Although there's plenty of joyful news The Citizen is always happy to share, there is a flip side where the community loses beloved members throughout the year.
Harold Mann, a Prince George boxing icon, died on Oct. 23, at age 78, after battling Alzheimer's disease at Simon Fraser Lodge. Mann's highest award was when he took international gold at the 1962 British Empire Games, and along with other sporting achievements, he earned a spot in the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame in 1980, Prince George Sports Hall of Fame in 1997, the Canadian Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame in 2002 and the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.
Mann was born in Pineview on May 27, 1938, and was raised in Prince George.
David Mah, beloved photographer and longtime employee at the Prince George Citizen, died May 7 at the age of 54 after a two-year battle with lung cancer.
David was a provincial and national award winning photographer known for his incredible wildlife and scenic nature pictures as well as specializing in portraits and sports-minded action shots of the people of Prince George.
Matt Pearce died suddenly on Jan. 23 at the age of 48. Pearce was a science teacher at College Heights secondary school and a former president of the Prince George District Teachers Association, coach and athlete, who accepted a football scholarship at UBC in 1985. Majoring in botany, he played as a fullback for the UBC Thunderbirds for four seasons, earning Western Intercollegiate Football League rookie-of-the-year honours his first season. In his final year at UBC, Pearce was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and played seven seasons in the CFL, a career highlighted by the Bombers' Grey Cup win in 1990. Making a big impact on students as a follow-the-rules football coach, the annual P.G. Bowl city high school championship in October has been renamed the Matt Pearce Memorial Cup championship.
Hans Niedermayer, founding father of soccer in Prince George, died April 1 at the age of 90. Known as Mr. Soccer, Niedermayer was a founding member of the North Cariboo Seniors Soccer League, and served the league as a board member, president and vice-president. In 1980, Niedermayer helped create the Northern B.C. Soccer League, which included teams from Prince George, Smithers, Terrace, Kitimat and Prince Rupert. Two years later he formed the Prince George Recreational League, geared to older players who did not want to play highly-competitive soccer. He also helped lead the push for indoor soccer leagues in the late 70s. As a player for the Kickers, a team he helped establish in 1964, he was co-winner of the North Cariboo league's most outstanding player award in 1969. He also coached the game and served as a team manager and referee.
Sid Doucette, a well-known realtor in Prince George, died April 12 at the age of 72 after a long bout of illness.
After being in other sales industries during his life, he began working for Canada Trust Real Estate in 1975 and by 1977 he and two partners started the first Century 21 office in Prince George. Doucette thrived in the real estate environment and in 1981 was Century 21's top salesperson in Canada and was fourth among Century 21 agents worldwide. He was among the 10 most productive salespeople in the old Caribou Real Estate Board for 11 years. In 1984, Doucette opened Doucette Realty and was best known for his bright yellow signage.
Doucette was a beloved mentor to many realtors throughout his real estate career.
