Judy Pearse

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• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-227830

Notes:

Lifetimes: Despite devastating crash, Waterloo's Judy Pearse was an indomitable spirit

By Valerie Hill Special to the Record

Judy Pearse was a remarkable woman from a remarkable family where hard work and determination were the guiding lights.

Judy was born on Dec. 30, 1955, one of four children of Helen and Jack Pearse. Her father was an internationally recognized leader in recreation and the founder of the Huntsville-based Camp Tawingo in 1961.

In 1973, Judy entered the University of Waterloo's recreation and leisure studies, where her father had been a founding faculty member of the department. After three years of study Judy had an opportunity to finish her final year at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, but her studies would be halted following a devastating car crash.

On Oct. 2, 1976, Judy was sleeping in the back seat of a car driven by a friend. They were headed to a recreation conference in Nova Scotia, but missed the turnoff. The driver did a U-turn and was broadsided by a transport truck. The truck collided closest to where Judy was asleep, causing catastrophic injuries. Her parents were told she wouldn't survive the crash.

Judy remained in hospital in a coma for three months. Afterwards, medical staff told her she was unlikely to ever speak or walk again. They didn't know who they were talking to. Fuelled by their grim prognosis, Judy fought hard to regain her voice and her legs, relearning all the skills she needed to reclaim her life, though she would endure years of painful surgeries and therapy.

"She had huge physical and mental challenges, yet her strength of character and her determination carried her through the next 46 years," said friend Joanne Bender.

Despite having so much difficulty speaking, Judy insisted on being part of any conversation, said her brother Mike Pearse. She'd repeat her thoughts over and over to ensure everyone understood.

"She'd had 14 operations on her voice box," he said, adding the crash also softened her a bit, whittling down the sharp edges she always had in her youth.

"She was a social butterfly," said Mike. "Everywhere she went, she knew people. She loved people."

After leaving the hospital in Halifax, Judy was transferred to Grand River Hospital in Kitchener before being moved to a rehabilitation centre in Toronto. She would eventually be able to walk and talk, living in an adult supportive housing complex where she not only lived but thrived for 35 years.

Judy was not able to complete her degree or hold a job, but that didn't stop her from volunteering at the home where she lived and where she developed strong friendships.

"She retained her incredible wit and joie de vie, although communication was forevermore to be a challenge," said friend Tom Hiller of her remarkable recovery.

"She was invariably, simply a wonderfully fun and positive person to be around despite her ongoing challenges."

George Hunsberger knew the family and remembers Judy as the girl who had it all: beauty, brains, personality, and then had it taken away following the crash.

"However, her spirit survived and allowed her to remain a very positive force for the rest of her life," he added.

Judy's father Jack had the same attitude as his daughter. As a university coach, he believed in inspiring others, making them believe in themselves. Judy used this approach to fuel her own recovery.

Twelve years ago, as her physical abilities deteriorated, her family moved her back to Waterloo from Toronto, first to an apartment then eventually into long-term care.

In the home, where Judy was a couple of decades younger than most other residents, she continued to be that bright spark, never feeling sorry for herself, not even after Jack died in 2013 and her sister Patsy in 2016. Her mother Helen, now 97, has suffered from dementia for several years and for a while, they lived in the same care facility. None of this dampened Judy's spirit.

Brother John Pearse remembers finding an old letter from Judy to their sister Patsy, written when she moved to Nova Scotia. Judy wrote of how happy she was.

"That was just two days before the crash," said John.

"Judy was a 1,000-watt bulb," said friend Alan Quarry. "She used her energy, before and after her serious injuries, to brighten up the world."

In their youth, it seemed evident Judy would do great things, recalls Hiller. Judy had been Waterloo Collegiate's student mayor and prom queen as well as a high-achieving gymnast and dancer.

The woman who was known for her indomitable spirit died on Sept. 24. Few who met her, who heard her razor wit and oftentimes irreverent comments, would ever forget the experience.

"She certainly left a significant mark on me," concluded Tom.


