Goalie with a heart of gold ...

Fill not your heart with pain and sorrow,
but remember me in every tomorrow.
Remember the joy, the laughter, the smiles,
I’ve only gone to rest a little while.
Although my leaving causes pain and grief,
My going has eased my hurt and given me relief.
So dry your eyes and remember me,
not as I am now, but as I used to be.
Because, I will remember you all
and look on with a smile.
Understand in your hearts,
I’ve only gone to rest a little while.
As long as I have the love of each of you,
I can live my life in the hearts of all of you.
-- Printed on the memorial service program for Dale Cameron on Jan. 20, 2006 in Taos, N.M.

Believe me Dale, my heart was quite happy to know I wasn’t really alone on Thursday night, Feb. 16, 2006, exactly one month after you passed away from the effects of renal cancer at age 65.[ep
You were here with me in spirit at Palasport Olimpico in Torino, Italy, rooting on Canada as its men’s hockey team played Germany at the XX Winter Olympics.[ep
Sure, the 8,553 others in attendance – comprised mostly of Canada fans – were satisfied with a 5-1 victory, but for me, the only thing that mattered was that you were happy.[ep
The victory moved Canada, the 2002 gold medal winner, a small step closer to reclaiming an honor that seems fitting for the country where Dale was born.[ep
It’s quite certain Dale, born in Cornwall, Ontario, was passionate about hockey. It’s almost a requirement to have an interest in the sport while growing up in Canada. A day of playing on the frozen ponds until it gets dark and your mother yells that it is time for dinner. Those kinds of days. That kind of passion. A childhood memory that really never leaves a Canadian, even those who eventually come to the United States.[ep
I didn’t know Dale Cameron until our family moved to Colorado. I only met him because his wife, Linda, co-owned a hair salon where my mother worked as a receptionist. I was a young boy interested in lots of things, including hockey.[ep
My family lived on the same cul-de-sac as former NHL forward Gary Croteau. I played street hockey with the Debenedictis brothers and others from the neighborhood in Englewood. I had a keen interest in the Colorado Rockies, the first NHL team in the state. I went to many games and even though they often struggled, I was a true fan. Even when the Rockies were sold and moved to New Jersey, I didn’t lose my passion for hockey or the team.[ep
I had Dale to thank for that. We’d see an occasional Colorado Flames minor-league game. When he wasn’t letting me go to the house to see his wonderfully feisty black lab dog Morgan, he was playing senior league hockey games. He was the goalie. Sometimes he’d win and sometimes he’d be on the wrong side of the score, but Dale always gave his all. His big, bushy, red beard always stood out.[ep
But then Dale and Linda decided to move to Taos, New Mexico, a small, artistic mountain town in the northern part of the state. Linda opened Spirits of Beauty hair salon that she still owns. Dale, meanwhile, worked many jobs – he was a builder, a baseball umpire, helped build a community ice rink and also ran a successful energy business. None of those jobs, however, were nearly as important as the adobe house he built for Linda and, eventually, their daughter Jessica.[ep
It’s a gorgeous home that took far too long than Dale and Linda ever thought it would, but once it was finished and any time you visited, you’d be reminded that it was worth the wait.[ep
When I was 13, I remember taking a bus ride to Taos to help Dale make adobe bricks. I don’t think any of those bricks actually ever became part of the house, but I know I was better for having tried to help Dale. I also recall a second trip to Taos when their home base was a trailer for Dale, Linda and Jessica and the home building was still a work in progress.[ep
I visited with them at least once or twice more, but it was tougher after my family moved back to California. My main contact with them was either writing them a Christmas card or Linda and my mother sending each other letters and cards.[ep
It wasn’t until August 2003, shortly after my grandmother had passed away, that I was interested in a road trip. My grandmother was the fourth extremely close relative to me to pass away within a two-year span.[ep
My trip lasted 10 days, covered seven western states and 3,000 miles. Among the stops was an unannounced trip to Taos.[ep
In fact, when I drove into town and went to Spirits of Beauty, I walked in, said hello to Linda and she didn’t recognize me at first. It had been that long. Once she knew it was I, she quickly called Dale.[ep
He arrived and we sat down and got caught up on each other’s life. He did more of the talking and I listened because I always respected Dale’s opinions. He always had something important to say. Shortly after this exchange, we left and played a round of golf at his favorite place, Taos Country Club.[ep
It might be one of the best, most relaxed rounds of golf I’ve ever played. Not from a scoring standpoint, but it was a beautiful late summer afternoon in Taos and I was playing alongside a very good friend. Two people who were years apart age wise, but enjoyed a bond that was as tight, if not tighter, than 20 years ago in the Colorado days.[ep
When we finished, we joined Linda for dinner and had great Mexican food. I stayed the night at their house. The next morning Dale had to leave early to go to Santa Fe, but we chatted briefly, something about his interest in motor sports, before he left. Linda and I had a late breakfast and I left Taos. This visit marked the last time I saw Dale in person.[ep
The next time I heard about Dale was in October 2005. My mom sent me an email saying she had spoken to Linda on the phone. Dale had cancer of the kidneys and it wasn’t looking good. My mom said Linda had told her Dale would love to talk to me. I called and we talked for about 10-15 minutes. I told him that I loved him for his friendship, many wonderful memories and that I was rooting for him to get better. I told him I looked forward to seeing him again because if anyone could battle his way out of something it was Dale.[ep
I never did talk to him again. I sent a get-well card and a Christmas card. The last few weeks of Dale’s life were quite challenging. It wasn’t until January that I asked my mom if she had spoken with Linda recently. My mom called on Jan. 18 and Linda said Dale had died two days ago. She was busy with his arrangements and was grieving all at once.[ep
No one should be alone in that situation. She mentioned a memorial service was planned for Jan. 20 at the Taos Country Club. When I heard that, I knew I needed to drive there and be there to help Linda in any way I could. I spent the weekend in Taos. Linda was surrounded with a lot of support from family and friends. Dale’s life was beautifully recalled in a very touching memorial service, complete with numerous pictures, Dale’s story of how golf came to be and such things as his ice skates and other personal treasures were present.[ep
The last day Dale Cameron was physically alive was Jan. 16, 2006. Dale’s memory, however, will always live on in the hearts of everyone who came in contact with him.[ep
Call it a great save for those of us who knew the red-bearded goalie from Canada with a heart of gold.[ep

_ By Ryan T. Blystone