'Will' Weir carried Olympic torch in 2004

By Sharon Boase
The Hamilton Spectator
(May 28, 2007)
A powerful flame has been extinguished.

The worlds of elite triathlons, theatre, modern dance, kick-boxing and ALS advocacy have all lost a leading light since William ("Will") Weir succumbed to ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease, on May 21. He was 58.

Friends and family remember Weir most fondly at a moment in which he truly shone -- carrying the Olympic torch during the Canadian leg of the Olympic Torch Relay leading up to the Athens Games in 2004.

"It was a very proud moment for him, regardless of the illness," said long-time friend Steve Lessy of Weir's participation in his wheelchair. Accompanied by his wife, Jennifer, and then one-year-old son Billy, in carrying the torch in Montreal, it was a moment of joy.

"He used that opportunity to give a very passionate speech about movement -- whether related to dance or sport. He was able to articulate some of his philosophy of life and try to promote ALS issues because it just doesn't get the same attention as cancer or heart and stroke."

Born and raised in Toronto, Weir excelled at swimming, cycling and running. He swam while at university and competed in triathlons for 20 years, winning many top level awards. He also dabbled in kick-boxing, theatre and modern dance.

In 1999, he was diagnosed with ALS, a rapidly progressing disease that causes nerve cells to degenerate and muscles to become paralyzed while leaving the intellect and senses intact. It is incurable and generally fatal within two to five years of onset.

From the age of two, Billy would scramble up his father's wheelchair and plop himself in Weir's lap. Unable to move his arms and hold his son, Weir had a ritual of rubbing noses with his little boy.

In 2004, Weir and his wife (who studied in Steeltown) moved to Hamilton after Weir had to give up his business staffing pools in condominiums with lifeguards and they could no longer afford to live in Toronto.

Jennifer, a nurse, found a job at Dofasco and Weir continued his advocacy work with the ALS Society in Toronto.

"His contribution was immeasurable," said Corina Chevalier, with the ALS Society of Ontario. "He was a pillar of strength and hope for people with ALS because he was always so positive."

Weir had to be moved to St. Joseph's Healthcare where he received complex continuing care after Jennifer was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year. When the cancer returned in her lymph nodes, she went for a second round of chemotherapy but is now part of a clinical trial receiving a drug that targets cancer cells.

Meanwhile, Weir developed a blood clot in his lung. Although doctors managed to clear it up, complications from ALS eventually took his life.

"For someone to have been athletic his whole life, who never smoked or drank or abused his body to be stricken with something like this ... nobody can know unless you walk in his shoes," Lessy said.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the ALS Society of Ontario (alsont.ca).

sboase@thespec.com 905-526-2452