Aug. 28, 2003
The death of Saint Mary's College baseball Hall of Famer, Carroll Canfield, '50, evokes a flood of positive thoughts.
Like many current and former Gael athletes, the Sacramento resident was an all-around good guy who loved people. Carroll always poured his full energy and sense of humor into a project, whether it was serving on the old Gaelsports Board of Directors, helping to organize an alumni chapter event, or acquiring silent auction prizes for the fall golf tourney at Discovery Bay.
Carroll loved and respected the Christian Brothers and their philosophy. One of his best buddies was the late Brother Jerome West, also a member of the Hall of Fame and longtime moderator of the men's basketball team. The two reveled in pleasant memories of Gael games and seasons.
Alumni support at away games is extremely helpful to our teams' success. Coaches and players greatly appreciate chants of "Go Gaels" coming from an otherwise hostile crowd. Carroll knew that from his own playing days in the late 1940s and early 50s when he was one of the finest collegiate pitchers in the West.
Ironically, the last time I saw Carroll was two years ago at Sacramento State for the Gaels' season football opener with the Hornets. The successful insurance broker joined a large group of alumni and parents in cheering on their beloved Red and Blue in an extremely close game (eventually won by the home squad).
Canfield cared for ALL Gael athletes. Last April, despite his ongoing battle with thyroid cancer, Carroll found his way to UC Davis and the Gaels' final women's lacrosse match of the season. As fate would have it, Saint Mary's topped the Aggies, 10-5, as Carroll beamed his approval.
The Gael faithful comprise the all-important inspiration for our teams, the invaluable "sixth man", to borrow basketball jargon. As another athletic year dawns resplendent with a host of talented coaches and players, I strongly encourage you to support Saint Mary's teams in all sports. Schedules are posted on the Web, in newspapers, and other places for easy reference.
Athletics at Saint Mary's inculcates and strengthens lifelong values in those who participate in everything from soccer to golf and from football to softball. For Carroll Canfield, helping Sacramento area youngsters, women, and public linksters enjoy the game of golf was a labor of love, which helped place him in the Sacramento Sports and the Sacramento Area Youth Golf Halls of Fame.
Karen Dedman, who volunteered with Carroll on Sacramento youth golf projects, said that the Gael legend's kindness and generosity stood tall. "He was the kindest person I ever met," she said. "He loved his family. His family came first with him."
In the near future, the process will begin for selection of the newest members of the Saint Mary's Hall of Fame ... women and men who will follow in the footsteps of Canfield and others.
Information about nominating candidates and the overall Hall of Fame selection process will be announced soon. Please watch for it.
Thanks to everyone who helped with the 2003 Gael Classic Golf Tourney. Faith Taylor, Andy McDowell, and many others merit congratulations for a job well done. The Northern California Gael Classic, which will take place on Monday, September 8, is a key element in the annual (fund) campaign for athletic grants-in-aid. I speak for all our Gael athletes in thanking everyone involved with the annual event held at Ken Hofmann's Discovery Bay Country Club.
Special gratitude goes out to title sponsor Syufy Enterprises, to associate sponsors W.T. Construction Inc., Trinity Building Maintenance, the Hofmann Foundation, and all the other corporations and individuals who help support this event in a major way.
Go Gaels!
Carl R. Clapp
Director of Athletics
