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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