The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
BOMBER FAN REMEMBERED Some things just never change. It's hockey night in Flin Flon. The ice is in, the rookies are settling in, the boys from last year are back, games have been played and fans are eager to see the new team. There is only one change this year, a familiar hockey fan is not at the rink early for his burger and Pepsi and to cheer on his team... THE BOMBERS. Gordon Dadson passed away unexpectedly this past June. To know Gord was to know that hockey was his greatest joy and his team the best. While meeting with his family, it was easy to see just how much the sport and team meant to him, but more than that were the friendships gained through the time spent at The Rink. If you knew Gord you knew a man who had a kind word for all and forgave others at the wink of an eye. To know Gord was to have learned that life's challenges are always a learning experience and everyone has the ability to overcome any challenge, if they want. Gord practised this through his entire life. Following the funeral service for Gord, I felt that many others might want to know just a bit more about this Bomber fan. The following is a reflection of his life as presented by his family: On behalf of Mom, my brother and sisters we would like to share a few stories, history and memories of Gord. The past few days have been challenging for all of us and to some degree very refreshing too. As a young boy we remember just a blonde, and I mean blonde to almost white haired kid, who was just one of us, he was never given any special treatment... so we thought. At the age of 5, Gord travelled to Toronto with Mom where he had major surgery on both his legs and feet. For most this would be very unpleasant, but by the pictures at the back of the hall we can see he is grinning and smiling ear to ear, making the best of it. As a young boy Gord made fast friends with everyone. He had Mr. Bates (or Mr. Dates as he called him) who kept his bike in tip top operating condition at all times. Mr. Bates always had time for the small kid from Queen Street, to just talk or have Gord help in some garage project that was on the go. Morris McLean might have recalled the time he came home from night shift to find Gord waiting patiently in his bed. Gord was waiting for him to come home to play or take him for a trip to the shopping plaza (or the dump) in the old blue panel wagon. Gord got around the Queen Street block like a house on fire and not always in a straight line. It seems Gord got a new two wheeler before any of us other kids, remember no special treatment. His bike was his means of transportation, as he got older Gord's circle of pals grew. Though he never drove a car legally, he learned how to operate a boat and motor... CHOKE IT... FLOOD IT... START IT... STALL IT... As kids we all operated the boat and he was no exception. At the lake he had duties too, he loved to cut the grass, never in a straight line, he really just took the lawnmower for a walk around the property. Gord took his turn at the wood pile splitting kindling and until last summer still loved the wood pile chores. Gord loved swimming too. To watch him in the water was like a water display you would be in awe of, there was more water flying in the air, but he made it to the raft at the same time as the rest of us. Gord was the master of the cannon ball and never passed up an opportunity to use it. How he never drowned from his diving we will never know... it was 100% belly flop every time and he could do it all day long. Gord loved the camp and spent many early springs, falls and winters with Dad, Charlie, our dog and fishing partner Bill Daniels. To know Gord was to also know he had a stubborn streak and even on a rare, very rare occasion a temper, that ended before it started. A time when Dad thought Gord was being stubborn, was when Gord was asked to take the garbage out at the camp, he just stood at the door and paced a bit and Dad asked why he wasn't taking the garbage out. Gord said, "There's a bear on the step." Dad, to prove Gord wrong, went to the door and sure enough, there was a black bear on the step. Gord always kept his fingernails trimmed very short and also liked to bite them, a bad habit Mom and Dad always tried to stop. When they saw he had his fingers in his mouth, they would say, "Now Gord" and he would sneer, "My teeth are itchy, I am scratching them." Gordon, Gord, Gordie, Snuffer, The Big Guy and Trapper were just a few names Gord answered to... But to our family he was "The Number One Bomber Fan... Coach... Referee and Player." When Norm Johnson left the Bombers, Gord told Mom quietly on the couch, "They should make me Head Coach." In 1985, a difficult year for our family, our dad has just passed away and Rick Jackson stepped forward and arranged for Gord to be the stick boy for the Bombers. For Gord, the avid fan, it was a dream come true and he took the task very seriously, never missing a game and even when he and Mom would go to Ottawa to see the girls for Christmas it had to be done so he missed as few games as possible. When Gord's eyesight started to deteriorate he had to give up his duties and pass them on, we can't tell you how hard this was for him. Gord then followed the team from the stands and in the heat of the moment used a few choice words for the referee or opposing team. One time Gord took a whistle to a game. At a key play when the visitors were surely going to score a goal, Gord blew the whistle... the play stopped, arguing followed. No one ever knew it was Gord who blew the whistle. Anything to help the Bombers win. Gord loved hockey and followed his teams faithfully and always knew where they were in the standings, keeping track of penalties and fights in his pad on a daily basis. Gord used his bike (Old Betsy) to get to the centre, then to Johnny's and then home. He travelled regularly to the Northern Lights Manor to visit his friend Clifford Head or to Grandma and Grandpa Dadson on Princess. A few years ago Gord had to give up his bike and like the trooper he was he did not argue or say no, instead he became a regular on the bus. From the morning stop on Dominion to the stop at Queens Park, to then walk to Johnny's to meet Mom before going home. Very recently Gord had to give up the bus and travelled by taxi, for Gord this was hard to swallow. Gord had undergone more challenges than most ever experience, but he just took what was given to him and showed how brave and strong he really was. Through Gord's life there have been so, so many who have become close to him. We would like to share a few of them with you. Jason and Vinny of Johnny's who daily razzed Gord about hockey scores, to go outside to settle an argument... to setting