School

In the 19th and early 20th centuries in Cobourg tennis was played by the well to do people. The working class had neither the time nor the money to participate. Tennis was played on grass. The dress code was white for men and long dresses for women. One of the first games of tennis actually recorded in Cobourg was in 1879 on Colonel Chambliss’ grass courts located on Green Street. Don Armour and Jack Cruso were the singles players.

Private courts were also located on the ‘Lawn’ at the southwest corner of Queen and Henry St. There were also two on St Peter’s Church property east of the church. In the west end of Cobourg, the Fullerton’s had lighted courts at their Bagot Street residence.

At the beginning of the 20th Century there was a growing demand for public courts. So in 1910 the Town Council committed to putting in two lighted clay courts in Victoria Park. They would be just west of the lawn bowling club and in the vicinity of the cenotaph.

This dramatically increased interest and participation in the game. A tennis club was formed and Cobourg participated in the Lakeshore League with Port Hope, Bowmanville and Peterborough. There were upwards of 50 active and enthusiastic members.

Theses courts remained the center of tennis in Cobourg until the arrival of Hurricane Hazel in 1954 which caused extensive damage to the courts. It was decided the cost of restoring the courts was too prohibitive and the courts ceased to exist and never returned to the park.

Players of note during the latter part of its existence included such notables at Paul Leonard, Del Dillon and Sol Margles. Of particular interest was Jim Burnett who, in one year won the Junior championship and the Senior one as well. Quite a feat!

Tennis went into the doldrums for a period. Players gravitated to the Port Hope Club to play and to the private clubs around the Town. In 1959 Major Ernie Carey and Major Waters had courts put in at the Army Depot on D’Arcy Street. The Depot raised funds to have the courts paved. The first indoor court in Cobourg also on Depot property in 1960 was a converted shipping bay. In 1959 St Michael’s Church constructed two new permanent tennis courts on its asphalt school yard. But they had limited success in keeping tennis alive in the Town.

It was not until the Rotary Club of Cobourg under Ted Prosser proposed to build and pay for three lighted courts at Sinclair Park in 1972 that interest came back. The cost was $30,000. Both the West and East Collegiates put in courts and Jim Burnett put up a trophy for annual competition between the two schools. Of note, the Burnett trophy was won by Peter Cameron for three consecutive years. No other student has ever done this.

The Cobourg Tennis Club had re-formed in 1969. Club teams competed in the Lakeshore League which included five other centers. In 1971 the first Cobourg Tennis Open took place with over 250 participants including the Ontario Men’s Champion.

In 1976 the Rotary Club of Cobourg fundraised another $30,000 to build three more courts in Coverdale Park in Hamilton Township, just east of Cobourg. The President that year was M.A. McLeod and the building was done in conjunction with Wintario Lotteries. The Coverdale Athletic Association was formed to supervise all activities. Membership was 150. The building of all these courts stimulated a golden age for tennis in the Town.

Today tennis continues to prosper at the two parks. New members are always welcome.

As a footnote to the tennis history is the success story of Michelle Tuma. She is a local young lady who graduated from St Mary’s High School. Michelle learned to play tennis in the community and went on to play at Ohio Northern University on a tennis scholarship. While there she held the number one tennis position in both singles and doubles. She is now a pharmacist practicing in the United States.

At the 2019 COSSA regional tennis championships finishing in top 3 were: Girls Singles – Chloe Leguard of CCI; Girls Doubles – Brooke Hoskin/Ashley Landsley of CCI; Boys Singles – Matt Enns of St Mary’s; Boys Doubles – Lewis Odurny/Ethan Fishlock of St Mary’s; Mixed Doubles – Neve Lehtinen/Jamie Slessor of St Mary’s.

Updated August 2020

From T-shirts to Champions

High School Rugby was becoming popular in rural Ontario so teachers Rob Majdell and Ray Heffernan thought they would start a rugby program in the spring of 1993. St Mary’s Catholic Secondary School (SMCSS) was still a small school of about 400 students. The expectation was that 20 firm participants would be needed at every practice, at every lunch, to continue with this program.

The other local high schools with their bigger population bases (around 800 students each) had already established rugby programs. For the betterment of rugby they agreed to play St. Mary’s new team in exhibition play for the first 3 years. These teams included Trinity College School, Cobourg East and Cobourg West.

