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Post by ROADRUNNER 12 on Apr 16, 2006 15:02:09 GMT -5
Only the good die young. With Paul's contribution to the BSS sporting scene so many moons ago, the current phys-ed department might want to contemplate creating an all-round sports award to be handed out at the end of the school year during awards night in memory of Paul. Like they did for Mr. Granger after his death during my final year at BSS. It's just a thought. I found Paul's obit on-line with the Belleville Intelligencer after baby sister Teresa informed me of Paul's death at age 50 - the same age as our own father's passing back in 1983 after he'd been retired from the military, last posting Trenton. My thoughts are with Paul's family in this time of loss - God bless!
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Post by ROADRUNNER 12 on Apr 17, 2006 22:47:44 GMT -5
You know you're getting old when the first section of the newspaper that's perused is the obituary page. As my mentor once told me when I was a starting out in this business called journalism at age 24, you're looking to see how many of your friends have died and, he quipped, to ensure your own name is not on the page. I used to snicker to myself when Ken Giles would glean from the obits that a few more of his aging buddies -- he was only 50-something at the time -- were soon to be planted six feet under. One's mortality is more pressing as you near the half-century mark. That's how long my father lasted. And his father -- my namesake -- went even earlier at age 32. With the recent demise of my mother at age 68 from the silent killer, ovarian cancer, thoughts of my own death have occupied my imaginative mind. Not one to pay for my funeral ahead of time like my late mother did when she drew her final breath last July, I have contemplated different facets of one's demise, like the funeral or whether to be cremated or buried for all eternity in a box inside a cement vault. Both parents decided on cremation, with my dad's "boney" ashes buried below a beautiful flower in a North York, Ont., garden which blooms in August. Mom's powder-like cremains were sprinkled by her offspring and grandchildren in salty water off Nanaimo where she used to swim as a kid. Mom had earlier scattered her father's cremains in the same waters. While it was a welcome relief for my mother after the cancer ravaged her body, death is not embraced when you are young or healthy. There have been a number of young people in Wetaskiwin where I work/live which I knew who died before their time in tragic MVC's: Icemen goalie Barry Stewart, Sabres linebacker David King and, more recently in a tragic collision near Camrose during the Thanksgiving long weekend, Stephanie Cantley. I was at her side soon after the crash that happened in front of me as I headed west on Highway 13. But what about this baby boomer's demise in the future? I don't want to be put on display in a funeral home, that's for certain. But if there is a gathering of family and friends, it won't be church music playing. Instead, before I'm cremated and have my cremains scattered in glacier-fed Comox Lake, west of Cumberland on Vancouver Island, I want the funeral home to play tunes from Supertramp's Even in the Quietest Moments and Breakfast in America as well as one of my all-time favourite albums, Fleetwood Mac's 1977 classic Rumours. Throw in some Enya, ABBA and finish off with one final song as the closed casket is taken from the funeral home -- no church for me -- to the crematorium with Sarah McLachlan's I Will Remember You. Life is short -- so enjoy it.
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morgan xavier
New Red Devil
Homemade blackberry jam is my specialty. Brother Jules will pick the berries for me.
Posts: 1
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Post by morgan xavier on Apr 17, 2006 22:55:18 GMT -5
I REMEMBER THE DASSYLVA FAMILY AS WELL WHAT A TERRIBLE LOSS I RECALL THEY WERE AN ATHLETIC FAMILY MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU
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Post by Ray Dassylva on Apr 23, 2006 17:30:46 GMT -5
Thanks all for your thoughts, Its nice to see/hear/see you all talking about everything
Take care
Ray
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Post by lanceanator on May 25, 2006 15:32:18 GMT -5
Well, very touching and thought provoking literature Jules...well written. I was fortunate enough to be able to find a seat at the packed funeral of Paul Dassylva and not a dry eye in the house ( including my own) It was a sad day indeed. I was shocked to hear of it as I had spoke to Paul only a week earlier. If there was any good to come of that day it is the gathering of a few of Pauls friends of whom I had not seen in quite some time....I mentioned then it would be a good idea for the remaining few to get together for a lunch or bar-b-que some time because you don't want to be getting together again at the next funeral saying " We should have " I think a 35th Bayside reunion is a hell of an idea so we don't visit our freinds in sorrowful times laying flowers at thier headstone. A gathering of good times and memories shared. but that's just my opinion.... Lance
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Post by ROADRUNNER 12 on May 25, 2006 17:31:54 GMT -5
For my 100th post, I can concur with Lance 'Romance' Darlow - it's better to reflect on our past, not at a funeral when it's sadness, but with fun and frivolity at a reunion or with gatherings...especially for those in the BSS neighbourhood still. As us baby boomers get closer to 50, you'll be perusing the obits more often, or getting calls from family and friends about another buddy dropping - like the war vets of WWI and WWII and the flag hanging at half mast outside the Legion. So, a great opinion from Lance. As your mother noted, she did not realize a number of teachers had died after perusing the website for BSS. Where are all the teachers who are still living who have yet to sign up? Maybe principal Harris could send out a note to them as he might know of their whereabouts. Memories are better celebrated when we are alive, not talked about at a wake in a time of sorrow.
