THE LATE Great Dave Dryden
A visitation for beloved South Etobicoke athlete, humanitarian and hockey hero Dave Dryden takes place today in Oakville.
The visitation will occur at Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home, at 64 Lakeshore Road West, on Sunday October 9 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.
DAVE WENT on to become an elementary school principal
Memorial donations can be made to Sleeping Children Around the
World (SCAW), a charity founded by Murray Dryden, father of the famous brothers who became top National Hockey League (NHL) goalies, Dave and Ken Dryden.
The athlete, teacher and hockey equipment innovator, passed away due to complications following a surgery on October 4. He was 81.
Dave and Ken were born in Hamilton but moved during their early years in South Etobicoke where they thrived and distinguished themselves as athletes, the family said.
DAVE in the days when he played with the Buffalo Sabres. File photos.
“It was at Etobicoke Collegiate in chemistry class that he met his “sweet,” his wife of 59-years, Sandra,” they said in a statement. “When they married in 1962, little did Sandra know what adventures Dave would take her on.”
“She married a steady school teacher, so when Dave was called up to the NHL and World Hockey Association (WHA) a few years into their marriage, their life together took on a new trajectory.”
With his family in tow, they went to Chicago (Chicago Blackhawks), Buffalo (Buffalo Sabres), Chicago (Chicago Cougars) and Edmonton (Edmonton Oilers).
During those years in the crease as a goalie, Dave analyzed his goalie mask and ultimately created the template for what is now the norm in modern hockey, the mask-cage combination goalie mask.
“The pandemic brought with it not-to-be-missed Zoom calls every Sunday night,” the family said. “Dave loved seeing not only his children and grandchildren on the call, but also his siblings’ kids and their grandkids, who called him ‘Great Dave.”
DAVE when he played with different teams.
Dave on retirement obtained a Masters in Education and began teaching in Oakville, where he lived. He retired as an elementary school principal.
“He was passionate about creating strategies for children to learn, especially those in his special education classroom,” his family said.
He soon after volunteered and became chairman for his parents’ charity, which provided thousands, if not millions, of bed kits to children in developing countries.
Friends describe him as an academic, athlete, educator, innovator, a humanitarian, but most of all a family man- husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather.
Dave is survived by Sandra; their children Greg and Debbie; six loving grandchildren: Jeff, Chris, Kevin, Jenn, Theo, Anaka; siblings Ken (Lynda), Judy and their families.
RIP Dave.