Of special note, the following initial draft was written on the 5th of December , 2018 …and I can surely say that you would NOT be reading this if one very special man did NOT enter my life over 50 years ago!
It was a beautiful spring day in 2008 when I walked into the office of Nick Laping. Nick had come full circle returning to the high school that he loved and left his mark at to serve within the Alumni Affairs department. Nick not only excelled in Crusader Sports at Saint Paul’s but also academically and as Student Body president in 1961 then returning to teach after graduating from the U of M~~ He formed and kept countless friendships not just from his high school years but in his years teaching and coaching at his alma mater and wherever he went. None closer than George Dawson, a best friend and fellow classmate, teacher, and coach. Nick had changed careers after almost two decades of teaching to become Executive Director of Junior Achievement and while there another dear friend of his, Bob Chipman …founder of the BIRCHWOOD GROUP and ancillary companies, convinced Nick to head up his Human Resources department.
And as would be expected.. Nick was reunited with one of his absolutely favorite former students and also star athletes (football and basketball) Steve Chipman, President of the BIRCHWOOD GROUP. And we also talked that day about the CHIPMAN family~ How the patriarch , BOB CHIPMAN, another St Pauls Alum and crusader, opened up a car dealership in the the 60’s and grew it into what it is today…The Birchwood Group comprised of 23 dealerships in Manitoba nd Saskatchewan~ Along with other companies as well! Bob played hockey with my Uncle Alex, also an alum! We talked about his three sons, all St Pauls grads and crusaders! As my Uncle John said to me… “All three are Chips off the old block!” And Uncle John, also a ST Pauls alum and award winning writer and media personality knew what he was talking about! I am soooo proud to be named after him …the founding father of our Manitoba Marathon and also of RIDER PRIDE in the CFL~
Nick had greeted me that day with a warm welcoming hug and soon after telling him how much I missed him and how good he looked!!!! …prompted his infectious laugh. No one had a better laugh nor a more sincere smile than Nick! Nick had asked me to meet with him. And though I cannot share ALL that we talked about…I will share what I can and what Nick would approve of. After talking about our families (always the first thing we did!) Nick asked about how my programs were going and if I was still looking for a site for Canford Sports. I said “Yes, Nick! Dreams die hard!” It was then that he asked if I would consider being open to other job offers. I smiled and said that I was appreciative of the offers (and HIS) but I also remember the words that I shared with Nick as with others over the years that had made tempting offers. “Nick, if you can tell me how to take back a hand shake or promise given .. I will walk away from my dream!” Nick both smiled and laughed!
It was back in 1998 during Grey Cup week (staged in Winnipeg) at the Convention Centre when I announced and presented plaques to Kenny Ploen and Bud Grant along with 4 others…being honored with football fields and baseball diamonds at a 120 acre recreational site within the St Boniface Industrial Park. Little did I realise that just three months later….Colleen (wife) would be on an emergency flight to London following her second heart attack and placed upon the heart list. My dream (project) was put on hold.
Nick was a second dad to me. I could go on forever with Nick’s presence and impact upon my life. How did I…the only boy of 10 brothers (with 6 sisters)….deserve to be blessed with the acceptance into Saint Pauls and to have Nick Laping in my life! And of note, under the care and generosity of the SISTERS OF THE HOLY NAMES, the Robertsons holding the record of a sibling in every grade …1 through 8 back in the 60’s! If and when you wish to read MORE about Nick, A MAN FOR OTHERS (in keeping with the St Paul’s formation creed) you may visit the link at the end of this sharing.
On that special day with Nick and I reliving our pasts after much else being discussed , he asked if I had any regrets other than NOT yet achieving my dream. He mentioned if not realizing that other dream, of playing pro football was one of them. I quickly said no! GOD chose me NOT to play with the pros but to SERVE and PLAY with the thousands and thousands of amateurs. But I did share with Nick ONE regret! And have never shared this regret with anyone…NEVER! But I must explain something before sharing that regret…NOW!
I asked Nick if he recalled that day in his History class, December 5th 1968, when he walked down the aisle to my desk and said “Fr Monaghan wants to see you, John!” Usually being told the principal wants to see you is not a good sign at all, lol, but Nick winked at me then flashed that smile! I felt relieved.
Within my ‘time and weather beaten wallet’ gifted from Colleen back in the 80’s…and which is with me daily is a very special card that I have carried..since that Dec 5th day in 1968~. Its been laminated three times~ Before entering Fr Monaghan’s office I pulled up my socks and re-adjusted the elastics holding them up. Then I tightened my tie seeing that I had no top button on my shirt . I pulled on the tails and sleeves of my elbow patched sports jacket and made sure my pants looked ok and could not do anything to improve the look of my scuffed up shoes~ Upon entering the principal’s office he welcomed me and asked that I sit down.
Though it was exactly 50 years ago…I can remember it as if it was yesterday! Fr. Monaghan said “John…I do not wish to offend you by what I am saying now but you have won the prestigious Harry Hood Memorial Award…our first ever Saint Pauls student to do so. You are captain of the Crusaders, on the Honor Roll, and President of the student body. You will be appearing on TV tomorrow and the news media will be interviewing you. Please take this permission card which authorizes you to go with Father Joseph to THE BAY downtown to purchase any articles of clothing you wish. We are proud of you.”