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Ian Matthews
New Red Devil
Graduated Grade 13 in 1986
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Post by Ian Matthews on May 28, 2006 16:04:57 GMT -5
Shawn "Birdy" Bird
Facts: Graduated around 1985 - not be best student
Died in early 1990's.
Lived on Country Road 22 near the to of RD7 road
I beleive he was involved in a car accident on the 401.
I remember him in the same way I think of Sammy Hagar (yes... Van Halen's lead singer, on and off). I knew him fairly well and considered him more than an associate but not quite a good friend.
I am sure that someone who knew him better will be able to correct this information.
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Ian Matthews
New Red Devil
Graduated Grade 13 in 1986
Posts: 4
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Post by Ian Matthews on May 28, 2006 16:08:42 GMT -5
Shannon Quann
Graduated in 1985 ish
Died around 1990 in a dunk driving car accident I think
Shannon was always a little unbalanced and dangerous but he had his good moments.
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Post by Marc Robinson on Jun 7, 2006 16:49:59 GMT -5
Rob McCormick Class of 97 Suicide, April 2005 while living in Calgary
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Post by Scoobster on Jun 15, 2006 5:02:45 GMT -5
Ken Fairweather (Wizard)
Lost in a motorcycle accident on Kidd Avenue (86?).
It is sad to read the names of people you remember from school, and see that they have passed.
As much as it is "a part of life", to me seeing the names that I knew immediately took me back to Bayside, and where I remembered them from.
I can vividly picture sitting beside Janice Bacic during English with Mr. Holland.
Sad to see so many names, yet here, the "celebration" of their lives is alive and well, which overtakes the feeling of sadness, and replaces it with a smile.
Cheers Jimmy
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Post by ROADRUNNER 12 on Jun 15, 2006 12:23:04 GMT -5
Well put Jimmy.
You know you're getting old when you see peers dying off. I know I've been in a community for a long time working in the newspaper business as a reporter/editor/photographer when I can walk through a cemetery and know the people buried beneath a headstone. I've worked the longest in Timmins, ON., and Wetaskiwin, AB, and it's eerie when you peruse the names of people, especially young individuals, who died before their time. A lot of the time it's tragedy. With older people, it's old age or disease. But you don't expect your high school peers to be not there anymore. I just think back to the kids who died in their teens, often in MVC. And I see a lot that with my job on the cop beat....had another fatal early this morning on the main highway in Alberta (QE II). Car and semi collision, with the end result being a 10-37 (fatal) after the person was ejected while not wearing a seatbelt. The 401 is safe compared to driving in Alberta on some highways where the speed limit is 110. Secondary highways in Ontario where it's 80 or 90, it's 100 here. So, I'm kept busy with MVC's. But I digress. Losing friends in crashes will continue for the generation coming behind us, too.
But us memories of those people are still with us.....they just don't grow old, we do.
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jen
New Red Devil
Posts: 3
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Post by jen on Jul 2, 2006 17:53:43 GMT -5
Rob Brickman was the other individual in the vehicle when Christine Thompson died. Rob was driving the vehicle, Bill was in the front seat and Christine was asleep in the backseat. Very tragic accident, and very memorable.
Jennifer
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Post by docdar on Jul 14, 2006 17:35:27 GMT -5
I have this posted in the where are you now site but I will put it here as well-In memory of Gregory Allan Rayfuse 1956-1982,taken by some loser who thought it would be cool to club a punk rocker to death in Saskatoon.He graduated in 75 I think but am not sure.Memories and dates get a little mixed up still. Bless all Darrell rayfuse
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Post by penneme on Jul 15, 2006 8:09:51 GMT -5
Darrell I remember your brother Greg very well. Really great guy and its too bad people can not accept others for the way their are or the way they look. It happened back then and still continues today. I remember your family really well since my brother dated your sister Janice and we all lived on the same street in Bayside. I hope all is well with you and chin up bud, you have dealt with alot in your life and seem to have come thru with flying colors. Elaine
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Post by docdar on Jul 15, 2006 11:00:41 GMT -5
Elaine Thank you for your comments,they make me feel like I am doing good.Your brother is Rob? what is he doing now and for that matter what are you doing and where.I agree that ppl have changed overthe years,to me it seems like their is no unconditional RESPECT,something that our Mom taught us which to me is just allowing other ppl to be.take care Darrell
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