During the first 2 years, players wore only t-shirts as jerseys. In year three, after the team became established, the school ordered and bought keeper jerseys. The fellas thought they were too nice to wear for games, so they decided to keep wearing t-shirts. The team began playing in the Kawartha league in 1996 and as they say, the rest is history.

In 2000, Greg Conway joined the coaching staff.  The team rebranded itself as the Thunder RFC and began to enjoy more success on the pitch – more coaches meant more skill development for the players.  By 2003, the team had its first player selected to Team Ontario – Sandy Sweet.  His skill and attitude started to turn the tide towards a more competitive approach by the players. 

The coaching staff had also added Drew Quemby to the fold.  This was massive as Rob Majdell had moved on to become a Vice-Principal at another school.  The team began showing potential, competing with or even defeating powerhouse teams from Lindsay and Peterborough – teams that only 2 or 3 years prior had been winning by 70 points!

In 2004, the team embarked on the first of many Rugby Tours.  The island of Bermuda was chosen.  The destination, along with amazing experiences like playing against the Bermuda U-18 team on the national pitch, drew even more athletes out to the team.  Touring became a mainstay and was the turning point in prying male athletes away from the mindset of only playing hockey.  The team now prides itself as a touring side, having embarked on 13 ruby tours to places like England, Hawaii, Barbados, Scotland, France, New York City and even the Rugby World Cup in 2015.  The opportunity to go on these tours has attracted many more athletes to try the sport, which has resulted in a very competitive side moving forward.

St. Mary’s has held the Saxon Cup (Northumberland championship) since 2005, after Port Hope won the inaugural competition in 2004.  The Junior Boys are the sole winner of the Junior Saxon Cup, winning it every year it has existed.  The Thunder take the local rivalry very seriously – the only loss by either the Junior or Senior team since 2002 to a local team came in the Saxons Cup final in 2004 to Port Hope.  Keeping the streak alive is taken to heart!

In 2005, the team qualified for its first COSSA Championship after making its first Kawartha Final in team history.  2010 saw the team win its first COSSA medal – a Silver – after toppling powerhouse Centennial from Belleville in the Semis.  They would lose a very tight COSSA final by 2 points and miss out on OFSAA.

In 2011, the Junior Boys won the team’s first Kawartha Championship.  2012 saw the team compete in its first OFSAA Championship – as host school.  Though ranked in the bottom half of the 16-team tournament draw, the team finished 5th overall!  That success was further demonstrated the following year, as the Senior Boys won their first Kawartha title in 2013.

The team had entered a new competitive phase – regularly competing for Kawartha titles and qualifying for COSSA.  They also had athletes not only competing for Ontario, but also being selected to represent Canada.  Brandon McLeod, or “The Missile”, played internationally on the Canada Sevens development team 6 times.  Owain Ruttan represented Canada for their U-18 and U-20 teams a total of 11 times, scoring two tries, including one against Wales!

2016 saw a Junior Team unlike any before at SMCSS.  They captured the Kawartha title and the team’s first COSSA Gold.  That same team won COSSA Gold again at Senior in 2017, 2018 and 2019.  During that run, they produced 4 more Canadian players – Josh Barss, Keagan Read, Adam McNee and Mason Flesch.
 
In 2018, the Senior Boys team reached new heights 25 years after the first team started play.  They toured Hawaii and defeated the powerful Kahuku – Hawaii state champions.  They returned home and won the Kawartha Championship as well as the COSSA Championship.  All that remained was OFSAA.
They entered as the #1 seed and dominated the tournament leading up to the final.  In a hard fought Gold Medal game, the Thunder prevailed 26-19 to capture its first Provincial Championship.  They outscored all opponents at OFSAA by a margin of 200-24 and finished the season a perfect 16-0.  

The 2019 team was not to be outdone.  That team won Kawartha and COSSA again, and went on the win the OFSAA Championship, becoming only the third school to ever repeat as Champion.  History was made however as St. Mary’s won the 2019 title game 40-0, which is the largest margin of victory in any OFSAA Boys Rugby Championship Final.

It has taken almost 30 years to reach the pinnacle.  They began in t-shirts and running shoes, losing by 70 or 80 points.  They have since seen the world and risen to the top, with back-to-back OFSAA Gold.  The coaching staff has grown as well – additions Tim Linehan, Adam Janssen, Shawn Carmichael have all played a part in the team’s growth and success.  As a coaching staff, we are excited to see where the team can go next!!!

