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Rest In Peace Jean Béliveau

Re: Jean Beliveau dead at 83

Damn.

RIP, Le Gros Bill.

What a week for aging hockey legends.
 
Re: Jean Beliveau dead at 83

"What I'd like to see is the Conn Smythe Trophy be renamed the Jean Beliveau Trophy, and have (Beliveau) come onto the ice with the commissioner to present the award to the MVP and then stay by the commissioner's side for the presentation of the Stanley Cup," Gretzky told the New York Post in 2012.
 
Re: Jean Beliveau dead at 83

As great a player as he was, Beliveau was an even better person.

Let that be his epitaph.
 
Re: Jean Beliveau dead at 83

One of my biggest idol and role model dies on the same day that my first son is born. That gives me chills. Yes, the Habs family mourns one of his legends and welcome a new member on this special day.
 
Re: Jean Beliveau dead at 83

Really saddens me to hear this. My formative hockey memories are Jean Beliveau. He personified the Habs and virtually every kid revered his name. He'll be missed.

RIP
 
Re: Jean Beliveau dead at 83

The likes of whom we shall not see again. My boyhood hero , he stood tall to me and always will!! Sad day for the hockey family .

RIP le gros Jean .
 
Re: Jean Beliveau dead at 83

A couple of quick personal notes some of you have heard before, but which shows again the kind of man he was:

I was 10 years old and he was in my neighbour's house in Central Newfoundland in May,two weeks after winning the Cup.(Yes,that kind of stuff actually happened in the sixties. Molson good-will tours, my neighbour was a Molson rep.). Neighbour calls over and invites me and father over, says there is someone here you might like to meet.....I remember the care he took in signing an autograph for me, sitting down, looking at me and speaking softly in that way of his.He turned the autograph book sideways, I think the cover may have been interfering with his hand. It was as if I were the only person that mattered at that moment. I have a picture with his hand on my shoulder from that day,kept always of course,along with the autograph.

Flashforward 20 years later, I am spending a year in Montreal between jobs while my girlfriend goes to U of Montreal. Since I know I will be leaving in spring, I am looking for something temporarily,so I apply to the old Forum for a job, any job-sweeping,cleaning,whatever. I send one copy to admin,and another personally with a note (as a lark more than anything) to Beliveau. I referenced that day 20 years before, not expecting him to remember of course,thanking him and noted I had sent a copy of application to admin. I said I understood that jobs were probably tight, but thought I would apply anyway.
A couple of days later, my friend who knew nothing of hockey and was visiting from home answered the phone while I was out. It was Beliveau. He personally had called and wanted to speak to me,apparently indicating he had seen the application and said while nothing was available work-wise right now,it would be kept, and wanted to make sure I would get the message. Dam! Beliveau was calling me, a nobody from Nfld. and I wasn't there to take it! I called the Forum the next day, and asked to be put through. A secretary indicated he had three calls waiting, but I could wait. At this point I felt I would be more of an inconvenience than anything,so I declined (though I am now sure he would not have minded at all).

Those two events,however small to some, have stayed with me a lifetime. I always dreaded this day.
 
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Re: Jean Beliveau dead at 83

east coast said:
A couple of quick personal notes some of you have heard before, but which shows again the kind of man he was:

I was 10 years old and he was in my neighbour's house in Central Newfoundland in May,two weeks after winning the Cup.(Yes,that kind of stuff actually happened in the sixties. Molson good-will tours, my neighbour was a Molson rep.). Neighbour calls over and invites me and father over, says there is someone here you might like to meet.....I remember the care he took in signing an autograph for me, sitting down, looking at me and speaking softly in that way of his.He turned the autograph book sideways, I think the cover may have been interfering with his hand. It was as if I were the only person that mattered at that moment. I have a picture with his hand on my shoulder from that day,kept always of course,along with the autograph.

