"The Life (well-lived) and Times of John MacTavish"
May 5, 2012
Waterloo, ON
May 5, 2012
Good morning family and friends of John and Cathy MacTavish:
Many of you will be attending the celebration of "The Life (well-lived) and Times of John MacTavish" scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, Sunday May 6, at the St. George Hall, 665 King Street North in Waterloo.
Attached is a copy of the program for the celebration.
Please note the following timing:
1:00 pm - Hall "B" - Cathy and family to meet with friends
- Hall "A" - Open for seating for celebration
2:00 pm - Hall "A" - Celebration of "The Life (well-lived) and Times of John MacTavish"
3:45 pm (approximately) - Hall "A" - socializing
Lobby - light bite food - (John's favourite menu)
Please consider forwarding this message to appropriate friends who may not be aware of the celebration. Thanks.
Questions - please contact me by e-mail or phone.
Hope to see many of your tomorrow.
John
John Thompson
Good evening family and friends of John MacTavish:
Please note the two attachments of the obituary and a great photo of a smiling John
MacTavish.
The obituary and photo is scheduled to be published in the Saturday editions of the Waterloo Region Record and Guelph Mercury.
As well, an announcement is scheduled for "In Memoriam" on CKNX 920 am radio in Wingham, also for tomorrow Saturday April 28.
CELEBRATION OF JOHN'S LIFE
The celebration of John's life is scheduled for:
St. George Hall, 665 King Street North, Waterloo
Sunday afternoon May 6
1:00 - 2:00 - Family will receive friends followed by a celebration of
2:00 pm approximately - "The Life (well-lived) and Times of John MacTavish".
Reception to follow
Hope to see many of you at the celebration.
Thanks.
John
John Thompson
284 Whitmore Drive
Waterloo, ON N2K 2N5
John MacTAVISH 1947 – 2012
Passed away with much dignity at Lisaard House in Cambridge on Thursday, April 26, 2012, six days after celebrating his 65th birthday.
John was predeceased by his parents, John MacTavish Sr. and Isabel (nee McKinnon).
John will leave a void in the lives and hearts of his wife of 39 years, Cathy and their very special family, Natalie (Kinch) Brouillette, her husband Mike, and their children Hailey and Eric. He will be greatly missed by his sister, Jean (Don) Young and brother, Donald (Andrea) MacTavish. John will also be missed by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and all of Cathy’s brothers and sisters and their respective spouses. Aunt Flora will miss her nephew John in too many ways to count. Godchildren Becca Dziarski and Paige Ballagh will always have a special place in their hearts for Uncle John.
From childhood to adult life, John enjoyed participating in sports with particular fondness and skills for softball (both fastball and slo-pitch), hockey and golf.
John was a huge sports fan – with travel to multiple host cities for fastball in North America as well as Christchurch, NZ for the 2004 World Championships; weekends to Quebec to become totally engaged in cheering for his beloved Montreal Canadiens at the Forum and Bell Centre; and his attendance at the ultimate Canadian hockey fan experience - the legendary 1972 Team Canada/Soviet hockey summit series in Moscow, Russia.
His golf prowess was fantastic - consistent approach shots and iron play that included the supreme golf experience – his “hole-in-one” at Beaverdale.
John was fortunate, and wise enough, to retire from employment with the Province of Ontario at age 50, providing fifteen years of dedicated leisure time to enjoy golfing with friends locally as well as part of the annual Great Canadian Golf Tour to multiple southern climes, skating for exercise, attending softball tournaments, and extended “snowbirding” in Mexico.
However, John’s favourite pastime was lying horizontally, the tv remote control in one hand, and sports and business sections of a newspaper nearby.
The passing of John leaves an opening in many golf four-somes this summer and he will be greatly missed by all who had a privilege of sharing his life.
Friends are encouraged to provide photos and share anecdotes and memories on Sunday afternoon May 6 at St. George Hall, 665 King Street North, Waterloo where the family will receive friends from1:00 – 2:00 pm - prior to a celebration of “The Life (well-lived) and Times of John MacTavish” – with reception to follow.