Greg Conway - Head Coach, Thunder RFC

Updated August 2020

Gerald Alphonsus “Jerry” Lawless
Physical Education Teacher and Coach
CDCI West Viking Coaching Legend

Gerald Alphonsus “Jerry” Lawless was born on October 18, 1931 in Grafton, Ontario. He was one of nine children of Thomas Alphonsus “Phons” Lawless and Mary ”Eva” (Kernaghan). Jerry passed away in his 83rd year on November 5, 2013.

Jerry grew up doing chores on the family farm and volunteering at church. As a young adult he worked on the railway, picked tobacco, and pruned Christmas trees to pay for his university courses. As an adult he continued to go home and help cut grass and trim hedges on the family farm. He attended St. Mary’s Elementary School in Grafton and then went to high school at Cobourg Collegiate Institute (CCI).

Jerry went to St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto where he graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He completed the Ontario College of Education course in the summer and began his high school teaching career in Englehart, Ontario, in September of 1955. Jerry married Audrey (O’Shea) from Hastings, Ontario, on December 26, 1955.

In 1956, Jerry and Audrey moved to Cobourg, Ontario, where Jerry accepted a job teaching English and Mathematics at CDCI West. Jerry continued his University education taking night courses and summer courses. In 1962, he graduated from McMaster University in Hamilton with a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education. In 1963, Jerry was appointed head of the Physical Education Department at CDCI West. Jerry taught and coached for 33 years, before retiring in 1988.

In his early years of teaching, Jerry coached 5 to 9 teams because there weren’t enough coaches. During his years at CDCI West Jerry focused on not only the development of his student athletes' athletic skills, but also their life skills. He attended coaching clinics over the years to improve his knowledge as a coach. Jerry coached numerous teams to championship wins. Some of these included:

1967 - Kawartha and COSSA Boys Volleyball
1968 - Kawartha and COSSA Boys Volleyball
1975 - Kawartha and COSSA Midget Boys Basketball
1978 - Kawartha and COSSA Midget Boys Basketball
1979 - Kawartha and COSSA Midget Boys Basketball

There was also a soccer championship in that mix. Many of his track and field athletes won championships over the years. On one occasion, Jerry coached soccer and volleyball teams to championship wins on the same day.

Jerry was recognized with many awards. He was presented with the Pete Beach Award, an Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association (OFSAA) Coaching Excellence Award, presented to outstanding coaches for their contributions to better their sport and athletes in Ontario. This award was designed to recognize the contribution of a coach over a period of several years.

In 1988, he was presented with the Coach’s Dedication Award which recognized his coaching contributions from 1956-1988 for his continuous effort and support of athletics at “the West”. Jerry had two Athletic Banquet Awards named after him - The Jerry Lawless Coaching Award and the Jerry Lawless Senior Male Athlete of the Year Award. Jerry Lawless was the ultimate West Viking.

The CDCI West Gymnasium was named “The Jerry Lawless Gymnasium” in his honour. When CDCI West closed, Jerry was chosen to share the Cobourg Collegiate Institute gymnasium name with Del Dillon - “The Dillon Lawless Gymnasium”.

Outside of school life, Jerry was an active volunteer within his community. He was a volunteer coach for girls softball and he helped Rick McManus coach the Rouw Construction Girls “Y” Peewee Ball team to a league championship in 1970. This was the first Donegan Park team in the league’s eight year history to capture a championship.

Jerry volunteered with the track and field events at the Cobourg Highland Games in Donegan Park and at St. Michael’s Church in various roles as a reader, an usher, and as an Instructor for Marriage Preparation courses. He and Audrey helped with the Meals on Wheels program. They were cherished volunteers with Cobourg and District Community Living, where they delivered meals and drove the sick and elderly.

Jerry’s personal hobbies and sports activities included hockey, golf, curling, skiing, tobogganing, gymnastics, lawn bowling, square dancing, bridge and gardening. As a young man he had to hitchhike to play hockey and played many games with frozen toes. He was a competitive athlete but concentrated more on coaching students, his daughters and his grandchildren.

Jerry was a dedicated family man. He taught his three daughters many school sports and other skills including swimming, fishing, skating, softball, trampoline, tobogganing, hiking, skiing and camping. Jerry spent countless nights flooding a large ice rink in the backyard for his daughters. He was rewarded for this hard work by watching his daughter Ginny play hockey for Queen’s University. Her team won a gold and two silver medals.

