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Ward Gosse Passes

January 21, 2025

Torbay, NL - Ward Gosse Passes


Very sad news this morning via ISC Canada East

We are saddened to hear today of the sudden passing of Newfoundland native Ward Gosse. We offer our deepest sympathies to Ward's family.
 
Ward had a long and distinguished fastball career, being inducted into the Softball Newfoundland & Labrador Hall of Fame in 2014. At the National level, Ward played on 15 Provincial teams winning 6 Medals: 1 Gold, 3 Silver & 2 Bronze and was named to the All-Tournament Team on three occasions.
 
Internationally, he was named to the ISC Second All-World Team as a Pitcher in 2006 and in 2007, he was named Second Team All-American at the ASA National Championship. In 2012, he was a member of the Parry Island Hawks team that captured the ISC II Championship and was named Tournament MVP and Most Outstanding Pitcher.
 
In the ISC Legends 50+ division, Ward was the MVP in both 2018 and 2022 as a member of the championship-winning Sudbury Relics team.
 
His accomplishments in the St. John's Men's Fastball League are legion, including Rookie of the Year in 1988, Sportsmanship & Ability in 2003, 1 Triple Crown of Batting, 2 Triple Crowns of Pitching, 7 Regular Season MVPs, 10 Playoff MVPs and 11 All-League Team Selections.
Ward was a multi-sport athlete and during the fastball offseason he demonstrated a love and talent for hockey. He played for 17 years in the Senior A St. John’s Senior Hockey League and was a member of 5 Herder championship teams in 1990, 1995, 1996, 2002, and 2005. He was top defensemen in the West Coast Senior Hockey League for the 2002-2003 season. In 2019, he was inducted in the Sport Newfoundland Hall of Fame.
 
Outside of his stellar athletic career, Ward served in municipal government and spent more than 20 years in the Real Estate and Financial Services industry after graduating from Memorial University. He grew up in Bay Roberts and lived in the scenic town of Torbay. Ward was married to his wife Karen for over 28 years, and was a proud father of 3 beautiful children Cassidy, Samuel and Makay.
 
Ward's presence will be missed on diamonds in Newfoundland, in Ontario and across North America.
 
 
From daughter Makay Gosse:
 
I don’t know how to start this at all, or how to even begin to process everything. I’ve never experienced human loss until that moment of disbelief that I’d never see my dad again. The rest of the day was a blur, I’m so thankful for everyone who’s been here. My father was an amazing man, he had so many friends and he was so loved by all. Expecially me and his family. I’m so lucky to have had a good last night with him, we said I love you and goodnight, and that’s the last time I saw, heard, and felt him. You were the best dad I could ever ask for, you supported me, Cass, and Sam, so much, you never gave up on us no matter how annoying we got. Anytime I was annoyed or sad you would tease me and make me laugh until I was no longer angry at whatever you said to tick me off (probably something I started). I can’t stop thinking about the little things I’ll miss for the rest of my life, like how we’d drive to bay Roberts blasting music we liked before we spent the night at grandmas, just two of us. How you always brought me lunch when I didn’t have time in the mornings to get any. How’d we always way “I Loveth youeth” and “I loveth youeth tooeth”, then make kissy sounds when one of us walked up the stairs, it was our thing yk? Our way of saying I love you. How I’d always sleep in that Superman shirt I stole from you. How I’d come down in the mornings on the weekends, see you sitting on the couch while mom was at the rescue and beg you to make me a wrap. How youd wake me up in the mornings with what we called “sniffle kisses”. How you’d genuinely give me a ride anywhere. How you’d always ask for a hug at any time of the day because you “didn’t have your daily hug”. And so much more stuff I’ll forever miss in this life time. I should’ve had so much more time with my father but the time I had was more than enough. I’ll always wear #5 for you Dad, And I’ll always be your little girl ?? ?? rest easy dad, there won’t be a day that goes by where I dont miss you. I promise I’ll make you proud up there. I loveth youeth dad ??
 
 
First report came from Outside the Chute:
 
Absolutely devastated to hear about the sudden passing, of just an absolute beauty of a guy, Ward Gosse.
OTC would like to pass along our thoughts and prayers to all of Ward’s family and friends.
Rest easy Wardo ????
 