Now that I have shared the above incident with you, its back to that meeting in Nick’s office to confess a regret that I have carried for 50 years! Countless times over those five decades I would be reminded of the gift of a Jesuit education and that Saint Pauls not only blessed me with a Paulinian formation but they clothed me as well! They welcomed this poor south side boy from a family of 16 into one of thee finest schools in North America for an entire FREE ride…through all 4 years in high school! Though I have tried my very best to live my life as a Paulinian and ‘yup’ ..as NICK would want, I often wished that one day I could pay back ALL my tuition in FULL! And when Nick asked about any regrets that day in his office in 2008…I confided in him of that regret and of my wish! In typical NICK fashion…he smiled and said “I have no doubt that you will one day do just that, John!”
Our Christian faith is our believe and affirmation that we are born to EARTH and to live our lives FAITH-FULLY to be worthy of HEAVEN! That is our goal line! And trust Nick to be worthy of that far too soon—– leaving us in February of 2009 at only age 66~ Little did I realise that the very last time I would see Nick was on January 14th, 2009 when I was asked to speak to the 700 in attendance (student body, staff and guests) celebrating the 2000th anniversary of the Conversion of Saint Paul of Tarsus. I had hugged Nick as we talked and walked into Murray Hall together and looking back at that last time …I am thankful that the HOLY SPIRIT inspired me to signal Nick out near the end of my witness talk and PROUDLY say to the eyes of 700+ upon me “I LOVE YOU, NICK! ” I share an edited condensed 15 minutes herein~
Ten years after that meeting in 2008 with Nick and exactly 50 years to the very day that card was given to me to buy a suit and shoes at the popular Bay Department store ….I smiled when leaving the bank with 4 money drafts in my hands, each dated as issued on December 5th, 2018. A money draft for each of my four years at Saint Paul’s….repaying my tuition in full! And yes….I thought of Nick~ How could I not?
And another intent I discussed with Nick that day 10 years previous was that when (not if!!) I did repay my tuition, that I would encourage others to consider doing the same. It DOES NOT have to be a full ‘pay back’ …but even just a partial payment…no matter how small! And if and when the funds were on hand…these alum ‘bursary boys’ could continue to ‘pay down’ on their bursaries that were caringly granted to them years ago! And if you are a ‘bursary boy’ whom attended Saint Paul’s and reading this, I challenge you to consider ‘paying back’ which in turn would be ‘paying forward’ to another bursary boy whose dream is to attend St Pauls!
And do you know what? After saying sooo many times over those five decades that I could never ever repay Saint Pauls enough for what they did for me…I now feel such a sense of pride in honoring and making right…that one regret! And I would love to welcome others into The Bursary Boys Club! And would love to hear from you! And no need to share with me or anyone…as to how much or how long since you received your bursary! Nor how much you are paying back! Just send it in or drop it by! Darla Hooker in Alumni Advancement would love to hear from you!
And something else to share~ As I have said often be it within the times I was asked to speak at St Pauls or coming across a St Pauls student or alum unexpectedly or within their CHRISTIAN service hours: I share the “ RESPECT OF AND FOR OUR PAULINIAN FORMATION!” I never fail to introduce myself to those that GOD has placed within my path wearing the P! And within a few minutes, if NOT seconds..we find ourselves laughing and sharing our St Pauls memories…past or current and though I may never have known them before or may never see them again…these chance encounters ALWAYS end with a hug and my appreciation in saying “Thank you! And keep wearing the P…PROUDLY!” And if you are reading this, P-lease P-lease wear that P with PRIDE and YES…if you see it on another, no matter what the age…smile at them and start talking…sharing…and YES…end with a HUG~
Note: If you did get bursary support and do NOT know how much it was, maybe check with the school to see what the tuition was in any given year that you attended. Several alum that I have come across that DID receive bursaries were unaware of how much they would have received seeing their parents handled that and did NOT share with them~ However, as I touched upon within, if you do NOT know the sum or if it was partial or full… NOT TOO WORRY~ Simply give whatever you can~ And I promise you this~ You WILL smile when you follow through! And I would love to hear from you and WELCOME YOU INTO THE BBC… “BURSARY BOYS CLUB!”
Sincere thanks to two of my special young men that I had shared my intentions with in the spring of 2018. They play within my sports programs as well as caringly perform Christian Service. Tyler Fraser and Liam Krackenbil have a special place within my heart and fittingly they will be within the graduating class of 2019.. exactly 50 years since my grad and when I asked if they would do me the honor of handing my four cheques to Darla Hooker…they gifted me with their smiles and their hugs!
From an appreciative poor boy from the south side whose greatest gift was and still IS his Saint Paul’s Jesuit Education and Paulinian Formation….
~John Francis Ignatius Robertson Class of 69~
A Special Tribute to Nick Laping.. ‘A Man for Others’~