On May 20th 2022, Paul (Coach) Myers passed away peacefully in Toronto after a relatively short battle with cancer. At the time of his passing, his loving wife, Julie and his two children Dayna and Mitchell were by his side. He leaves behind many brother and sister in laws, nieces and nephews, wonderful neighbours, countless friends and colleagues, too many to mention by name. He knew he was loved and he loved them back.
Coach Myers’ amazing story began on October 24th, 1961 in Birmingham England. Born Milton Wesley Paul Myers (he hated his full name) to Pearl Dee and Ivor Myers; he was a force to be reckoned with from the beginning. After a short stay in the UK, his mother, with him and brother (Desmond) in tow, moved to Porter’s Mountain, Jamacia where they stayed until their eventual move to Streetsville, ON, Canada when Paul was nine years old.
From there, the rest is history. Paul spent his time playing football and dreaming of where life would take him next. He joined the Army Cadets and then quickly moved on to the Toronto Police Force where he rose through the ranks, making a lasting impression on each community in which he was stationed.
In the mid-eighties he found Rugby. This sport grew into a deeply rooted passion that would establish a path for his life. He joined the Oakville Crusaders where he learned the ins and outs of the game. After his move to the Toronto Beaches in 1993, his true home, he joined the Balmy Beach Club’s team and began to work his magic there. He’d often spend full weekends on the pitch with his loving (and patient) wife and (sometimes bored) children, cheering him on. Rugby was his happy place, it’s where he met his greatest friends, where he got to have fun, how he connected with his children, how he escaped from the stress of his day job. That game was his saving grace, his saviour.
He had an amazing gift for coaching. He coached EVERYTHING. Even if he didn’t know how play the sport, he’d learn the fundamentals and in a blink of an eye he’d make a difference. He had a way with connecting with people no matter their age, finding their strengths and helping to develop them. This ability for developing potential led him to one of his proudest roles: His involvement in the Toronto Inner-city Rugby Foundation (TIRF). He acted as the Head of Development and Technical Director of the Foundation until his eventual retirement in 2019. Paul lived and breathed for TIRF and the kids who took part in its’ programs. He spent countless nights at fundraising events and days in the hot sun teaching people about the joy of rugby. He wanted to touch as many lives as possible, give as many kids and young adults the opportunity to be kids and to awaken a passion that would put them on a path to success. Paul’s children often joked that the TIRF kids were his “other children” and would like to personally thank them all for making his life so full.
In his last few years, he got to do what he loved best: reading, gardening, watching rugby and spending time his wife and kids. He was happy, he was fulfilled. He spent his days talking and laughing (loudly) to friends on the phone, travelling to Europe, going to the Rugby World Cup and New Zealand to see the All Blacks. He bought a very fast car, enjoyed summers on Lake Erie. He got to witness his daughter graduate law school and his son excel in his pursuit of a master’s degree and find love with his girlfriend, Brianna.
Paul deserved more time, yes, but those who loved him and will miss him can find peace in the fact that he lived a big life full of everything that made him happy.
His legacy of strength and community will live on through his family and friends he made along the way.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to TIRF (https://tirfrugby.ca/donate/) or a cancer research organization of your choice.
A celebration of life will be taking place on Sunday July 10th at the Balmy Beach Club in Toronto (more details will be announced at a later date).
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