14 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday August 23, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Ron MacLean’s Olympics cut short by mother’s death ■ By Tina Depko Bolt or Michael Phelps, but I’m actu- “There is some sadness, but there OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF ally one of those who is moved more is a release because they went by effort than the win. I like the bat- through this fight together,” he said. Ron MacLean returned to tle.” “My dad is remarkable. My wife, Cari, Oakville on Thursday evening from MacLean was provided with regu- said she sees now that my strength Beijing, but it wasn’t the Olympics lar updates from home and was through ordeals comes from him. that was on his mind. already planning to return to Canada He’s really good in moments of crisis. Although he had been the prime before the end of the Games. That is his gift.” time anchor for the Games on CBC “I knew things were going badly MacLean said Friday he hadn’t for close to two weeks, it was memo- on the 19th, so I was booked to fly had an opportunity to tune into the ries of his beloved mother, Lila home early regardless, but she died Olympics, but said he heard about MacLean, that occupied his the day I was supposed to fly home,” Adam van Koeverden’s disappoint- thoughts. he said. ing eighth-place finish in Friday’s Lila, 82, passed away Wednesday As a broadcasting legend with a K-1 1,000-metre final. He said his following a courageous year-long solid following through programs thoughts and hopes were with the fight against pancreatic cancer. She Lila MacLean Ron MacLean like Hockey Night in Canada and pre- kayaker for Saturday’s final of the and husband, Ron Sr., 86, moved to He said she would apologize for backgrounds, so we were comfort- vious Olympic coverage, MacLean’s K-1 500m. Oakville from Calgary four years ago not giving MacLean any siblings to able with duty and we all agreed I close connection with his viewers led “I heard about Adam, but to be closer to their only child. play with, but that didn’t bother him would do the Games,” he said. “The him to announce his mother’s pass- Catriona Le May Doan had the exact MacLean fondly recalled his in the least. feeling when I left on July 30 was that ing and his subsequent departure same thing happen in Salt Lake City mother in an interview with The “She would always say, ‘I feel bad mom would be fine, but breaking her from the Games on air. in a semifinal where she thought, Oakville Beaver on Friday. there’s not 10 of us sitting around at hip on Aug. 7 changed everything.” "I don't want to jar you with this ‘What the heck just happened?’ But “She had a butterfly mind and a Christmas dinner,’ but I always felt Lila’s fall forced her to be hospi- news," he told CBC viewers late she bounced back and I’m confident great sense of humour,” said lucky it was just me and I had their talized. Despite his mother’s deterio- Wednesday. "But I just got the word Adam will have a great 500,” he said. MacLean. “She wasn’t really a sports undivided attention and adult con- rating condition in the back of his about my mom, who is 82 years old. Among the many things he is woman, she was really interested in versation from the time I was old mind, MacLean said the excitement Succumbed to pancreatic cancer. grateful to his mother for is the politics.” enough to remember,” MacLean said. of the Games and dedication of ath- Mom's condition has been tough for encouragement to follow his heart. MacLean, 48, grew up under his He was reminded of his close-knit letes, particularly those representing about a year now. But she broke her “Mom wasn’t stuck on achieve- parents’ watchful eye in Red Deer, family while in Beijing. our country, allowed him to focus on hip on the eve of the opening cere- ment in the generic sense,” he said. Alta. He said his most vivid memories “It was funny being in China with his job, reminding him of his passion mony and, if you know anything “Her successes were a lot more on of his mom are dinnertimes he spent their one-child policy,” he said. for his career. about cancer, once that trauma was the spiritual side than the financial or with his parents. “Every family unit had one child, like “I liken it to being a referee in added to the weight of her circum- career side. I always wonder whatev- “We didn’t make dinnertime a set my family, so that was a neat thing hockey, which I did for 23 years, stance, it was a very difficult last 14 er allowed them to let me be a disc thing every night, but when we sat during my Olympic journey.” where you have to keep your eye on days." jockey, which is what I started out as. around having a glass of wine and MacLean said that despite her ill- the puck and the play, so in this case, MacLean said his family is pulling She was always very supportive of talking, that’s the image that sticks ness, Lila wanted him to go to China my work,” he said. “You’re really together to cope with the sad event. me.” with me and what a great conversa- to cover the Olympics. locked into it as a sports fan. You He said his father, who is in good A private funeral for Lila MacLean tionalist she was,” he said. “Both mom and dad have military can’t help but be impressed by Usain health, is doing well emotionally. is scheduled for Tuesday.