 

Obituary

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend, Ward Gosse. Ward passed away suddenly at the age of 56 on January 20th 2025.

He leaves behind to cherish the memories of a life beautifully lived, that ended far too soon, his wife & friend of 30 years Karen, his daughters; Cassidy & Makay, his son; Samuel, parents; Lewis & Janet, parents-in-law; Dennis & Ruth, Nina & Elliott, sisters; Michele (Brian), Sonya (Wayne), Brothers-in-law; Robbie (Angie), Brian (Jenn), Darren (Shannon), Rod (Spring) and Bill (Laurie), sisters-in-law; Pam (Justin) and Sherry (Walter), nieces and nephews; Alex, Maddie & Logan, Seamus & Gabriel, Alexandria, Jackson & Regan, Cameron & Cole, Mandy (Ryan), Allie (Derek) & Taylor, Zachary (Heather), Brandon & Rebecca, and a large circle of extended family, friends and teammates.

Ward grew up in Bay Roberts beating around on his dirt bike between ballgames and hockey practices. Little else mattered in those younger days, as those were the places he felt most alive. Guarded by the love of his 2 sisters and parents – he was invincible!

Quite frankly, even at the age of 16, Ward was larger than life!

You needed only to be in his presence for a moment, to feel his confidence. It was that confidence that future teammates would come to depend on, and a girl he coached in fastpitch ball one summer 40 years ago (who he was consistently exasperated with, for performing backflips out in left field) would someday down the road, be drawn to as well.

His university days were spent at Field Hall where he met a group of guys to share in his zest for winning, who were all to ready for any adventures they cooked up. Many of them would become lifelong friends and one in particular (Sean Dowden) would eventually stand at his wedding as his best man.

Ward graduated with a degree in History & English and his love of history would stay with him his entire life.

Ward never much liked rules and that didn’t change as the years passed by. The surest way to get him to do something was to tell him he wasn’t allowed! He was a fierce defender on and off the ice, a formidable adversary on the mound or at the plate and often the life of the party if he got hold of a microphone at the bar after the game.

Ward has played with many ball and hockey teams over the years and many of his teammates were as close as family, he loved them dearly. Quite simply put, if Ward was on your team – he had your back

On December 4th 1994 at The Strand lounge, he bumped into that backflipping girl from the ballfield –  all grown up.  She told him a joke about a ‘wide mouth frog’ and when he left get a beer she told her friend .. “well he’s not coming back after that!” but he did come back .. and he came back every day after that.

There was never any doubt for either of them and in less than a year they were married.  The rest, as they say, is history. But to leave it at that that would be to dismiss 30 years of adventure. The highs, the lows and all the moments in between that helped to build a beautiful life. A life that included a home in Torbay and 3 beautiful children.

He was a respected Town Councilor in Torbay who truly wanted to make a difference and he did, in so many ways. His moral compass was strong and sure when making decisions in that position and he took so much pride in that role.

It goes without saying that Wards achievements and accolades in the sporting world are extensive. But as much as Hockey and Fast Pitch were his passion, family was his lifeline, his children were his pride and joy – his world.  They carry so much of him with them- the very best of him.

We had a lot of living left to do and The Big 5 will never be the same. He will be forever missed, forever loved and forever remembered.

You gave your all – and although there were chapters still left to be written, your story is one for the ages and is etched in the memories of all of those who knew and loved you.

You live on within your children and they will carry you forward with them.

Rest easy love.

I’ve got it from here.

 

  • Visitations

    2-4 p.m. on January 23, 2025

    7-9 p.m. on January 23, 2025

    10-12 p.m on January 24, 2025

    Carnell’s Funeral Home
    329 Freshwater Road
    View on Map

  • A Celebration of Life

    3:00pm, Friday January 24th

    The Royal Canadian Legion, 930 The Blvd, St. John's, NL

 

 

 Shared by Graham Evely:
 
 
 
 
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Facebook News Group - ISC International Softball Congress - comments from many fans and players:
 
 
 
 
 
Al Doran
ISC Hall of Fame, 2008
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