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OBIT: Retired Prof. John Chomay was 79

Published: 17 December 2008

MONTREAL – The 㽶Ƶ department of athletics regretfully announces the passing of John Chomay, a retired professor from the department of physical education, in Rosemere, Que., Sunday. He was 79.

“He was a great man,” recalled head football coach Sonny Wolfe. “Of all the professors I had during my undergraduate days at McGill, he was by far the most influential.”

An avid supporter of intercollegiate sports, Chomay helped organize an overseas trip to Czechoslovakia for the basketball Redmen in 1977 and a Redmen hockey tour of the Czech and Slovak republics in 1998.

“It’s a sad day for McGill and the department,” said Martin Raymond, another former student, currently in his 14th year as head coach of the men’s hockey team. “Prof. Chomay was well-respected, a wonderful teacher and helped me tremendously as a person. He will be sorely missed.”

Born June 6, 1929 in Montreal, he graduated from McGill in 1951 with a bachelor of science degree, majoring in physical education, and went on to teach at McGill from 1968 to 1990.

Chomay coached the junior varsity football and hockey teams in 1957-58 while serving as director of the freshman physical education program. He was the first graduate program for the Department in the 1970s and also served as coordinator of admissions, student teaching and advising.

Prior to lecturing at McGill, he taught at Luther College in Regina, Sask., Beaconsfield high school (1958) and served as an administrator at Lindsay Place and Rosemere high schools.
Renown for an immaculate memory, Chomay knew all of his students by name long after they graduated. Upon his retirement in 1990, the John Chomay Award was established by former students, varsity athletes, colleagues and friends and it has been presented annually to an undergraduate student in physical education.

He is survived by wife Helen, daughters Linnea and Perian, plus five grandchildren and many relatives and friends in Canada, the United States and Slovakia.

Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 18, from 2 to 9 p.m. at Jasko Moshonas Ouimet Funeral Home, 693 Jean Talon West (corner Champagneur).

A funeral service will be held on Friday, Dec. 19 at 11 a.m. at Ascension Lutheran Church, 865 Jarry St. West, followed by internment at Mount Royal Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Ascension Lutheran Church or contributions to Rosemere high school "John Chomay Physical Education Fund" c/o Rosemere high school, 530 Northcote St., Rosemere, Que., J7A 1Y2.


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OBIT FROM THE GAZETTE:
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CHOMAY, John. June 6, 1929 - December 14, 2008. Retired professor of Physical Education, 㽶Ƶ.

In Rosemere, at the age of seventy-nine, passed away to be with the Lord. Devoted husband of Helen (nee Klein). Most beloved father of Linnea (Victor Cabral) and Perian (Colin Crankshaw). Adored grandfather of Alexander and Kristen Theodore, Stefan Perrier and Samantha and Nicholas Crankshaw.

Also survived by many relatives and friends in Canada, the United States and Slovakia.

Resting at Jasko Moshonas Ouimet Funeral Home, 693 Jean Talon West (corner Champagneur) on Thursday, December 18, 2008, 2 to 9 p.m.

Funeral service on Friday, December 19, 2008, 11 a.m. at Ascension Lutheran Church, 865 Jarry St. West, Montreal, thence to Mount Royal Cemetery for internment.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Ascension Lutheran Church or contributions to the Rosemere High School "John Chomay Physical Education Fund" c/o Rosemere High School, 530 Northcote St., Rosemere, Quebec, J7A 1Y2, 450-621-5900, would be greatly appreciated.

John's Christian faith permeated every aspect of his life. He will be sadly missed. Do videnia Janko!

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