AJERSCH o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-04-06 published
L'HEUREUX,
Joseph
Willard, B.A., M.A.,
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 (B.A. Classics, 1937),
Ontario College of Education at the University of Toronto (1939)
and the University of Michigan (M.A., 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 W.O.S.S.A. 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' grand_sons, 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 Street, London. In lieu of
flowers, donations to the W.J. L Heureux Award at the ' University
of Western Ontario, Room 16, Alumni Hall, London, Ontario, N6A
5B9, will be gratefully received.
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