TAKA o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-07-26 published
VANCE,
Leon
Suddenly in Bayfield, on Thursday, July 24, 2008 Mr. Leon
VANCE
of Bayfield in his 55th year. Beloved husband of Terry Lynn Collings.
Dear brother and brother-in-law of Ron and Karen
VANCE of Orillia,
Don VANCE and Kathryn
GRAY/GREY of Richmond Hill, Arlene
VANCE of
Beeton, Vickie and
Ed WRIGHT of Port Loring, Debbie
TAKA of Newmarket,
Cindy and John
GIBBS of Aurora. Dear Cousin of Barbara
BOX and
Travis POSTILL of Seaforth. Loved son-in-law of Robert and Ruby
FELL of Wasaga Beach. Cherished uncle of Nicole, Jonathan, Heather
May, Shaun, Nichole, Jennifer, Lindsay, Julie, Suzanna, David,
Christopher and their families. Also fondly remembered by Shadow,
Buck, Axel and Amber. Predeceased by his parents Graham and Leona
(BOX)
VANCE, brother John
VANCE, and by his uncle and aunt R.S.
and Mary BOX.
Friends will be received at the Box and Smith Funeral
Chapel, 47 High St. Seaforth, on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Where
the funeral service will be held on Monday, July 28, 2008 at
11 o'clock. Cremation to follow. As expressions of sympathy memorial
donations to the Pioneer Park Association, Bayfield, or the charity
of one's choice would be greatly appreciated. Condolences at
www.boxsmithfuneralchapel.com
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TAKAHASHI o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-04-25 published
Body found behind school
By Joe BELANGER,
Fri.,
April 25, 2008
Sun Media -- Londoner Harry
GERIS -- a three-time Olympian known
as the Gentle Giant of Canadian wrestling -- died suddenly yesterday,
his body found behind a high school.
His body was found by a construction worker at 7: 30 a.m. behind
Saunders secondary school, where he was delivering wrestling
mats for an elementary school tournament.
GERIS, 60, is survived by his wife, Jo-Anne, and three sons,
Jason, Ryan and Shawn, who all became wrestlers.
Police said foul play isn't suspected. An autopsy will be done
to determine the cause of death.
"He was known as the Gentle Giant," said Glynn
LEYSHON, 78, a
former University of Western Ontario wrestling coach who took
GERIS to his first international match in 1964.
"He'll be sorely missed. He did an awful lot for the sport and,
as a friend, he'd do anything for you. You only had to ask and
he'd do it if he could."
The former insurance salesperson made a living supplying wrestling
equipment for tournaments, but spent most of his time volunteering
as a wrestling coach.
GERIS was born in the Netherlands. His family immigrated to Canada
when he was a child.
He earned a scholarship to wrestle at Oklahoma State University,
a powerhouse in the sport.
"Harry was a friend to me and one of the great Olympians," Oklahoma
State wrestling coach John Smith said through a spokesperson.
"Not only did he represent Canada, he represented Oklahoma State.
He was a great man… and he will be missed."
Just three weeks ago, a wrestler coached by
GERIS,
Katie
PATROCH,
25, a teacher at Westminster secondary school in London, won
her first national championship in the 59-kilogram category to
earn a trip to Tokyo for the world championships in October.
"I wouldn't be anywhere near where I am today without Harry,"
said a tearful
PATROCH.
"If anybody asked him for help, he was there. He was a member
of the family to me and undoubtedly changed my life."
Accolades and condolences poured in from across Canada as word
of GERIS's death spread.
"It's just so sad, a real shock," said Josip
MRKOCI of London,
chairperson of the Commonwealth Amateur Wrestling Association.
"I consider him one of my best Friends. He dedicated his life
to wrestling. The wrestling world has lost a person who supported
wrestling his entire life, never thinking about himself, always
volunteering for everything."
MRKOCI lamented that he missed the deadline by five days to have
GERIS nominated for induction into the London Sports Hall of
Fame this year.
"Maybe I can convince them to consider Harry," he said.
Western wrestling coach Ray
TAKAHASHI went to the 1976 Olympics
as a junior with
GERIS.
"He's a legend in the United States and Canada and wrestling
has really lost a big friend," said
TAKAHASHI.
"He was a friendly giant. He had a heck of a big voice, a heck
of a temper, but a really big heart.
"We used to run together and, for such a large man, he was a
really good runner."
GERIS, who stood six-foot-four and weighed in excess of 220 pounds,
was U.S. junior college heavyweight champion in 1968 and runner-up
in 1969
He finished fourth in the National Collegiate Athletic Association
championships in 1972, his final year.
LEYSHON said, despite his size,
GERIS was a gentle spirit.
"Being involved in a contact sport was (an) antithesis to his
character," said
LEYSHON.
"I remember once at a meet he pinned a guy down in about 45 seconds,
helped the guy up and apologized.
"He's going to be sorely missed."
Harry GERIS
Graduate of Beal secondary school in London he won the Ontario
high school championship, the Ontario open and the Canadian championship.
Ten-time Canadian heavyweight champion, who first competed
internationally for Canada in 1966 at the British Empire Games
and worlds in Toledo, Ohio.
Earned a three-year scholarship to wrestling powerhouse Oklahoma
State University and finished fourth in the National Collegiate
Athletic Association championship in 1972. He finished fourth
in the World Student Games in Moscow in 1973.
Competed for Canada at the Olympics in 1968 (Mexico), 1972
(Munich) and 1976 (Montreal), twice at the world championships,
the Commonwealth Games, Pan-Am Games (winning bronze in 1975)
and the World Student Games, winning two bronze medals.
Served as president of the Ontario Amateur Wrestling Association,
the Ontario Olympic Wrestling Federation, the London-Western
Wrestling Association and the Southwest Optimist Club of London.
Volunteer coach anywhere he was asked, including the University
of Western Ontario.
Inducted into the U.S. National Junior College Wrestling Hall
of Fame in 1980.
Inducted into the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame
in 1984.
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