Jerry was a humble man who did not seek the limelight. His brother and sister helped to pay for his university. He was one of two children out of his family of nine that went to University. He learned at a young age to pay it forward and to do random acts of kindness, with nothing asked in return.

Jerry always shared whatever he had with others. He quietly helped students out by purchasing meals, athletic shoes, sports gear, tickets to sporting events, or by driving them home after a late game. Jerry’s former students continued to visit him when they were home for Christmas or summer breaks. Students mailed him pictures of their children playing sports. Some of his former students have shared that they continue to follow many of his life lessons.

Jerry had many quotes that he will be remembered for:
The KISS rule - “Keep It Simple Simon” - no one is stupid around here.
“You aren’t the first to do it and you won’t be the last” - if someone made a mistake.
“If you’re not nervous, you’re not ready”.

“White socks or no socks”.

Once Jerry retired, he filled his hours with sports, woodworking, gardening, bridge club and travelling with his wife Audrey. Jerry built a table and picture frames using wood from the floor of the small gymnasium at CDCI West. Jerry and Audrey spent many hours caring for their four grandchildren and supporting them in their activities. In retirement, Jerry continued to teach and coach his grandchildren for 27 years.

Jerry passed on his knowledge through his values by teaching leadership, life skills, perseverance, integrity, patience, honesty, kindness, and respect for others. The “torch” has been passed on to his daughters, grandchildren, great grandchildren and many students who continue to “pay forward” his legacy.

Some comments from the Gym naming and from Cobourg Yesteryears Facebook posts include:
 “He always went out of his way for those who struggled or did not fit in”.
“He was a man who defined West Athletics”.

“As I step onto the track, and settle into the starting blocks, Mr. Lawless is still with me”.
“Jerry Lawless had his own quiet way of motivating athletes to at first try, and often succeed.”
“If I can influence just one person the way Mr. Lawless influenced hundreds I would be proud”.

“Jerry Lawless touched so many people in his time at the West Collegiate, trust me, they all remember him for his time and dedication he gave everybody”.
“Mr. Lawless personified “spirit” at The West. Whether you were one of his students, a member of one of the countless teams he coached, or just another face in a school of hundreds of kids, he made an effort to get to know everyone. Pretty sure he loved his job, and we all benefited”.

“He gave of himself not just at school but at church and everyday life. I never knew him to ever put anyone down but he always tried to show them their self-worth.”
“Mr. Lawless instilled in us to always give 110%. I will never forget him. I always to this day try to give 110% in whatever I do”.

Jerry said, “You are rewarded so many times over by teaching children”.

Gerald Alphonsus "Jerry" Lawless   
Forever will his praise be sung by his students both old and young!
 Rah Rah Rah!
(Quote taken from the West school song – slightly modified).

A Special Teacher
by Layton Dodge
June 14. 1967  Cobourg Sentinel-Star

THE END OF ANOTHER SCHOOL TERM IS a rather appropriate time, I think, to pen a few kind words about a unique teacher who ranks in my book as the undisputed leader in the physical fitness field in Cobourg.

High school students of the last ten years readily will agree that the man who deserves that billing is Jerry Lawless, head of the PE department at the West Collegiate.

There is no teacher I know who is more admired and respected in our town than the same Mr. Lawless. Boys and girls alike have only good things to say about this man. In fact, in all my dealings with secondary school people, I've never heard any student utter a harsh word about him. That's a remarkable endorsement for a teacher whose job it is to instruct and discipline sometimes temperamental, often critical teenagers.

Jerry Lawless is one of a kind, in my estimation, because of the unparalleled rapport he has established with the students while still maintaining control. There are no know-it-all airs about him. He talks their language, so to speak. He sometimes needles. He often prods. He treats students as young adults rather than as puppets.

Like an older brother; he punishes when it is deserved and praises when it is their just due. In return, the boys, most of whom an looking for direction and respond to it when it is properly channeled, do for him what they wouldn't normally do for somebody else.

Ask almost any CDCI West boy which teacher he finds the friendliest, which one he can tell his troubles to and which one he knows best and chances are the overwhelming majority will single out Mr. Lawless. The collegiate gym is the hallowed grounds of basketball, wrestling, volleyball and gymnastic school teams, inter-form teams and inter-class teams. It is the arena of emotions, the informal classroom of the school.

