Max
12-26-2002, 10:37 AM
Uteck dies at age 50
By Michael Lightstone
Larry Uteck has lost his five-year battle with Lou Gehrig's disease. Mr. Uteck died at home in Halifax on Christmas Day. He was 50.
The married father of two, who became a member of the Order of Canada this year and was athletic director at Saint Mary's University, died Wednesday at about 7 a.m., Saint Mary's spokesman Chuck Bridges said. A memorial service will be held Saturday in Halifax.
Mr. Bridges, who was at Mr. Uteck's home Wednesday, said the family was being comforted by relatives and close friends.
Mr. Uteck is survived by his wife, Sue; daughter, Cain, 10, and 12-year-old son, Luke.
"They're mourning the loss of a wonderful husband and a dedicated father and are remembering him fondly and the tremendous contribution that he made to the community," Mr. Bridges said.
Family friend Wayne Kirk called Mr. Uteck a sincere man and a great ambassador for Halifax and the Maritimes.
"He was just a very special person - you have to know him personally, I guess, to really know what he was about," said Mr. Kirk, who took Mr. Uteck Christmas shopping on Monday.
"He fought a helluva fight."
Mr. Uteck was diagnosed in 1998 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which gradually caused him to lose muscle control due to the destruction of nerve cells in his brain and spinal cord.
A former Canadian Football League all-star and longtime head coach of the Saint Mary's Huskies football team, he was also a municipal politician and served as Halifax regional council's deputy mayor from 1998 until his illness forced him to resign in 1999.
A street in Bedford is named after him - Larry Uteck Boulevard.
Huskies coach Blake Nill said he's lost a mentor and friend, a man who was widely respected during the 15 years he guided the Huskies.
"He was an outstanding person," Mr. Nill said. "If you look back at the positive influence he had on not only people such as myself and some of the younger coaches, but all of his players, that's a true indication of what kind of a person he was."
An Ontario native who was a CFL defensive back, Mr. Uteck later took the Huskies into the national championship three times and was twice named best university football coach in the country.
Though his SMU squads didn't win a title, the football program he shaped produced championship teams this year and last.
"It has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my life," Mr. Uteck once said of his Saint Mary's coaching career. "We had a goal to win a national championship, which we never quite accomplished. But just trying, it was a helluva time - it brought a lot of joy to me."
Flags on SMU's campus were flying at half-mast in his memory on Wednesday.
Mr. Nill said Mr. Uteck was dedicated to his family, Saint Mary's and the community. He remembered his boss as a level-headed, affable guy who had a good sense of humour.
The two men met earlier this week to discuss SMU's current football program.
"I had a meeting with him just on Monday," Mr. Nill said. "We were talking about recruiting and that, and we were laughing about the silliness that gets involved in it at some point."
Mr. Uteck arrived at Saint Mary's in 1982 at age 29; a neck injury had forced him to retire from the CFL.
He quickly rose from an assistant coach to head field boss, gaining loyalty from his players and chalking up victories.
"He was always willing to let you be yourself and work with you as an individual," former Huskies quarterback David Sykes told a reporter after Mr. Uteck stepped down as coach in November 1997. "He recognized the talent in us all."
Nova Scotia Health Minister Jane Purves paid tribute to Mr. Uteck's sense of commitment.
"From helping young people become leaders on and off the field to serving his fellow citizens, Larry Uteck was a champion all Nova Scotians looked up to," Ms. Purves said.
"On behalf of the people of Nova Scotia, I would like to extend deepest sympathies to his wife, Sue, and their family at this sad time."
Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly said metro has lost "a great Haligonian and a great Canadian." He said Mr. Uteck was committed to his constituents and was a staunch advocate of cleaning up polluted Halifax Harbour.
"He was an asset to the community," Mr. Kelly said. "He certainly was a role model for many to follow."
The mayor said council will probably consider a memorial dedication or selecting an event to honour Mr. Uteck.
Coun. Sheila Fougere, who sat next to Mr. Uteck in Halifax's council chamber and now sits beside his wife, Sue, said he was one of the civic politicians she consulted when she first considered seeking public office.
"He said: 'Have common sense, don't spend a lot of money on a campaign and just use your head,' " Ms. Fougere recalled.
She said the loss will be doubly hard for the young family, coming as it did at Christmas.
The Utecks have asked the media for privacy at this time.
Ms. Fougere said Ms. Uteck showed "unbelievable" stamina and commitment in balancing a challenging home life with her duties as regional councillor.
"And you know what? She never once said an unpleasant thing or an unkind thing or complained about caring for Larry," Ms. Fougere said.
In October, Mr. Uteck received his Order of Canada award at a moving ceremony in Halifax that saw the audience honour him with a standing ovation.
A document from the Governor General's office said he'd "distinguished himself as a man of character."
"Throughout his multifaceted career, he has left an indelible mark on every organization he has touched."
Mr. Bridges said Mr. Uteck, an unassuming man who continued to work at SMU before he died, always felt his two greatest accomplishments were his beloved children.
