Our friend Gary died May 8th 2010
Here is a tribute from his friend Graham Hicks in the Edmonton Sun newspaper
A quadriplegic since he was nine — one of the last full-blown cases of polio paralysis in Canada — Gary did more in his 63 years on this Earth than most of us would do in several lifetimes.
Gary passed away Saturday at 12:50 p.m. His family — wife Val, daughter Keiko, son Jamie and his mom Dorothy, in her mid-80s — were by his side.
He was in excellent health until just three weeks ago.
Complaining of abdominal pain, his doctor ordered tests.
A biopsy showed cancer. They operated and basically stitched him up again because his organs were cancer-riddled.
Had cancer not intervened, with his health and outlook he’d have outlived us all.
STRING OF HONOURS
Who and what was this Gary McPherson, that on his death he is so lauded?
The Order of Canada, the Alberta Order of Excellence, Honorary Doctor of Law, social activist, political strategist, political candidate, superb organizer, administrator, health nut, sports addict, a great dad and a loving husband.
All this, when he was paralyzed from the neck down, could barely breathe, and had only tiny movement in his left leg and left arm.
Gary was inspiration personified.
MY FRIEND GARY
We became friends 21 years ago after bumping into one another at obstetrician Dr. Robert Chua’s office, as our wives seemed reproductively in sync.
(Yes, disabled people can enjoy sex and procreate. See Page 4 of Gary’s book With Every Breath I Take.)
We’d see each other at functions. Then our daughters wound up on the same soccer team through their teens. You know how friendships strengthen on the side of soccer fields.
EVER UPWARD
One of Gary’s best friends was Dr. Bob Steadward.
Professionally, they worked as a team for 44 years, moving mountains for disabled sports.
Bob says he has lost the brother he never had.
“From the day I met him,” says Bob, “I never saw a trace of self-pity, not an iota.”
Gary was an incredibly bright, passionate, optimistic, energetic, disciplined and persistent individual who happened to be disabled.
“We may be disabled,” he’d tell his buddies in the famous polio Ward 67 at the University of Alberta hospital, “but we’re not sick.“
Here is the bio on Gary on the Steadward Centre website before he passed away
Dr.
Gary McPherson contracted polio
when he was nine years old, the
result of which was a permanent
disability and over 30 years of
institutionalized care. These
challenges did not hold him back
and in 2001 he authored and
published "With Every Breath I
Take", a book of humour,
anecdotes and "practical
suggestions on how we can care for
ourselves". The non-fiction
hit found an instant place on the
Edmonton Bestseller charts and
remained there for many weeks.
With his drive, wisdom and vision of the endless possibilities available for people with disability, Gary manifests the very nature of the philosophy behind The Steadward Centre, and is an inspiration for everyone, with or without disability. His experience and background in all areas pertaining to disability issues are without parallel in Canada, and likely most of the world.
In 1998, Dr. McPherson joined the staff at the University of Alberta as the Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, in the School of Business. He is also an Adjunct Professor, as well as a Special Lecturer and Advisor in the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation. Prior to joining the University, Dr. McPherson served for ten years as Chairman of the Premier's Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities, providing advice to the Government of the Province of Alberta.
Gary is the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, an advisory group that provides guidance and direction for The Steadward Centre, located at the University of Alberta and at two satellite locations. The Steadward Centre is a health, fitness, lifestyle and research facility, serving people with disability since 1978.
Dr. McPherson is a Founding investor and Vice Chair of Wisevillage, Inc., an innovative lifestyle, entertainment and shopping site on the Internet that is designed to provide a comprehensive environment with a user-friendly interface.
Gary McPherson has extensive expertise in the voluntary sector, having spent more than 20 years in wheelchair sports administration. For eight of those years, he served a President of the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association (CWSA). In acknowledgment of his extraordinary work, Dr. McPherson has earned considerable recognition and several awards, including being an inductee in both the Edmonton and Alberta Sports Halls of Fame. In 1995, the University of Alberta conferred upon him an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
Gary is survived by his wife Valerie Kamitomo and their daughter and son, Keiko and Jamie.