The campus is a training ground for track, soccer, lacrosse and football. In these domains, you generally find Jerry Lawless - spurring a boy to a more concerted effort, passing along a pointer, demonstrating proper technique, organizing a game, running a practice or assisting another teacher in instructing. He freely gives up countless off, duty hours to pursue these tasks.

Teenage boys listen and pay heed to Jerry Lawless because he knows what he's talking about. He is familiar with the basics of every high school sport and extremely knowledgeable in the finer points of many. What's more, he's not a "do-what-l-say-and-not-as-I do" instructor. Usually, he can demonstrate the correct procedure himself. Moreover, Jerry is ever conscious of the athletic capabilities of his students, their whims and their idiosyncrasies.

I know him to be an excellent analyst, too, able to pick out the flaws in a performance quickly and accurately. Significantly, he judges excellence by performance, spirit and the will to achieve, not by victory alone. Enthusiasm and desire distinguish the great teacher from the ordinary one. Jerry Lawless is abundantly endowed.

He obviously wants to work with boys and doesn't mind spending extra time to do it. For instance, he's one of three coaches taking 47 athletes from the COSSA area on a 5-day expedition to New Brunswick for a schoolboy track meet in St. John on July 1.

Despite  the lack of certain facilities (such as a track and a football field), with which other area high schools are blessed, and the obvious disadvantage of a comparatively small male student population, CDCI West boys have more than held their own in athletic circles in recent years, outdoing their more numerous, more favored East Collegiate counterparts in this regard.

From this observation post, Jerry Lawless deserves a good deal of the credit for this phenomenon. Many years from now, however, CDCI West graduates will not remember Jerry Lawless for the number of winners he produced, directed, assisted or just encouraged. They'll remember him for the kind of person that he was.

And that, I suggest to you, dear reader, is undoubtedly the finest compliment they could ever hope to pay him.

Updated August 2020

Emerging in 2014 as the newly amalgamated public high school in Cobourg, Cobourg Collegiate Institute (CCI) has brought together the rich athletic histories of the former Cobourg District Collegiate Institute East and Cobourg District Collegiate Institute West schools.  Moving from medium sized “AA” schools (between 500-900 students) to a larger AAA school (1150 students in 2020), C.C.I. offers its students an extensive selection of sports teams, with the continued pride and success that was enjoyed by the former East and West schools.  

Since its inaugural year in September of 2014, C.C.I. sports teams have won many Kawartha (local) and COSSA (regional) championships.  This has led to many trips to the Ontario Federation of Schools Athletic Association (OFSAA) provincial championships with its sports teams, including Girls Hockey, Boys Hockey, Boys Volleyball, Girls Volleyball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Wrestling, Cross Country, Badminton, Tennis, Track and Field, and Swimming.  

A trip to CCI’s Dillon-Lawless Gym (named after renowned local high school physical education teachers Del Dillon and Jerry Lawless) will also allow you to see the growing number of team and individual OFSAA honours, including medal performances for finishing in the top 4 in the province.  

As of the winter of 2020, OFSAA Honours include the Girls Hockey team with a 4th place finish, and the following individuals: Wrestlers-Amara Hill (4th place), and Jayden Sparks (3rd place), Track Athletes- Cameron Bruce (4th place, 300m Hurdles) and Kate Current (2nd place, 800m), and Swimmers- Lauren Burleigh (2x 1st place 50m Para Backstroke, and 1st place 100m Para backstroke), and Carlie Bilodeau (1st place, JR 50m Backstroke).  Some of these athletes, and many others have enjoyed success at the college and university sports level following their years of competing for Cobourg Collegiate Institute.

In addition to an impressive C.C.I. OFSAA presence to date, they also consistently have demonstrated exceptional character through sport. Two teams were awarded with the OFSAA Sportsmanship Award during their OFSAA debuts – the varsity girls’ hockey team in 2016, in Stratford, and the senior boys’ soccer team in 2018, in Thunder Bay.

Beyond the successes of sports teams to date, dedicated coaches have planned a variety of trips to enrich the students’ experiences, and to provide lasting memories.  One of the highlighted trips include rugby teams taking part in tournaments in New York City and New Brunswick (Rothesay Netherwood Private School in Rothesay, NB).  As well, basketball teams have annually made trips to prestigious American Colleges and Universities to play games, tour the facilities and watch high-level teams train and compete.  Recent trips have been to Pennsylvania, Indiana, Michigan, Washington D.C., Virginia, West Virginia and New Hampshire.

