As many of you will know Denis was part of a regular Friday night trash talk doubles game at the VLTBC that includes such immense names as Mike Dodds, Marvin Mazinski, Chris Wallace and yours truly as regulars.
Friday last we had our first game without Denis and a new tradition was commenced. With your permission we would like to introduce the "missing player formation" in memory not only of Denis, but other notable names like John Burris of local fame and for those with a more national flavor, Alex Ducas.
The "Missing Player Formation" consists of an upside down beer mug framed by a salt and pepper shaker in a notably masculin form, placed conspicuously in the middle of the beer table post game and remaining present until the last party leaves the table.
I can promise that the "missing player formation" will be displayed at every friday night trash talk game at the VLTBC hence forward and I would encourage everyone to join us in memory of our fallen bretheren who were taken from us living life to its fullest but too early for the rest of us.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Request for Photos
Does anyone have photos of Denis playing squash. I am putting together a slideshow in memory of Denis for the event at Taylor Crossing.
Please contact me at chris@christie-images.com
Thank you.
chris christie
Please contact me at chris@christie-images.com
Thank you.
chris christie
Thursday, October 11, 2007
An Online Guest Book. Please Read
http://www.legacy.com/CAN-Vancouver/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=95866491&PageNo=1
Cremation Ceremony update
I wish to thank everyone who expressed interest in attending the cremation ceremony. I have now fielded all the requests and we have all agreed that remembering Denis how he was is the best alternative. Accordingly there will not be a cremation ceremony at this time. Thanks again everyone.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Of scrapbook, wine, and philosophical musings
Two years ago on the Labour Day long weekend, Denis, Cheryl and Allison and I all headed down to Winthrop WA for a few days of mountain biking and general carousing. (For the record, Ally and I sent Denis and Cheryl off on their own, to do their version of mountain biking - a vastly different and infinitely more strenuous version than ours!) After riding, we would meet up at the end of each day at our cabin and start pulling corks out of bottles of wine. Then off to Heenan's Burnt Finger Barbeque for some of the best home cooking and restaurant atmosphere anywhere. And, surprise, surprise, more wine!
The 4 of us were on the restaurant patio overlooking the Methow River, some 30 feet directly below, listening to a cowboy crooning and playing the guitar. Ally and Cheryl had slipped into some sensible conversation (because they were sober enough to) and Denis and I got into a semi-philosophical conversation (because we were drunk enough to). Denis started off on his usual rant about how great this all was. Wasn't this place cool! Wasn't the food great! Weren't those trails today great! Isn't this wine fabulous! (and can I have some more?) Isn't the river gorgeous! Classic Denis: demonstrating his outsize capacity for joy with huge enthusiasm and that ever-present, irrepressable grin. Which got us onto the topic of living life right. Between sips we concluded that to live life right you needed to start by imagining yourself old and infirm, in a wheelchair somewhere in a home, and all you have are your memories. We came up with the analogy of turning the pages of your mental scrapbook. And the purpose of life was to live it in such a way as to fill your mental scrapbook with the most brightly coloured, amazing memories possible. And we decided that what we were doing right there, at that moment, and throughout that long weekend was "pure scrapbook". Since that day, "scrapbook" became a regular part of our vocabulary.
I really love and admire Denis. In his life, even though it was cut far too short, he built a better scrapbook than anyone I know.
The 4 of us were on the restaurant patio overlooking the Methow River, some 30 feet directly below, listening to a cowboy crooning and playing the guitar. Ally and Cheryl had slipped into some sensible conversation (because they were sober enough to) and Denis and I got into a semi-philosophical conversation (because we were drunk enough to). Denis started off on his usual rant about how great this all was. Wasn't this place cool! Wasn't the food great! Weren't those trails today great! Isn't this wine fabulous! (and can I have some more?) Isn't the river gorgeous! Classic Denis: demonstrating his outsize capacity for joy with huge enthusiasm and that ever-present, irrepressable grin. Which got us onto the topic of living life right. Between sips we concluded that to live life right you needed to start by imagining yourself old and infirm, in a wheelchair somewhere in a home, and all you have are your memories. We came up with the analogy of turning the pages of your mental scrapbook. And the purpose of life was to live it in such a way as to fill your mental scrapbook with the most brightly coloured, amazing memories possible. And we decided that what we were doing right there, at that moment, and throughout that long weekend was "pure scrapbook". Since that day, "scrapbook" became a regular part of our vocabulary.
I really love and admire Denis. In his life, even though it was cut far too short, he built a better scrapbook than anyone I know.
Message from Denis' Sister
Hi...this is Sue McCoy, Denis's sister. I want to thank you for starting this blog...Denis would be touched to know that so many people care so deeply for him. It is certainly amazing to see all of this support coming in so many directions. I just want to let you know that details for the memorial service here in Edmonton. It's happening on Saturday, Oct. 13th at 3 pm at Connelly-McKinley Funeral Home, 10011 – 114th Street.
My brothers and my mom and I will be out to Vancouver next weekend for the memorial.
Thanks,
Sue
My brothers and my mom and I will be out to Vancouver next weekend for the memorial.
Thanks,
Sue
Cremation Ceremony
Hi all. I have just spoken with Sheryl. Denis' cremation is available for viewing by anyone who wishes to participate. The date has not yet been set but it is looking as though it will be next week. For those who wish to participate please contact me directly by e-mail. There is a fee of $350 to have the open cremation and so small contributions will be accepted from attendees as Sheryl will be paying today and I have committed that we will reimburse her.
Of note, Denis' autopsy showed nothing other than he had an enlarged heart...common to extreme athletes and very fitting for Denis.
