Jean Beliveau Honoured

The Montreal Gazette's Pat Hickey was quoting former collegue Michael Farber, who once observed that "nobody understands ceremony better than the British royal family, the Catholic church and the Montreal Canadiens."

Last night at the Bell Centre, the team honoured the legendary Jean Beliveau with a charity dinner that raised more than $1 million for six children's hospitals across Quebec.

The dinner brought together a star-studded guest list from the worlds of sports, politics and business. A performance by Cirque du Soleil added to the evening's excitement.
























But it was Beliveau who stood above the crowd with his regal presence. There have been Canadiens stars like Rocket Richard or Guy Lafleur who have evoked more passion than Beliveau, and there have been players who have scored more goals and more points or won more Stanley Cups.

There has never been a player who demonstrated more class.














I was fortunate enough to watch Beliveau play his last few seasons in Montreal. I have vivid memories of the 1971 Stanley Cup and a hat trick that produced his 500th goal against the Minnesota North Stars. My father would tell me stories about The Rocket and Le Gros Bill, tales that wrapped me in the passion of the sport and the team.

I remember him telling me that Beliveau was retiring. I couldn't understand why - he was still one of the better players around.























Beliveau was my father's favorite player - they were born on the same day and year - my father soon pointed out another legend in the making to me, Guy Lafleur, who would become my favorite over time. On a night I will never forget, Lafleur's Quebec Remparts were playing against Cornwall, and he put on a show. He wore the number of his hero, Jean Beliveau.













There was something about the ceremonies and honouring of Beliveau at this time that troubles me some. As Beliveau is 75 years of age, I sensed an air of finality to the timing and proceedings.

In 2000, Beliveau was diagnosed with a malignant tumour in his neck and throat area. He survived that scare and it is now in remission.



















Beliveau, as everyone knows, is an extremely charitable man with lending his time and effort to dozens of worthy causes, most of them involving children.

The finality of which I speak, had to do with this one big bash, held in his name last night. I sensed it, subtly, in the manner it was done. Beliveau has always done his good work in a quiet type of way, removing himself as the center of attention. While always being a willing partaker in anything for goodnesses sake, none of the events were "about him."

This one seemed that way to me.




















There is in fact absolutely nothing wrong with that premise - only that it struck me the way it did.

Beliveau is obviously about to slow down his ongoing work. Hopefully there is no other reason for that other than the age of the man. A night like like last night, obviously could not be envisioned for 5 years down the road, when he would be 80 years old.

























It is said that the event has raised close to a million dollars that are to benefit several charitable outlets. I find it quite amazing that the great work he has cultivated over decades can culminate in such a beautiful giving way.

There are painfully few, if any, role models of the sort left to rise from the sporting pages. Though a great many do tons of good work, none quite have the same effortless lack of pretension that Beliveau has.

In Beliveau's first act, as a hockey player, his prowess and class on the ice made him a legend and a story for the ages. There are of course many records and Stanley Cup rings and tales that underline a bursting resume of unimaginable success.

In Beliveau's second act, he has outdone the first. In the spirit of giving, he has proven to be a most exemplairy human, a person worthy of the highest admiration.

Few people I've encountered in my life, and I've only met him once, have made me look at myself and ponder changes. Changes as to how I treat people. Changes as to how I feel what life is all about in the grand scheme of larger things.

That notion surprises me! It shouldn't.

As I have been reading a whole lot on Jean Beliveau of late, here are some links that I've found to be interesting and entertaining. I've included a pair of past postings from this site as well. The You Tube clip below is from the HHOF's Legends Series. Enjoy!



Beliveau Lends Class To Fundraiser - Red Fisher

NHL Greats, Prime Minister Turn Out To Honour Habs Legend Beliveau - Montreal Gazette

Beliveau Is A Hero On And Off The Ice - Montreal Gazette

Jean Beliveau at Joe Pelletier's Legends Of Hockey Network

Une Vie Qui N'a Pas Ete a L'abris Des Coups Durs - Bertrand Raymond

Pas Toujours Facile - Bertrand Raymond

Beliveau Is A Player For The Ages - NHL.com

Canadiens Beliveau Is One Of A Kind - NHL.com

Beliveau's Linemates Are His Biggest Fans - NHL.com

Canada's Walk Of Fame Inductees

Jean Beliveau Profile - HHOF

Jean Beliveau Table Hockey Game

I Shared My Husband With The Public - Bertrand Raymond (Translated)

Celebrating The Generosity And Lifetime Achievements Of Jean Beliveau - Canadiens.com

"I Shared My Husband With The Public" - Elise Beliveau

By Bertrand Raymond in today's Le Journal


















Elise Beliveau met the man of her life on the occasion of a blind date organized by a group of her girlfriends who were so completely taken with an 18 year old Jean Beliveau, a star at the time with the Quebec Citadels, that they could not approach him themselves.