Building on the excellent athletic facilities on the C.D.C.I. East school site, one major facility upgrade enjoyed by C.C.I. students was the installation of a 6-lane rubberized track.  This has attracted athletes and visitors, including the likes of Canadian Olympic medalist Andre De Grasse, for a training session before his trip to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.  Highlights on our track to date include running our school’s annual Relay for Life event, and a Board-Wide “Inclusive Track and Field Day”.  

The Inclusive track and field day is open to all Learning and Life Skills high school students around the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, and includes running, wheel-chair and field events, along with a barbeque lunch.  We are also happy to be able to accommodate local and regional elementary schools, housing our future C.C.I. athletes, who need a venue to run their annual track and field meets.

C.C.I has also been a support to many community members and visiting schools looking to access our gym facilities.  This has included a close relationship with the Lakeshore Minor Basketball Association, who has been a partner in helping us to invest in new glass backboards, adjustable nets and a padded score table.  The local Badminton Club, along with the Northumberland Sports Council, used our gym for the Ontario 55+ Winter Games in 2017, which was a unique opportunity to open our school to athletes from all age groups.  Our gyms are rented most nights, and weekends, throughout the year to service local sports clubs for training and competition, including volleyball, badminton, basketball, soccer, rugby, softball, baseball, lacrosse, rowing and more.

As Cobourg Collegiate Institute continues to grow its history, they are proud to be an important and vital part of the Cobourg community.

Updated August 2020

Lynn Bottoms was born July 2, 1933 in Calgary Alberta. Lynn attended the University of Washington playing with the Huskies football team in the Pacific Coast Conference. Following graduation Lynn signed with his hometown Calgary Stampeders in 1954.

He played both offensive and defensive halfback. In his rookie year Bottoms had 379 yards rushing and caught 30 passes for another 368 yards. He also had one interception. Besides playing offense and defense, Bottoms saw action returning kicks, and was normally among the division leaders in punt returns. In that first year he won the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy for Best Canadian Rookie in the West.

In 1955 he had 402 yards rushing to lead the Stamps. In 1956 he had 332 yards rushing. And in 1957 he had 326 yards rushing. In 1955 Lynn had 252 yards returning kickoffs, punts and missed field goals. In 1956 he had 248 yards and in 1957 he had 113 yards. He had the honour of representing the Western Canadian Football League in three Shrine All Star Games.

In 1960 Lynn was traded to the Toronto Argonauts. He played in 40 games as a defensive half plus 5 playoff games. In 1961 he had 251 yards returned on punts and kickoffs and missed field goals. In 1962 he had 319 yards. In 1963 he had 156 yards. Lynn retired after the 1963 season. Over his ten-year career with Calgary and Toronto, Lynn rushed for 1,560 yards, caught 96 passes and had 12 interceptions.

After retiring from football, Lynn and his family moved to the Cobourg area and Lynn became a welding/tech teacher at Cobourg District Collegiate East from the mid-1960s until the late 1980s. He was a much loved and respected teacher while at the school and of course, was heavily involved as a coach in their football program.

“Lynn Bottoms...he would show us video of himself when he played for the Calgary Stampeders and the Toronto Argos. He knew how to relate to the class which was made up of mostly guys that really didn't want to be in school and for the most part caused a bit of trouble whenever possible. He was tough but fair and he had our respect. He had a go kart track near Grafton and he barred me for life after I wrecked one of his karts.” (Former student on Tree52)

Lynn also became very involved in local sports, playing fastball, old timers’ hockey and golf. He had only one speed in any of his athletic endeavours - “Full Out”. He was fun to be around.

Lynn Bottoms died of a heart infection on December 22, 1995.

Lynn Bottoms was a small man by football standards but was oh so rugged, by any standard.

********************************

Memories About a Legend

I first met Lynn in January 1976 when I became Vice Principal at Cobourg East.

January is an unusual time to move into this position. September is more a reality. The staff was guarded in their welcome as they thought someone from Cobourg was going to get the position. Lynn broke the ice by coming to me at the office to welcome me and offer his support. He engaged me in his conversation and made me feel a part of the team. This was a special talent that he had. It was appreciated by me. 

I recall one occasion when Lynn came into my office to say he would be late for school the next day as he had to go to the Cobourg hospital to have his big toes broken and straightened out. This was a result of pro football injuries. I could not imagine anyone even thinking about coming in to teach right after that morning procedure even if there was freezing. 