Of note, Denis' autopsy showed nothing other than he had an enlarged heart...common to extreme athletes and very fitting for Denis.
Celebration of Life service for Denis and Richard
Save the date: Sunday October 21st, in the evening. Details are still being worked out but will be posted sometime next week.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Link to Article Describing Event
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/10/08/kayak-death.html?ref=rss
Here is one of Denis' writings. He was Rad although perhaps not so litereate
So You Think YOu're Tough Eh??
Training Article by Denis FontaineHelly Hansen Technical Rep03/15/2005
When Mrs.…. I mean Mr. Marc Campbell told me about the race up Seymour I was overcome with both excitement and nausea, not necessarily in that order. My first thought was..owwwee and then …mmmmm what to wear, or as Dave Howells would say…"sooooo ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh….. whada ya runnin'???"
Well Dave, that's an excellent question. This event begins in The Cove ( sea level) and achieves an altitude of more than 4000 feet by finishing at the peak of Seymour. Hence, you don't need to wear a lot!! If you were to begin with a long sleeve HH LIFA Sport weight, with a pair of ¾ HH LIFA Sport pants and cap it off with a pair of HH LIFA gloves and a LIFA Beanie, I am of the opinion that this would suffice, given pleasant conditions…But remember dress according to the weather and if you plan on stopping or proceeding at a slower pace, then you may want to consider packing a fleece, just in case!!
Remember to give the race organizers a pack with a change of clothes and a few cold ones for the finish, (a cotton hoodie and 6 Slemens traditionally does the trick), and we'll see you at top!!!!!!
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Training Article by Denis FontaineHelly Hansen Technical Rep03/15/2005
When Mrs.…. I mean Mr. Marc Campbell told me about the race up Seymour I was overcome with both excitement and nausea, not necessarily in that order. My first thought was..owwwee and then …mmmmm what to wear, or as Dave Howells would say…"sooooo ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh….. whada ya runnin'???"
Well Dave, that's an excellent question. This event begins in The Cove ( sea level) and achieves an altitude of more than 4000 feet by finishing at the peak of Seymour. Hence, you don't need to wear a lot!! If you were to begin with a long sleeve HH LIFA Sport weight, with a pair of ¾ HH LIFA Sport pants and cap it off with a pair of HH LIFA gloves and a LIFA Beanie, I am of the opinion that this would suffice, given pleasant conditions…But remember dress according to the weather and if you plan on stopping or proceeding at a slower pace, then you may want to consider packing a fleece, just in case!!
Remember to give the race organizers a pack with a change of clothes and a few cold ones for the finish, (a cotton hoodie and 6 Slemens traditionally does the trick), and we'll see you at top!!!!!!
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Friday October 11
The regular Friday Night Trash Talking squash game will take place at the VLTBC. For those VLTBC members and others who wish to join us in the pub after the game, we'll be there by 18:00 hrs. I invitre eveyone to make this a special event on your calandre and take some time to share about denis in this informal and free spirited environment. Hope you all can make it.
Key Information
There will be a service for Denis in Edmonton this weekend (October 13-14). Denis' body will remain here in Vancouver and he will be cremated in the next few days (probably Thursday). There will be a celebration of both Denis and Richard Juryn's (the other buddy that perished on Sunday) lives sometime in the next few weeks. We understand that Mark James has offered his North Vancouver restaurant for this event. Thank you Mark, you MUST be a good freind and just as brave as Denis. I will post more information as it becomes available
If you wish to contribute
If you would like to contribute content to this Blog, please e-mail me at pres.core@hotmail.com and I will be glad to add you to the authors list.
The Next Great Adventure Begins
Hi this is Braddes with an opening Blog for Denis Fontaine and the beginning of his next great adventure.
As you are all aware, Denis passed away last weekend doing it exactly his way. This Blog is set up to provide everyone with a place to get and share information regarding Denis' life and to stay on top of the various services to be held in the next short while to celebrate his life.
I will start this blog by telling you all that I have known Denis for 25 years. I have watched him grow and become the larger than life extreme athlete he is and I am deeply saddened by his departure. BUT, and it is a big but, Denise was very clear to me on many occasions, "when I die, it should be a big party!"
I, for one, intend to honor his wishes as soon as I recover from the waves of sadness that are passing over me every few hours. I have found talking about it, him, Cheryl and everything that we must do to honor him to be very cathartic and I hope you all find your own solace in places where it makes sense for you. When you do, remember, what Denis wants is for us to be happy ands to have a big party in his honor (on his credit card...LOL).
So lets all hurry up and get past what we need to get past and get on with living our own lives with a piece of Denis inside us...the piece that makes our lives just a little crazier, a little more fun and a little more alive.
As you are all aware, Denis passed away last weekend doing it exactly his way. This Blog is set up to provide everyone with a place to get and share information regarding Denis' life and to stay on top of the various services to be held in the next short while to celebrate his life.
I will start this blog by telling you all that I have known Denis for 25 years. I have watched him grow and become the larger than life extreme athlete he is and I am deeply saddened by his departure. BUT, and it is a big but, Denise was very clear to me on many occasions, "when I die, it should be a big party!"
I, for one, intend to honor his wishes as soon as I recover from the waves of sadness that are passing over me every few hours. I have found talking about it, him, Cheryl and everything that we must do to honor him to be very cathartic and I hope you all find your own solace in places where it makes sense for you. When you do, remember, what Denis wants is for us to be happy ands to have a big party in his honor (on his credit card...LOL).
So lets all hurry up and get past what we need to get past and get on with living our own lives with a piece of Denis inside us...the piece that makes our lives just a little crazier, a little more fun and a little more alive.
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