38 — Wednesday, May 13, 1998 — North Share News ALISON Sydor leads the World Cup series. HOCKEY... The North Shore Winter Club is accept- ing applications for Rep hock- ey coaches, atom through midget levels, for — the 1998/99 season. Mail appli- cations to 1325 E. Keith Rd., North Vancouver, B.C., V7] ~T7s. Attention: Coach coordi- nator. Closing date is May 29. eee MOUNTAIN BIKING... Alison Sydor placed fifth ata World Cup cross-country race in St. Wendel, Germany last weekend. The North Van rider earned enough points with the result to maintain her lead atop the World Cup standings. eee TRACK AND ‘FIELD... SFU runner Tod Pelly, of North Vancouver, placed third in the 400m at the 1998 Pacific North West Regional Track meet in Monmouth, All Wheel Drive Traction Control ABS Gual Climate Control Heated Seats AM/FM Cassette © SPORTS ‘The life and times of N. Van's Elio lus THEY planted the mortal remains of Elio Ius this past Monday, and even though he’s the regulation six feet under, one thing seems reason- ably certain: a garden will grow above his grave. Planting was a way of lite with Ello. He planted alot of good punches as an amateur heavwweight boxer and Golden Gloves champion a balf centu- ry ago. He also planted a lot of good ideas about fair play, sportsmanship and stick-to-it- iveness into two generations of North Shore kids in the 25 years he ran the North West Eagics Boxing Club at Fourth and Chesterfield. In the double lot that was his garden at 325 West 27th, he planted al! the vegetables and fruit necessary to feed a growing family of five bovs, three girls, his wife of 47 vears, Ruth, and, of course, himself. As 3 gardener, he was merely phenomenal. He also looked after mast of the family protein needs in just as personal a style. His youngest son, Randal, remembers the rabbits and free run chickens he raised, countless fishing trips to Horseshoe Bay and, particu- jarly, the crab meat. “He was a rigger at Burrard Drydock, where he spent all his working life,” recailed Randall. “He'd put a crab trap in the water down there. When his shift was over, he'd pull it out and bring home crabs. We were the only kids in North Van who tuned up at schoo] on a regular basis with crab sandwich- cs.” It used to be said of Archie Moore, the old mongoose and one of many big name fighters who counted Flio as a friend, that if you gave him 2 hundred pounds of steel wool, he'd knit vou a stove. In the same vein, ‘if North Vancouver District had thought to provide him with a hundred or so acres in what was then the North Shore boonies, he likely could have put food on the table for the entire population. He moved out to Maple Ridge a tew years back and died at home last week, a month short of 73, after fighting cancer for the iast five vears. But hel mostly be remembered on the North Shore, where his parents arrived in 1928 when Elio was onl three. Atl? he was an the Seatorths and over- seas for three vears in World War Two. His boxing coach, Tornmy Paonessa, now 9) and retired in Langley following his working life a8 a municipal cmplovee in West Van, thinks Elio might have first become interested in the manly art at army tournaments. He’s not certain, but in any event he became, after the war, part of the team Tommy coached at the Western Club en East Hastings. He did well enough as a Golden Glover here and in Seattle to think be might have a pro future. But after a couple of fights in the eastern U.S. and a brush with reality as a sparring partner at Rocky Marciano’s training camp, he returned to his shipyard job. In 1955 he secured the top floor of the rickety old Frateraal Order of Eagles build- ing and there started his North West Eagles club and, two years later, the annual Bronze Gloves tournament. As the 1970s enced, so did the club, mostly because the building was condemned. Also because Elio was getting ted up with the politics of amateur boxing. Always a man of few words, he never complained, burt got a disappointing message when he was turned down as coach of the Canadian boxing team for the 1972 Olympics on the grounds he was uniliagual. His nephew, Chris, was part of that team. When he got back trom Munich he informed his uncle, somewhat sadly, that the coach who replaced him also was unilingual. Burt in French. While he wasn't recognized in Montreal, where the decision was made, ear- lier that vear he became the first recipient of the Harold Mann Award for contributions to amateur boxing in B.C. Because he hated public appearances, he tried to beg off a trip to Victoria, where then Spectator See lus page 39 VOLVOS COST LESS ON THE NORTH SHORE Dr. Peggy Busch is pleased to announce the recommencement of her dentai practice in association with Dr. Janet Griffin Merth. All patients welcome General Dentistry Crown and bridge Children welcome Suite 105-585 16th Avenue, West Vancouver 925-1711 10 Pin Bowling Is Alive and Well On The North Shere “Cool” Summer Hours Sun. - Thur: Noon - Midnight Fri.- Sat: = Noon - 2am Monday Madness: $2.00 per game All Day ~ Kid’s lanes available any time ~ Best bowling birthday parties in town PUY ROK” RO. YOACL ! anaes (WON TING LANES] a FORD 1/2 Ton (1980-1996) « Aula Pivot Support brackets « Radlus Arm Grackets) + Complete boit-on instaltation + Accepts up to 35” tires. « Regular Price $1219. BODY LIFT KITS. For tne simplest and most economical way to raise almo any 4WD by up to 3 Inches, try’