We found Ron. Last Sunday’s column told the tale of the mystery man who, in an act of kindness to a stranger, showed up at a Saanich hockey rink to cheer on an 83-year-old player on behalf of his distraught, absent daughter.
That mystery is now solved: The stranger turned out to be Ron Egli, a well-known Victoria home builder, occasional hockey player and somewhat reticent white knight.
This story goes back to March, when Qualicum Beach’s Bob Swail laced up his skates at Pearkes Arena for what was to be his last tournament with his over-80 hockey team, the Parksville Panters.
In Calgary, daughter Brenda, emotions still raw after the funeral of her stepfather, really wanted to come to Victoria to see her dad play one last time. Alas, her flight here was cancelled at the last minute, meaning she would be delayed a day and only get a glimpse of Bob in action in his final game.
A tearful Brenda was still at the Calgary airport when she reached her dad by phone; he told her to put off her trip, to come when they would have more time together.
Ahead of Brenda in line, overhearing all this, was a Victoria man who had been bumped off the same flight. He tried, unsuccessfully, to help get her on a plane, and was sympathetic enough that Brenda gave him a hug before leaving the airport.
It was a couple of days later that her excited dad phoned with the news that the stranger, having finally made it home to Victoria, had taken it upon himself to show up at Bob’s last game to cheer on Brenda’s behalf. Dad and daughter were both deeply touched by the gesture.
Only one problem: They had no clue as to the identity of the stranger, other than his first name, Ron.
That’s where we left the story last Sunday — which is when Ron Egli picked up his Times Colonist and recognized himself. So did friends who had heard him speak of meeting this poor, disheartened woman in the Calgary airport. The friends contacted us, and we called Ron.
He wasn’t exactly thrilled about being dragged into the limelight — “I don’t like to see my name up there” — but did talk about what drove him to show up at Pearkes, track down Bob and cheer on Brenda’s behalf.
“I felt sorry for the girl. I’ve got parents about the same age,” the 57-year-old said.
“She really wanted to see her dad play hockey one more time.”
Ron has since been in contact with both Bob and Brenda by phone. (“He’s a humble, kind, caring gentleman — just as I remember,” wrote Brenda afterward.) In fact, Ron, Bob and their wives plan to get together in Qualicum Beach this summer.
All three characters in this story hope they’ll see one another in March at the 25th annual Playmakers old-timers tournament, Bob Swail having decided to do a Gordie Howe and come out of retirement for one more season. With luck, Brenda will get to see her dad play his final game after all.
Ron thinks Bob is the real inspiration: Here’s an octogenarian who has had both hips replaced, yet when Ron first tried to call him this week, Bob was out playing baseball, which is apparently how he spends his time when they take the ice out of the rink. Ron plays recreational hockey himself, knows how difficult it can be to hit the ice at 57, let alone 83. “I have a hard time getting off the couch sometimes to go to a game.”
Ron was a little surprised by how important it was to Bob and Brenda that they learn his identity. “It was not that big a deal at the time. I felt for her, I guess.”
That, in a way, is the point: You need not give up a kidney to have a lasting effect on others. Here was someone who, without seeking recognition, engaged in a selfless act to cheer up a couple of strangers. Good for Ron. It’s nice to see him get the credit due, even if he didn’t want it.
