Saturday, November 20, 2021
Reminiscences on Jackie Gould
I am extremely disappointed that none of the Irving Gould family will be able to attend in person Saturday. Although my contact with Jackie has been limited over the years of our adult lives I thought I would share some reminiscences of my childhood connection. I don't know how it would have felt to grow up in Consort, the way most of the cousins did. Probably seemed mundane, but to me coming to Consort each summer and for several Christmases, it was a mythical experience, joining an extended family the memory of which has of course only expanded to near epic proportions as I have grown older.
Jackie was a significant part of that myth. Older by only two years, at that age he towered above above me. His baseball exploits were legendary; at a time when I was a lowly little league catcher he was playing with the men. I was frightened to even have him pitch to me just for fun.
In winter, playing king of the castle on a pile of snow in the yard, he, Jim Hutchings and Gary Gilmer would hold off the combined and determined forces of Bill, Patrick, Stewart, Chuck, Charles and me. The game would go on until the intensity of the battle combined with sibling rivalry resulted in tears and an angry cessation of hostilities.
Jackie of course had his own version of the characteristic Ken Gould family laugh. Laughter is so important and seemed to come to him readily; one of the things indelibly imprinted in my memory.
We never really know what impact we have on people as we go thought life. This is especially true in our youth. I am sure Jackie was oblivious to the role model he was to those younger than himself.
I want to say how grateful I am to have known him, to have had him as part of this amazing extended family that embraced like a warm blanket all the way to Edmonton. I am sad he is gone and I am sure it is a profound loss to those that shared even more of his life. My condolences go out now to his own extended family in the hopes that they too are comforted by the embrace of this sustaining family presence.
Chris Gould