his watch whenever it was required. The girls of Johnny's who made sure that there was always a bowl of soup for Gord after four.. soup, toast and a Pepsi before he and Mom went home for supper. They also ensured he was able to cash his bingo ticket in and took the time to make sure all his money affairs were in order before the next customer was waited on. Stewie Lloyd and Roger Armstrong who shared their hockey expertise with Gord and were always listening to Gord at the Guys' table. Gord was very considerate of the back hoop seating arrangements at Johnny's... when he knew the QUEEN was entering Johnny's he would move to a different seat so the Queen could sit on her throne. Gord has many families, Us... The Centre.. hockey to name a few. For the past 20 years or so Al, Mary, Jeff, Brad, Maxx and Bob Haggarty have been Gord's foster family. They lived next door and were truly part of Gord's family. "The Big Guy" was always welcome day or night at the Haggarty home. Gord loved the wrestling, the razzing and the love they gave so generously to Gord. Whenever Gord and Mom came home from travelling, they pulled in the driveway and the car door opened, Gord would say, "I'll be next door." We think it really was his way of not having to carry his suitcase in to the house. If Gord was not at home or disappeared, he would be sure to be found visiting the Haggartys. Gord really loved the Haggartys and we are so grateful for the fun, love and patience always given to Gord. Two years ago Gord received a true miracle: Jason Mandes. Mayo gave Gord a new lease on life and Gord's circle of friends got even larger. Hockey was Gord's life and Jason's passion. Together they spent many hours cheering, talking hockey, taking a spin to the Gas Bar, or just hanging out. One of Gord's biggest highlights was this spring when Gord accepted the Championship Trophy on behalf of Peoples First. To Gord it was the Stanley Cup. When asked if he was going to drink champagne from The Cup, Gord replied, "No... straight Pepsi." Jason, we know you had a very special place in Gord's heart and we want you to know how much Gord appreciated everything you let him experience. We are truly indebted to you. Not many people knew that Gord has kids... Shadow and Cheyenne, two Himalayan cats. Gord lived for these hairy felines and always worried where they were if they were hungry. When the cats would act up, he would say, "I am going to kick their ass" and then he would pick them up and would hug and kiss them. If Gord was to miss a game on TV and was asked how he would find out the score, he would reply, "The cats will tell me later." Gord had a bond with cats, especially Cheyenne. When Gord and Mom would be on the way home from a Bomber game and they won, he would ask, "Can I tell the cats?" And Mom would say, "I won't let the cat out of the bag!" and they would both laugh. Gord communicated with them and the love they showed and gave was unparalleled by any other. If Gord cut himself or had any kind of injury or something was broken, the only thing that could fix it was hockey tape. He had hockey tape on more things than you could shake a stick at. Funny thing - it always worked. Gord had a memory that beat all. We could be sitting around talking and out of the blue he would bring up a fine detail we all had forgotten. He also had an obsession with numbers and kept track of the day's date in his pad and could not go to bed until it was recorded. Everything Gord did was part of his routine, we might have thought it was our schedule but it never was. Gord did things in an order that he followed and seldom changed. Sometimes it could be frustrating as you would want to go some where and he would have 100 other things that needed to be done first and you just have to wait, there was no rushing Gord. Gord always had a pocketful of Werther's or Campinos usually for himself but was always eager to share them. Pepsi was the drink of real men and he always bought two as one was for back up. Whenever Gord was offered any form of assistance or kindness he was so grateful and would say, "What can you do with a person like that? Keep 'em!" As a family we have tried to give you, Gord's friends, a snapshot of his life with us. We know we have not covered many aspects of Gord's life and we hope you will understand. Over time please feel free to share personally with us your memories of Gord, this will help keep his spirit alive in our heavy hearts. On behalf of Penny, Kathy, Sandy, Erin, Patrick, myself and Gord, I would like to say more than just thanks to a couple who never gave up on our brother when the odds seemed so disheartening, with the help of a higher power and love they gave to us a brother and friend that beat all. This couple never treated Gord any different from the rest of us kids. It's thanks to this couple that Gord was the kind, gentle, loving man he always was. they have made the Dadson Kids know they can reach their dreams if they only try. Thanks is such a small word for our mom and dad but it says more than we can ever express in words. For these past 18 years Mom and Gord have been inseparable. From first thing in the morning, to Johnny's, to tend personal needs, until the late night bath, and even to the George Jones concert most recently. Where ever one was, the other was surely not far away. Even when sparks would fly and patience thin on both sides, they had a bond most will never have. For this Gord gave more to Mom than he ever knew. We know these dark clouds will lift over time and Gord will continue to shine through. It has been so, so overwhelming for us to really believe we are here today. Last Wednesday night Gord was finishing his regular late night bath when he suffered a massive brain aneurysm. Upon a fast air ambulance trip to Winnipeg early Friday morning for a cat scan, the neurologist confirmed our worst fears. Gord could not recover from the incident and time was limited. On Friday, June 13 at 3:30 a.m. with Mom and Penny flying high over Little Athapap very near The Camp with a full moon shimmering across the lake, we are sure Gord heard Dad calling "Trapper... it's time to come home." Gord is now standing tall and riding his bike like never before. Gord is lacing his skates and will play the game he has dreamed of since he was a boy. So when you see the Northern Lights, the eagle, the #9 or watching your favourite hockey team, think of Gord and always smile, laugh, and never lose sight of what was most important to Gord: love and family. "If more people had Gord's disposition, what a wonderful world it would be." Gord's love for hockey was so strong, to him the Bombers could do no wrong. As this hockey season does approach, Gord will forever be our "Head Coach." Go Bombers, go!
