
student athletic therapist reaching academic excellence en route to full
accreditation. He retired from the faculty with countless other sports awards,
most notably the Leo Mol sculpture "Healing Hands". The Manitoba
Sports Hall of Fame inducted him in the late 1980s and the Canadian Football
Association recognized his efforts soon after. Gordie remained an active member
of the Blue Bomber Alumni and a proud member of A.N.A.F. Unit #303 as the
eldest Navy veteran.
In 2008
Leo Ledohowski, along with a crafty team of Blue Bomber Alumni, initiated the
return of Bud Grant to present Grey Cup rings for those "Glory Years"
in the late 1950s and early 1960s to all players and staff. "Ring in the
night" was hosted with such eloquence by the "Voice of the
Bombers", Bob Irving, and was a tribute weekend and banquet that will be
remembered for years to come. A very special thank you to Canad-Inns.
The Pemby
Brew House was Gordie's Saturday afternoon "Walk through Memory Lane"
with jazz aficionados and good friends listening to Winnipeg's talent. George
Reznik, Bob Jackson, Billy McMahon, Jimmy Gillis, Frank Burke, Craig
Fotheringham, Brian Klowak, David Hildebrand, Janice Findlay...the list goes on
and on, thanks to the Druxman family.
The
family would like to thank Dr. Daeninck, the Home Care and Palliative Care
Teams for allowing a dignified finale of Gordie's "Fourth Quarter"
and final "Round".
As per
Gordie's wishes, a private family service has been held. A celebration of his
life is to be held May 8, at Canad Inns Polo Park from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
In lieu
of flowers, donations to the charity of your choice may be made.
Wojcik’s
FUNERAL
HOME & CREMATORIUM
2157
PORTAGE AVENUE
204 – 897 -
4665
www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com
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