Flashforward 20 years later, I am spending a year in Montreal between jobs while my girlfriend goes to U of Montreal. Since I know I will be leaving in spring, I am looking for something temporarily,so I apply to the old Forum for a job, any job-sweeping,cleaning,whatever. I send one copy to admin,and another personally with a note (as a lark more than anything) to Beliveau. I referenced that day 20 years before, not expecting him to remember of course,thanking him and noted I had sent a copy of application to admin. I said I understood that jobs were probably tight, but thought I would apply anyway.
A couple of days later, my friend who knew nothing of hockey and was visiting from home answered the phone while I was out. It was Beliveau. He personally had called and wanted to speak to me,apparently indicating he had seen the application and said while nothing was available work-wise right now,it would be kept, and wanted to make sure I would get the message. Dam! Beliveau was calling me, a nobody from Nfld. and I wasn't there to take it! I called the Forum the next day, and asked to be put through. A secretary indicated he had three calls waiting, but I could wait. At this point I felt I would be more of an inconvenience than anything,so I declined (though I am now sure he would not have minded at all).

Those two events,however small to some, have stayed with me a lifetime. I always dreaded this day.
Click to expand...

Awesome stories.
 
Re: Jean Beliveau dead at 83

As classy as they come...hockey royalty in every sense of the word.

RIP Mr. Beliveau
 
Re: Jean Beliveau dead at 83

Terrible loss. We have lost an amazing Canadian, Canadien, a man who was the definition of a gentleman.

RIP #4
 
Re: Jean Beliveau dead at 83

Rest in peace my friend.

You were the example of what every human being should aspire to be.

He is my favorite Habs player of all-time....and my favorite hockey player of all-time. Every year when I used to play hockey as a kid (and even today when I play), I wear the #4, in honour of Beliveau.
 
Re: Jean Beliveau dead at 83

east coast said:
A couple of quick personal notes some of you have heard before, but which shows again the kind of man he was:

I was 10 years old and he was in my neighbour's house in Central Newfoundland in May,two weeks after winning the Cup.(Yes,that kind of stuff actually happened in the sixties. Molson good-will tours, my neighbour was a Molson rep.). Neighbour calls over and invites me and father over, says there is someone here you might like to meet.....I remember the care he took in signing an autograph for me, sitting down, looking at me and speaking softly in that way of his.He turned the autograph book sideways, I think the cover may have been interfering with his hand. It was as if I were the only person that mattered at that moment. I have a picture with his hand on my shoulder from that day,kept always of course,along with the autograph.

Flashforward 20 years later, I am spending a year in Montreal between jobs while my girlfriend goes to U of Montreal. Since I know I will be leaving in spring, I am looking for something temporarily,so I apply to the old Forum for a job, any job-sweeping,cleaning,whatever. I send one copy to admin,and another personally with a note (as a lark more than anything) to Beliveau. I referenced that day 20 years before, not expecting him to remember of course,thanking him and noted I had sent a copy of application to admin. I said I understood that jobs were probably tight, but thought I would apply anyway.
A couple of days later, my friend who knew nothing of hockey and was visiting from home answered the phone while I was out. It was Beliveau. He personally had called and wanted to speak to me,apparently indicating he had seen the application and said while nothing was available work-wise right now,it would be kept, and wanted to make sure I would get the message. Dam! Beliveau was calling me, a nobody from Nfld. and I wasn't there to take it! I called the Forum the next day, and asked to be put through. A secretary indicated he had three calls waiting, but I could wait. At this point I felt I would be more of an inconvenience than anything,so I declined (though I am now sure he would not have minded at all).

Those two events,however small to some, have stayed with me a lifetime. I always dreaded this day.
Click to expand...
Great stories. Thanks for sharing.
 
Re: Jean Beliveau dead at 83

I had a chance to meet him and his wife about 13 years a go . He was probably most gentle hockey player i ever met . He open his mouth and you can see how classy the guy is. Legend on and off the ice . Something that is truly missing in today pro sport and athletes .Rest In Peace Monsieur Beliveau :(
 
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