Valerie Hill is a former Record reporter. She can be reached at vmhill296@gmail.com.

"Lifetimes: Despite Devastating Crash, Waterloo'S Judy Pearse Was An Indomitable Spirit". Therecord.Com, 2022, https://www.therecord.com/life/2022/10/17/lifetimes.html. Accessed 18 Oct 2022.

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• Interesting: education, music, sports
• Name: Jack Pearse
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-227831

Notes:

"Let there always be a song…a song down in your heart…"

On Wednesday afternoon, with family at his side, Jack Pearse - the "Great Chief" and Coach 'Emeritus'; the consummate song-leader, bridge-builder, camper, counsellor, father, and friend - passed peacefully away at Grand River Hospital.

A London newspaper once held a contest centred on the question: What is the shortest way to London. The winning answer? The shortest way to London is good company. For 64 years, Jack was the best company and treasured friend and soul-mate to wife Helen Pearse (nee Hulse). With deep devotion and love he taught his four children - Patsy, Judy, John, and Mike (Tia) - to BE good company. How sadly and sorely we miss his good and cherished company, now…

Proud and loving grandpa to Meghan (John Tambling) and Amanda Pearse, and Christopher, Tyler, and Carson Pearse; beloved little brother to Shirley-Ann Darrach-Pearse and brother-in-law to Phyllis Harper (nee Hulse), Jack's good company spread to his entire family, touching and inspiring us all.

Jack once wrote - in song: "We can make a difference, you and I; we can make a difference, if we try." There is little question that Jack made an immeasurable difference in the lives of an equally immeasurable number of children, students, and leaders the world over. His revolutionary philosophies of teaching, coaching, leadership, and life have been cemented in books and articles, and in the hearts and minds of all those whom he has touched and led, just as they were foundational to the success of the Charlottetown YMCA Camp and Camp On-da-da-Waks, both of which he directed; and continue to be foundational to the success of: the Department of Recreation and Leisure studies at the University of Waterloo, which he co-founded; the University of Waterloo Golf Team, which he coached beginning in 1968 and for which he was inducted into the U of W Sports Hall of Fame; the Ontario Camps Association, the Canadian Camping Association, and the American Association of Independent Camps, of which he served as President all; the American Camps Association; the International Camping Fellowship, which he co-founded and for which he was the longest-running Chair, and, of course - his greatest passion and, perhaps, greatest legacy - Camp Tawingo, which he co-founded, owned, and directed for 42 years beginning in 1961.

A song-leading legend, Jack recorded three collections of camp songs, co-authored 10 books on camp songs, program, and leadership, and led singing to 100s of 1000s of delighted children and adults on virtually every continent.

Fittingly there are awards of excellence and endowment funds in his name in the Canadian Camping Association, the U of W Golf organization and Golf Association of Canada, and at Camp Tawingo.

We do not teach the reef knot, we teach the camper; we do not teach the principles of rec. leadership, we teach the student; we do not teach how to chip and putt, we teach the golfer… and if we make the camper, the student, the golfer our focus, the skill will surely follow: so believed Jack Pearse, and - right up to the moment of his passing - so did he inspire others to believe the same…others whom he always made feel happier, stronger, wiser, and more capable in his good company…others whom he consciously and carefully put at the centre of everything he thought, spoke, and did. What a gift to us all…and to generations to come.

Friends are invited to share their memories of Jack with his family during visitation at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo, on Wednesday August 28, 2013 from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. and Thursday from 2-4 p.m. A private family committal and burial will take place at Parkview Cemetery. A Celebration of Jack's Life will be held at Camp Tawingo in Huntsville on Sunday, September 15 from 1-3 p.m., with a reception to follow at Camp (www.tawingo.net).

Condolences for the family and donations to the Camp Tawingo Campership Fund or the Jack Pearse Warrior Golf Endowment Fund may be arranged through the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519.745.8445.

John — Helen Hulse. Helen was born 1924. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Helen Pearse
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-227832