I told him to take time off until the pain subsided. He would have none of that and so at about 9:15 in came Lynn with bandaged toes and slippers on, to start teaching. It was not a pretty sight but he persevered and taught for the whole day. He had immense pain tolerance!

Lynn, naturally, coached the school football team. His assistant coaches mentioned that they would be watching their players performing in the game. Not Lynn. He would be focused on the opposing team, looking for weaknesses and when he spotted one, he focused on his team exploiting it until the other team adjusted. Perhaps that is why he had great success as a coach. That, and his ability to make every player feel a vital part of the team.

Athletic banquets, at the East, were always interesting. Lynn would get as guest speakers retired Argo players like Danny Nykoluk or NHLers like Bobby Hull. These former athletes wanted to be there with Lynn.

Lynn came late to the game of hockey but that never stopped him from entering the fray full bore. He decided he needed to improve his shot so he made metal pucks and set up a plywood sheet at the shed at his home with the outline of a net and practiced his shot.

He played whatever position the team wanted him to - forward, defence or goalie. He was the heart and spirit of any team he was on. He only knew one way to play - full out and with a great big smile.

One of the staff told me of Lynn playing basketball in the town league and literally tackling the opposing player with the ball. His comment was starkly “well, he had the ball” and then, a roar of laughter!

One of the funniest memories of Lynn was his organization of having the male staff at the East attend a Blue Jay game. Lynn had an old school bus which was painted light blue and this was to be our transportation up to Toronto. Lynn had taken all the seats out and replaced them with tables and chairs so we could play cards. He also had put in a bbq with a vent coming out the back.

Most of the fellows got on board at Lynn’s home in Grafton but Lynn said he would pick me up at my house. Being new to the staff I had no concept about the bus but assumed it was a coach. When it arrived in front of our house on Hamilton Ave our four young children and Suzanne came to the door to see us off. Lynn, in the driver’s seat, opened the school bus door and waved at me to get on board. My son John said to Suzanne “look mom at all the beer cases beside the bus driver! “ 

Anyways, off we went to the game, playing cards and hoping Lynn did not have to apply the brakes too harshly. There were problems with the motor but nothing major. Upon arriving at the stadium parking lot, on came the bbq and we feasted on hamburgers, etc. I am not sure if the Blue Jays won but after the game off we went up the Don Valley Expressway. 

Halfway up, the motor conked out and there we were in the right lane, stalled! Cars were swerving around us and, thankfully a Toronto police cruiser arrived to assist us. By this time Lynn had the hood up and with the assistance of others was trying to unclog the gas line. The police officer said he would put flares out on the DVP to save us from a rear-ender. He risked his life setting them out. 

Little did he know that Lynn had fixed the problem and had started driving away. We looked out the back window to see the officer fading in the distance, looking up at us and bolting to his car. When he caught up to us with all his lights glowing, he was not happy and told us so in no uncertain words and to get the bus off the DVP ASAP. We approached the Don Mills exit and Lynn said “Everyone out and push”. We finally got to a garage, got the bus fixed and arrived back in Cobourg very late but safe!

On another occasion, Lynn invited all the male staff out to his house for cards, etc. We were having a great time but as eleven o’clock came we were getting ready to call it a night. It was then that Lynn announced that he had flood lights in the back yard and we were going to finish off the evening with a touch football game. Needless to say, Lynn’s idea of touch was different than most. It was well after twelve that the game gratefully ended. 

I am sure there are literally hundreds of other funny tales that others could tell. There are probably many stories of how he helped kids at school. He was loved by all. He was someone you were lucky to know. He was kind, he was generous of thought and deed. He knew only one way to tackle life - full on and with abandonment. He was a LEGEND!

by Peter Delanty

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Just a Couple of Many Fond Memories

One summer evening I got a phone call from Lynn Bottoms asking if I would like to play 9 holes of golf the next morning. I told him I was sorry but I had to work the next morning. He replied “So do I.” 

“Well” I asked, “how are we going to play 9 holes of golf and still get to work on time?” “That’s easy” he replied, “Just bring 4 clubs – a driver, a couple of irons and a putter. We’ll each hit 2 balls and then run down the fairway to our respective balls, hit them again and then run again.”

