Former Olympian fondly recalls old friend
The link between John Sands and the great Jim Proudfoot with the old Star Weekly is strong and longlasting.
Sands, a two-time Olympic speed skater, recalls having stories written about him by the late Star columnist as a Canadian record-holder.
Sands was also a former delivery boy of the Star Weekly as a kid growing up in Saskatoon, and that bond led he and his wife, Marie, to send along a much-appreciated $200 donation to the Proudfoot Corner in honour of their grand-daughters Paisley and Zoe Magill and Sierra and Janine Woodley.
“Jim wrote some very nice stuff about me many, many years ago when I was an Olympic speed skater,” said Sands, who now lives in Mississauga and represented Canada at the 1956 and 1960 Winter Games.
Sands’ four grand-daughters have caught his philanthropic nature. They have gotten into the act of giving back, from organizing charity drives to participating in the Terry Fox Run to donating their hair to Locks of Love and other important causes.
“We all just want to give back,” said Sands, explaining the donation to the Proudfoot Corner, the Star sports department’s annual contri- bution to the Santa Claus Fund.
Sands can also credit the Star Weekly for the skating prowess that included his induction into the Saskatchewan sports Hall of Fame.
“When I was a kid, the Star Weekly was a very big thing for us. I had a route and delivered I think it was 100 every Saturday — I think I lied about my age, you were supposed to be 13 and I was 12,” he said.
“I bought my first pair of speed skates with the money from that route, I saw them in the store window and I think they were $5 a pair.”
Donations to the Corner help fund 45,000 gift boxes, each containing a hat, mittens, socks and shirt, as well as a book, toy and candy for underprivileged children across Greater Toronto. On the Corner: The Honourable Ron Thomas of Orangeville, retired Superior Court judge, steps back on to the corner with $200 in memory of his late father Jocko Thomas, police reporter for the Star for upwards of 50 years, and late former managing editor Ray Timson. Bruce O’Neill of Oakville remembered another Star staffer in golf writer Rick Fraser, along with former boss George (The Baron) Gross and parents Pat and Harry O’Neill. Also in the T.O. media world, we extend a warm welcome to our modestly monikered friends the CBC National Radio News- room Ol’ Farts. Their $375, channeled by Glenn B. Powell, was convivially caught by Santa hat at their Christmas lunch. The donation came in memory of Bob Johnstone, former Star reporter and CBC colleague of the Farts, with thanks to our Santa Claus Fund workshop that we’d like to forward on to you contributors. Deputy sports editor Patrick Ho puts in $150 in honour of all the volunteers who made Toronto such a great sports city this year, from those who gave their time for the Pan Am Games to those hard workers at the numerous races for recreational runners. Friend of Jim Proudfoot’s through horse racing, John Fielding of Scarborough and his brother Bill cut the kids a $1,500 cheque. John’s contribution came in remembrance of their greatly missed brother Peter. And $500 more in memory of departed sports scribe Randy Starkman came from Laurie and Nancy Starkman.
Fred Waller of Aurora sent us $100 for his wife Joan, she a recipient of a Star gift box as a child in downtown Toronto in the 1940s. “One never forgets those things,” says Fred. And back again are native Aurorans Amanda and Adam Morier (now abroad in Georgia and Dubai, respectively) with $200 in memory of their two grandfathers Douglas Uttley and Paul Morier, both World War Two vets and further thanks to others who have served. From the same place, Frank and Mary MacGrath’s $75 came in memory of three great sportsmen, Martin Foy, Roger Peirson, and Marcus McInerney. And Aurora’s Michael Nisbet gamely had another $100 in memory of Joe Noble, longtime CPGA pro at Thornhill Golf & Country Club.
Always generous are Brooklin’s Connor, Tyler, Janis and Kevin Antram. They’re back in their 13th year with $208, which is a buck per week from college men Connor, at school close by, and Tyler, playing lacrosse in North Carolina, matched by their parents. The boys look forward to contributing each year and never forget how fortunate they are, write their folks. Kerry Peters of Newmarket sent $50 in memory of late great buddies Mike Stenden and Gord Cude. Back is Jeane Elder of West Hill with $250 in memory of rugby man Bob Elder and in appreciation of the excellent coverage of this year’s Rugby World Cup. Out of Kleinburg, Dan and Mary Ellen Mooney had $250, and Tillsonburg’s Elizabeth Lessif had $100. Another $100 came from Unionville’s Lance and Barbara Ridehalgh, $35 came from Marjory Reid of Kirkfield, Mike Leonetti of Woodbridge sent $100 along with a children’s book signed by the author, and from the shores of Georgian Bay in Waubaushene came $110 from anonymous donor.
From Toronto, the always generous Robyn Matsumoto — daughter of former sports editor Rick — sent in $200. Neil Finlayson sent $250 in memory of friend and tennis partner Tony Humphreys. Barbara and Jim Byers, former Star travel guy, sent us $50.