Memorial donations are welcome to “Camp McGovern” to establish the “John MacTavish Softball Field of Dreams” and may be provided at the celebration, mailed to 284 Whitmore Drive, Waterloo, ON N2K 2N5, or through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo, www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.
More updates -
The Erb Good Funeral Home of Waterloo has been entrusted with the details pertaining to the passing of John - you can view the tribute page for John at
www.erbgood.com
NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
The Saturday edition of the Waterloo Region Record has a warm tribute to John that can be viewed by clicking on the following link:
John
John Thompson
April 26, 2012
Good morning friends of John & Cathy MacTavish:
John MacTavish was transferred to Lisaard House in Cambridge on Tuesday afternoon, where he spent the last two days in relative comfort.
It's with sadness that I share, on behalf of his wife Cathy, confirmation of the passing of John this morning.
An obituary will be circulated within the next 24 hours.
A celebration of John's life is scheduled for family and friends to gather to share memories and recall the many festive occasions, events and friendships that embraced John's 65 years.
Sunday afternoon May 6, 2012
St. George Hall, 655 King Street North, Waterloo
12:30 - 2:00 - Visitation with the family
2:00 - 4:00 - program to celebrate "The Life 'well lived' and the Times of John MacTavish"
More to follow in the next few days.
Thanks.
With respect,
John
John Thompson
284 Whitmore Drive
Waterloo, ON N2K 2N5
John MacTavish and friends at Monkton Tournament a few years ago Above, picture of John MacTavish from Rosanne Allan
- L to R: Joe Todd, Al Doran, and John MacTavish
PASSING OF JOHN MacTAVISH -Thursday April 26th
Many of you in the fastball community knew John MacTavish and will be saddened to learn that he has passed away today.
John was at every fastpitch tournament in the area, supporting his favourite teams, cheering for his favourite players, enjoying the company of the legions of fans that he has come to know over the past many years.
John contribution to fastpitch softball began as a young player in the WOAA leagues in the Whitechurch and Wingham areas, and continued when he moved to Kitchener-Waterloo and played in the Kitchener Fastball League for several teams, most notably Big Bills, later as a coach in the 80s with the Waterloo CHYM'rs.
John also had a great career in slo-pitch playing in several provincial and national championships with Tournament Sports
Every summer John attended the ISCs World Tounaments..Midland, Quad Cities, Kimberly, St Joseph, Eau Claire, and several times the International Softball Federation championships in New Zealand, Saskatoon, and Midland Mich.
Most recently "Mac" worked as a volunteer in many capacities at the Legends of Fastball in Kitchener or Tavistock's Cephas Roth or any of the OASA or ISC tournaments throughout southwestern Ontario.
"Mac" was one of the most well liked and respected fans at any ball tournament. His opinions about the capability of hitters and the skills of pitchers was sought out by fans and coaches alike.
I always marvelled at how he could walk into a park, look at the draw board and perhaps find a fatal flaw in the schedule, or look at the schedule and wonder who would have decided on the tournament seedings. John would look and think and then say something like this.."Pool B has the two best teams here, the 1/4 final on Saturday at 5 will be the best game of this tournament..." and after the tournament, hindsight would prove him right. A 4 -3 win at 5 on Saturday followed by 2 mercy rule wins on Sunday at 11 and 1...
He knew his fastball and he knew the players..
He worked on many tournaments, ISC World Tournaments in Kitchener, OASA Ontario Championships in New Dundee, ISC qualifiers in Innerkip, Midget Invitationals at Hillside, and many more. Spending a weekend at a tournament was a complete joy. He was always positive about the game, happy to be at the park, a joy to sit with behind the screen and watch a good ball game.
John was one of the best reasons to attend a ball game. Sometimes when the play was less than stellar, when the pitchers were being knocked around the park, when the infielders were overthowing first and the outfielders trying the impossible throw to home, he was the only good reason to be at the park.
God bless you John...for many years to come, when there is a ball tournament in the many parks you have graced with your attendance, someone will recall you and all of us will remember you very fondly.
Dennis Dosman
