Marcel Louis Gallays

Marcel Louis Gallays was born on November 18th, 1946, to Sylvia and Alexis Gallays. He grew up in the back of his parents’ general store, established by his grandfather in 1913. The store was conveniently located close to the outdoor rink, where Marcel spent many happy hours avoiding homework. He was good at hockey, baseball, and swimming. He especially loved throwing things– he never could pass up on a good throwing rock. Growing up in the tiny village of St. Brieux, with no gym, no coaches, no equipment, Marcel would seem an unlikely candidate to become a champion thrower. But he picked rocks, he tossed bales, he climbed elevators, he threw stones and snowballs.

At age fifteen, Marcel was a Canadian Midget Men’s Champion in shot put, javelin, and 4x100 relay. He continued competing throughout high school and university, mainly in discus, and won medals both provincially and nationally. In 1976, he competed in a pre-Olympic meet in Montreal, and was presented with the first medal ever in the “Big O” after winning bronze in discus. In 1977, knee injuries forced retirement from regular competition, but he continued competing occasionally, till the 90s, when he was Canadian Masters Men’s Champion in shot put and discus for several years.

Marcel was active in many sports-related activities throughout the years. He felt that it was important to give back to the sport that had given him so much. He served on many boards– ParticipACTION, Jump Rope for Heart, the Bob Adams foundation, and the Saskatchewan Hall of Fame. He coached track at various schools, and with the U of S Huskies. He was Invitational Chairman for the Knights of Columbus Track Meet for several years.

Marcel took up golf in his forties, and soon earned a spot at the World Long Drive Championship. He rode his bike all around the city, often with a tiny grandson in a front carrier, and a slightly bigger one attached behind on a Trail-A-Bike. And when his prolonged illness made these activities impossible, he graduated to a tricycle to keep moving.

Anyone who has ever met Marcel knows about his passion for collecting. When he was a kid, he collected sports cards, pennants, and matchboxes. His predisposition really blossomed when he discovered antiques: furniture, lamps, coins, stained glass, antique advertising signs, tins of all kinds, old drugstore items, stoneware crocks, jugs, bedwarmers, straight razors, clocks… and there was music– vinyl, tapes, CD’s… and art… and books… and moose and bison collectibles. People visiting sometimes apologized for being unsociable— there were too many things to look at!

Marcel was an outsized character, and he often tackled projects that other people would’ve found impossible. One summer he added a 25 foot stone chimney to their 100-year old house. At nearly 70 he painted that two-storey home, spending months on scaffolding. He spent another summer collecting, scraping, and seasoning diamond willow that he fashioned into bunkbeds for his two grandsons. When he wanted to do something new, he bought a book– and then he did it!

Marcel received degrees in Education and Physical Education at the University of Saskatchewan, where he met his wife, Janice (Gerwing), who was similarly engaged in education. They both taught in the Catholic School System after graduating. Marcel was a teacher, physical education consultant, and principal. He returned to University to obtain his Master’s degree in Education. He never stopped learning– there were just so many things that interested him.

Although Marcel had been in poor health for a number of years, he always remained optimistic about the future. He bought an elliptical machine that he was never able to use. Last summer he bought an electric tricycle. Two months after he was completely bedridden, he ordered a new cane. A week before he died, he ordered a three month supply of new medication.

When he could no longer participate in sports himself, Marcel became a coach and consultant to his youngest grandson, inspiring him to become a thrower of heavy objects. He also became an avid Blue Jays fan. He managed to survive just long enough to watch the last game of the World Series.

Marcel had a favorite t-shirt that read, “It’s what I do. I read books and I know things.” We like to picture him on the deck of the log cabin he built at Candle Lake. It’s 5:00, and he’s ready for Happy Hour.

Marcel is survived by his wife of 57 years Janice, his son, Dan, and wife Jennifer (son Keanan), his grandsons, Ethan and Adam, and his siblings, Jeannine, and Gilbert (Yuri).

Donations may be made in his name to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.