The Winnipeg Sun from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada • 39

39 THE WINNIPEG SUN Tuesday August 10 1993 VINCE1LE 91 311 993 Writer coach mentor builder legend be missed By JIM BENDER Sun Staff Writer Vince Leah died yesterday but Uncle Vince will live on in the hearts of those who knew him Leah 79 succumbed to a coronary but his presence will be strongly felt In Winnipeg for a long time to come To thoie in the business Leah waia mentor To others he was limply the kindest gentlest man they'd ever met know ofanyone who is more representative of Winnipeg ana Manitoba in a way that traiucendi sports laid John Robertson not only wrote about Manitoba he was Manitoba had this gentle nature and a beautlftil way of expressing himself He was one of a kind He never said a bad word about anybody wasn't boring or pedantic He always i buthe long and I terestlng He warjust a loving human going to miss him Just hope Ihey And some meaningful way of reipembering him ina way that transcends sports I donl know whether hd could balance up there with a torch in his hand but they should bronze him and stick him in a Leah seemed omnipresent and well-versed in all sports got a great kick out of covering minor sports and he had a great feeling tor said Bob Picfcen who first met Leah as a cub scout then played hockey fbr him was a lltyle ec-centijc but a pretty good Order of Canada Leah Is credited fbr developing hockey soccer baseball basketball football and lacrosse on the local youth scene He woirthe Order of Canada and the Order of the Bufflslo'Hunt and was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and the Manitoba Media Roll of Honor was just a terrific human being the kindest most wonderful person I ever met in my busi-new or outside of said Jack Matheson who worked with Leah for 34 years at the Winnipeg Tribune shocked but not surprised I'm just glad I don't have to write his obit because only he could do it Leah started at the TVlb as a copy boy in 1930 then moved Into the sports department When the 1Mb folded in 1880 the Winnipeg Free Press hired him as a freelancer was like a said walk into a dressing room and the athletes bothpro and Junior held him in such high regard that get up mid shake his hand He havejo win respect he was Vince Leah And he was the essence of sportswrttlng of his day very lyrical and descriptive take you out to the ball game He painted pictures He could do justice to a sunset He could write with his eyes his ears and his Othen were already mourning the loss yesterday old said Jack Wells was a grefct old guy a good thath too said Stew McPherson who once lived with Leah were very dose: The old going pretty Leah'S wifo Mary has been admitted to a local hospital Also surviving Leah is his son Don Funeral arrangements are pending 7 just hope they find some meaningful way of remembering him In a way that tran- scends sports I Know whether he coiild balance up there with a torch In his hand but they should bronze him and stick him In a snowbank Robertton (above) gar -wiisi ITffM ft Hi IH a I i fit Umnitfrt I Ss sports head- I Bob Plcken: fooling for kids.