Mrs. Beliveau says without a hint of shyness, that she was being used that day.

The girlfriends were trying to find a way to invite Jean to a dance, and Elise was the only one of the bunch who had a vehicle. It seemed like the best way, to have her chauffeur him there.

"I didn't even know who he was!", she recalled, smiling. "My friends were just in love with him. They all wanted to go out with him. They asked me to accompany Jean to the dance. I was doing it for them."

Both Jean and Elise were 18 at the time. She remembers that he seemed very timid that night, speaking little. Not a very good dancer.

Once the night was over, Jean looked around as everyone was heading off, as if to suggest, "Well then, who am I following with?"

At that moment, Elise found her nerve. "You, you're coming with me!"

Elise will again be at his side tonight as the red carpet of the Bell Centre unfurls on the occasion of the social event of the year in Montreal, namely "A Tribute To Jean Beliveau." The event is said to be raising over one million dollars, to be split amongst 6 hospitals and charitable foundations.

Prime Minister Harper, and Quebec premier Jean Charest will attend. Legends from the Canadiens will be there, most notably Dickie Moore, in his first public appearance since being involved in a car accident that came close to claiming his life a few months back.

There will be Ken Dryden, and the Big Three of Larry Robinson, Serge Savard, and Guy Lapointe, brothers Frank and Peter Mahovlich, Guy Lafleur, Henri Richard, Yvan Cournoyer, Butch Bouchard, and Elmer Lach. Old rivals such as Gordie Howe, Johnny Bower, Rod Gilbert, Ed Giacomin, and Tony Esposito will also be on hand.

Elise's night of dancing with the star of the Quebec Citadels, of course, contributed greatly to radically changing the course of her life. Two and a half years after the chance historic meeting that made her friends drool in envy, the woman married her Prince Charming. That was almost 54 years ago.

She remembers what she immediately liked about him that night. He seemed like a good guy, with a solid head on his shoulders. "A fine man", is how she called him.

Not much about him has changed since according to Elise. He has remained exactly the same man she's always known. Straight as an arrow, polite, honest, and a man who in over fifty years has never cheated or deceived his family or his public

ATTENTION TO DETAIL

Le Gros Bill became one of the biggest personalities in the history, not only in sports, of Quebec. A strong character, without a speck of dirt on him, he could have been Canada's Governor General had he chosen so.

What does it mean to spend over 50 years alongside a man of such integrity, who has watched over every part of his public image, with an extreme attention to detail? A man who would never accept that anyone tarnish his reputation?

Has Elise Beliveau, a woman who enjoys a laugh and a good time, who qualifies herself as a partier, ever felt trapped by the lifestyle and image of her illustrious husband? Has she suffered in silence, with an inhibition to just let loose, like she did back in the wild days when they first met?

"When you're younger, a lot crazier, it's quite alot to have to concern yourself with such things as image, but I can't say I've ever had any problem with it."

Their only daughter, Helene, found out early just how particular her father could be when it came down to the details, image wise. She was maybe 16 or 17, an the occasion was a teenagers party in the home.

When the parents arrived home, Beliveau immediatly set his gaze upon a case of Labatt's beer. A riot act was read upon the discovery by the man who had been for all intents and purposes, a lifelong employee of the Molsons Breweries.

"I thought he was going to go into cardiac arrest", laughs Helene, remembering it today. "He was all worried about what everyone would think. He could not comprehend that there was no way I could have known this, being all of sixteen at the time."

Elise recounts that her famous hushand was also quite consciencious of what went on around him. He's never had to work on any image aspects. He is much like his own father, Arthur, who was always a kind and peaceful man.

"For Jean, being that way, the way that he is, is completely normal behavior. He just enjoys people. He's patient around people and patient with me. He has a heart of gold. He wouldn't harm a fly. I have never once heard him say a bad word about anyone, and that includes what is said inside the four walls of our home. He's just not that type. He never sees the bad in anyone.

There are advantages to being the wife of Jean Beliveau. Elise admits to having had a wonderful life. Her only regret would be that she wishes she had spent more time with him over the years.
"Jean belongs to the public", she says. "We've had great times. We have travelled alot and met many interesting people, but at the end of the day, I have shared him with the public."

