Mr. Wayne Allan Bovay passed away peacefully with his family by his side at Pinewood Court on Wednesday August 2nd, 2017.
Wayne was born in Wellington, Prince Edward County on April 3, 1935 to Howard and Ila (Wood) Bovay. He attended Queen Alexander Public School and Belleville Collegiate and V.I. A hockey scholarship saw Wayne off to Bemidji State then on to San Diego State where he studied sports medicine.
Upon returning to Canada Wayne taught in Tulon, MB followed by Selkirk Collegiate V.I. in Fort William where he met lifelong friend and mentor Ab Slyvinski. When Northwood High School opened Wayne moved to the new school to set up and organize the phys. ed program. Wayne coached or helped coach many high school teams throughout the city winning numerous SSSAA, NWOSSA and OFSSA championships. He was always very proud of the athletes he coached and their achievements after graduation.
In 1999 he was awarded the George Rowe Memorial Senior Sportsman Award for outstanding contributions in sport to youth in our community. Wayne was very active in the Giant’s Football program as well in the early seventies with Lakehead University Men’s Basketball (Wall of Fame Inductee). In 2004 Wayne was inducted into the Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame. Wayne vounteered with many service organizations most notably Lions Club Housing Committee, Thunder Bay Salmon Association and Elks Club of Thunder Bay.
Survived by his wife Marion Gaudino Bovay and her children: Francis, Phil, Karen, Ruth, David and Mike; daughters Lynn (Rick) Aloi and Denise (John) Borg; grandchildren Shawn Corrigan and Zoe Olson; nephew Rod Bovay. He was predeceased by his parents Howard and Ila Bovay; his brother Lionel Bovay; grandson Nick Corrigan.
As per Wayne’s wishes cremation has taken place and interment will be in the family plot in BURR Cemetery, Prince Edward County at a later date. Coach’s family invites his old friends, co-workers, acquaintances, and health care providers to join us for a toast to honour a life well lived. Celebration at the Elks Hall (upstairs) this Friday August 11 from 3 until 6pm. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made to the Underground Gym or Our Kids Count.