The public memorial service for Mr. Uteck will be held Saturday at 10 a.m., at St. Mary's Basilica in Halifax. A reception is to follow at the Tower at SMU.
http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2002/12/26/f128.raw.html
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By Michael Lightstone
Larry Uteck has lost his five-year battle with Lou Gehrig's disease. Mr. Uteck died at home in Halifax on Christmas Day. He was 50.
The married father of two, who became a member of the Order of Canada this year and was athletic director at Saint Mary's University, died Wednesday at about 7 a.m., Saint Mary's spokesman Chuck Bridges said. A memorial service will be held Saturday in Halifax.
Mr. Bridges, who was at Mr. Uteck's home Wednesday, said the family was being comforted by relatives and close friends.
Mr. Uteck is survived by his wife, Sue; daughter, Cain, 10, and 12-year-old son, Luke.
"They're mourning the loss of a wonderful husband and a dedicated father and are remembering him fondly and the tremendous contribution that he made to the community," Mr. Bridges said.
Family friend Wayne Kirk called Mr. Uteck a sincere man and a great ambassador for Halifax and the Maritimes.
"He was just a very special person - you have to know him personally, I guess, to really know what he was about," said Mr. Kirk, who took Mr. Uteck Christmas shopping on Monday.
"He fought a helluva fight."
Mr. Uteck was diagnosed in 1998 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which gradually caused him to lose muscle control due to the destruction of nerve cells in his brain and spinal cord.
A former Canadian Football League all-star and longtime head coach of the Saint Mary's Huskies football team, he was also a municipal politician and served as Halifax regional council's deputy mayor from 1998 until his illness forced him to resign in 1999.
A street in Bedford is named after him - Larry Uteck Boulevard.
Huskies coach Blake Nill said he's lost a mentor and friend, a man who was widely respected during the 15 years he guided the Huskies.
"He was an outstanding person," Mr. Nill said. "If you look back at the positive influence he had on not only people such as myself and some of the younger coaches, but all of his players, that's a true indication of what kind of a person he was."
An Ontario native who was a CFL defensive back, Mr. Uteck later took the Huskies into the national championship three times and was twice named best university football coach in the country.
Though his SMU squads didn't win a title, the football program he shaped produced championship teams this year and last.
"It has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my life," Mr. Uteck once said of his Saint Mary's coaching career. "We had a goal to win a national championship, which we never quite accomplished. But just trying, it was a helluva time - it brought a lot of joy to me."
Flags on SMU's campus were flying at half-mast in his memory on Wednesday.
Mr. Nill said Mr. Uteck was dedicated to his family, Saint Mary's and the community. He remembered his boss as a level-headed, affable guy who had a good sense of humour.
The two men met earlier this week to discuss SMU's current football program.
"I had a meeting with him just on Monday," Mr. Nill said. "We were talking about recruiting and that, and we were laughing about the silliness that gets involved in it at some point."
Mr. Uteck arrived at Saint Mary's in 1982 at age 29; a neck injury had forced him to retire from the CFL.
He quickly rose from an assistant coach to head field boss, gaining loyalty from his players and chalking up victories.
"He was always willing to let you be yourself and work with you as an individual," former Huskies quarterback David Sykes told a reporter after Mr. Uteck stepped down as coach in November 1997. "He recognized the talent in us all."
Nova Scotia Health Minister Jane Purves paid tribute to Mr. Uteck's sense of commitment.
"From helping young people become leaders on and off the field to serving his fellow citizens, Larry Uteck was a champion all Nova Scotians looked up to," Ms. Purves said.
"On behalf of the people of Nova Scotia, I would like to extend deepest sympathies to his wife, Sue, and their family at this sad time."
Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly said metro has lost "a great Haligonian and a great Canadian." He said Mr. Uteck was committed to his constituents and was a staunch advocate of cleaning up polluted Halifax Harbour.
"He was an asset to the community," Mr. Kelly said. "He certainly was a role model for many to follow."
The mayor said council will probably consider a memorial dedication or selecting an event to honour Mr. Uteck.
Coun. Sheila Fougere, who sat next to Mr. Uteck in Halifax's council chamber and now sits beside his wife, Sue, said he was one of the civic politicians she consulted when she first considered seeking public office.
"He said: 'Have common sense, don't spend a lot of money on a campaign and just use your head,' " Ms. Fougere recalled.
She said the loss will be doubly hard for the young family, coming as it did at Christmas.
The Utecks have asked the media for privacy at this time.
Ms. Fougere said Ms. Uteck showed "unbelievable" stamina and commitment in balancing a challenging home life with her duties as regional councillor.
"And you know what? She never once said an unpleasant thing or an unkind thing or complained about caring for Larry," Ms. Fougere said.
In October, Mr. Uteck received his Order of Canada award at a moving ceremony in Halifax that saw the audience honour him with a standing ovation.
A document from the Governor General's office said he'd "distinguished himself as a man of character."
"Throughout his multifaceted career, he has left an indelible mark on every organization he has touched."
Mr. Bridges said Mr. Uteck, an unassuming man who continued to work at SMU before he died, always felt his two greatest accomplishments were his beloved children.
The public memorial service for Mr. Uteck will be held Saturday at 10 a.m., at St. Mary's Basilica in Halifax. A reception is to follow at the Tower at SMU.
http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2002/12/26/f128.raw.html
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