PUBLIC OPINION DIFFERS LITTLE FROM FAMILY

When Beliveau's wife and daughter are asked to speak about the man, one doesn't get the impression they have much to add to what's already known of the man who has watched over his family, and his two grand daughters, Mylene and Magalie, who hardly knew their own father, a policeman who took his own life.

That he's so well known, doesn't stop them from speaking with great admiration of him.

His greatest quality?

"He has many" says Elise, without hesitation. "His patience is always impressive. He has a heart of gold. Anything that he can do for anyone, he does it."

"His biggest quality is his generosity", says Helene. "His four girls, as he like to call them, have surely benefitted."

But doesn't he have the right to have a fault or two?

Elise thinks about that for a second, reflecting on the notion, but doesn't come up with much.

Perhaps age has made him a touch irritable at times, is all she suggests.

"Other than that, I dont know that he has any faults", she adds.

Helene, on the other hand, is totally perplexed at the question.

"A fault eh?...Hmm. A fault", she murmurs."It's ridiculous, he has to have one! I'm stumped, I can't think of one. It's impossible that my father doesn't have at least one. The only answer that I can offer, is that his qualities are so large they overwhelm his faults. I'm trying to recall the last time he got on my nerves. Just like that, I can't recall anything."

It is strange, noticing that the image Beliveau has cultivated in the public eye and in the media, is no different than how he's perceived by those closest to him.

Considering all of his athletic achievements, his community work, his spotless reputation, his generosity, and his legendary goodwill, could Beliveau really be Mister Perfect?

"I never really looked at it that way, never saw it like that", says his daughter, "I'm almost inclined to say you're right!"

Celebrating The Generosity And Lifetime Achievements of Jean Beliveau

Over a thousand guests from the world of sports and the business community will gather on the Bell Centre ice surface tonight to pay tribute to a man who dedicated his entire life to the game of hockey and to the well-being of his fellow citizens. A revered member of the Montreal Canadiens family for over half a century, Mr. Jean Béliveau will be surrounded by his family as we celebrate his lifetime achievements.

The evening will be true to Mr. Béliveau’s values with all proceeds from the event, in excess of $1 million, to be donated to the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation, which in turn will share out the entire amount to five Quebec pediatric institutions: Ste-Justine Hospital Foundation, the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation, Montreal Shriners Hospital for Children, the Centre mere enfant du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec, the Centre femme, jeunesse et famille du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, and to the Quebec Society for Disabled Children.

Several former Canadiens’ stars will be on hand, including Émile Bouchard, Elmer Lach, Dickie Moore, Henri Richard, Yvan Cournoyer, Serge Savard, Réjean Houle, Guy Lapointe, Frank Mahovlich, Ken Dryden, Guy Lafleur, Larry Robinson, Bob Gainey and Guy Carbonneau. Players from the Original Six era will include superstars Red Kelly (Detroit and Toronto), Johnny Bower (New York and Toronto), Rod Gilbert (New York), Tony Esposito (Montreal and Chicago) and hockey legend Gordie Howe (Detroit), who will be among the distinguished guests honoring Mr. Béliveau for his achievements over the past 55 years.

"I never really asked myself why I gave back to the community, said Mr. Béliveau. I felt it was one’s duty to act that way and I started doing it while playing in Quebec City, before arriving in Montreal. The Canadiens and the Molson Brewery always supported me in my charity work. It seems that it will be a memorable evening and, I am deeply touched to know that so many former teammates, opponents and celebrities will be attending, added Mr. Béliveau. It is very heartwarming. But I’m mostly happy for my wife Élise, my daughter Hélène and my two grand-daughters Magalie and Mylène. They deserve the recognition and I really look forward to sharing this wonderful evening with them and with my friends."

Following the pattern of a hockey game, the evening, hosted by well-known television producer Robert-Guy Scully, will be divided into three periods, each one covering a segment of Mr. Béliveau’s public life: the 1st will take us back to his early playing career, first in Victoriaville, then in Quebec City; the 2nd frame will focus on his greatest moments with the Canadiens, while the 3rd period will be a tribute to his years as a team ambassador and his philanthropic endeavors.

A legend in his own time and one of the best players ever to play in the NHL, Jean Béliveau enjoyed a highly successful 18-year career with the Montreal Canadiens, recording 507 goals and 712 assists for a total of 1,219 points. He earned several individual honors, including the Art Ross Trophy (1956), the Hart Trophy (1956 and 1964) and the Conn Smythe Trophy (1965), but his proudest achievement was to be chosen as Captain of the Canadiens and capture the Stanley Cup on 10 occasions and seven more times as a member of the Canadiens’ management.