We proceeded to do this for every hole on the old 9 hole golf course at the corner of Division and Elgin Streets. We started at 6:00 am and were finished at about 7:20 am. There was time to go home, have a shower and off to work on time.

There was only one “Bot”. He was an absolute bundle of energy and so much fun to be around.

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This story also took place in the warmer months. We had a fastball team that played in Grafton. There were a few Cobourg guys but it was mostly made up of Grafton players such as Tony Beauchamp, John Eagleson, Jim Helps, Mike and Rick Hall and others. One of the unique customs of the team was to return to different homes after each game to sip a few coolies and partake in some fun stuff like horseshoes, swimming, etc. 

Well, the night we went to Lynn’s house he had 2 basketball nets set up and we picked teams for a little competition. Well into the wee hours of the morning Len “Pancho” Bazay drove to the basket for a layup. Lynn being Lynn went up aggressively to block him. Pancho’s head caught Lynn right on the cheekbone and badly cut him. Game over?? No way!! “Bot” went into the house and found a large box of gauze. We wrapped it around his head several times and then held it in place with electrical tape. The game went on for another hour or so. Everyone went home. The “Bot” went to the hospital, got 8 stitches in his cheek and then went off to teach his classes. What a man!! And as tough as they come!!

by Ross Quigley

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Lynn Bottoms - One Of A Kind

December 9, 1996 in Cobourg Daily Star

I wrote this article a few days after Lynn Bottoms’ death on December 22nd, 1995, and just filed it away. But a year has passed and, as we approach the first anniversary of his passing, please consider this my memorial tribute to a unique character and a devoted lover of life.

Many of you knew Lynn Bottoms much better than I. But I’ll wager that few knew him any longer.

I first met Lynn in the early ‘60s when he was an MBA student at the U of T and a Toronto Argonauts star. Within minutes of our introduction, I knew instinctively that this was one warm and affable human being – entirely devoid of pretension. A first impression that endured.

In those early years, I was often a fourth for euchre in the little semi in west Toronto that the young Bottoms family called home. I remember Lynn’s endless energy and how mere mortals were cajoled into playing long after any reasonable person would succumb to fatigue.

Lynn was of average stature – but ox strong. I’ll never forget the arm wrestle to the finish - a brief break in one of those interminable euchre tournaments. Bottles and playing cards flew in all directions. It ended when Lynn’s adversary extricated his hand from the death grip to display an oddly contorted, less-than-mint-condition index finger. No matter. A mere diversion. The cards continued until first light. 

Shortly after that, Lynn retired from football and moved to Cobourg. A couple of months later, three of his “old buddies” visited for a weekend and a little R and R. Some R and R! By contrast, the Ironman Triathlon is for sissies. 

We went almost nonstop for the entire time. From one athletic competition to another. Touch football, two on two basketball, ball hockey, baseball. 

Then the cycle would repeat itself again and again. Of course, Lynn would let us do just well enough to save face, but it was obvious who the real athlete was. 
After dark – euchre, euchre, euchre. Finally – sleep. But scarcely had we closed our eyes when daylight and Lynn returned. Raring to go.

Some of you may remember the old go-cart track which once occupied the field opposite Lynn’s house on Highway 2 east of town. Sunday morning business at the track was slow and Lynn decided that this would be a fine opportunity to take on the little old lady who ran the place. 

He rode his dirt bike across the road and issued the challenge. I will always remember the sight of that grandmother in her cart and Lynn on his bike, neck and neck, careening wildly around the track. And the sound of Lynn’s maniacal laughter audible above the roar of the air-cooled engines. That was the last I was to see of Lynn for years.

In the mid “70s, I moved to this area and renewed my acquaintanceship with Lynn. But we usually only crossed paths on the street or at some education-related function. Still, he remained the same gregarious, ebullient character I had met years earlier. He never knew how to be unfriendly or how to slow down.

About 15 months ago, Lynn had his first brush with illness. When I last saw him back in June, he looked great. I wondered if anyone had ever been less compromised by heart problems. But now he is gone. It is hard to believe that this incredible bundle of energy will never play another game of old-timer hockey, laugh madly at some crazy prank or crush my hand in an enthusiastic greeting.

We can be sure of one thing though. If a zest for life and a love of people count for anything, Lynn Bottoms is sitting up on a cloud at this very moment – a big smile on that broad face of his as he plans his next game of five-a-side football. And once the whistle blows, even the angels had better keep their heads up.

by George Smith

Reviewed August 2020