Dad, 60, killed on dream birthday cruise to Alaska


DOUGLAS HARVEY was on a celebration trip to Alaska for his 60th birthday
A FOOTBALL-CRAZY dad has died on a dream holiday to celebrate his 60th birthday.
Douglas Harvey, of Bishopton, Renfrewshire was cruising in Alaska with wife Janette when he fell and hit his head on board the ship.
Sadly, despite urgent medical treatment Douglas, who suffered from motor neurone disease, lost his fight for life in the Alaskan capital of Juneau earlier this month.
He will be laid to rest after a funeral service in Bishopton next week.
Devastated Janette, 57, paid tribute to her "football daft" husband, who dedicated his life to his family and the sport, playing at both senior and junior level and working for the Scottish Amateur League.
She said: "Douglas had always wanted to go to Alaska, and this was his dream trip.
"It was a particularly special holiday it being his 60th birthday, and we were there sharing it with his brother Alan, sister-in-law Joyce and nephew Robbie.
"For this to happen is just devastating and we are all still very much in shock."
Janette also had to break the heartbreaking news to 20-year-old son Graeme, a sound engineer, over the phone.
She added: "It was so hard because we were so far away from home. But Graeme has been very brave and we're all very proud of him."
Douglas, an accountant with Balfour Beatty for more than 20 years, had played and watched football all his life.
A goalie with Carlton YMCA for 18 years, he played 283 times for the side. He also had stints with Queen of the South, Third Lanark and Maybole.
Douglas also served as secretary and treasurer of the Scottish Amateur League, where he made many friends.
Janette said: "So many people in the footballing world and beyond will miss Douglas.
"He had such a wide knowledge of all aspects of the game.
"Douglas truly was football- crazy ... the game was his life."
In 2001, Douglas was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, but according to Janette her husband didn't let the condition limit him.
She added: "Douglas was so full of life, and everyone admired the way he faced his illness.
"He had so much courage and was determined to live life to the full.
"So many people knew and loved Douglas ... he'll be sadly missed by all."
The funeral will take place at Bishopton Parish Church, next Tuesday, at 11am.

Publication date 20/09/06
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West Salem’s ‘Mr. Z’ dies after ALS battle

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Jim Zanter, who taught in West Salem schools for 33 years, died last week from Lou Gehrigs disease. He was 73. Contributed photo


By EMILY WILSON/Staff writer

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Jim Zanter, a retired West Salem school teacher and coach affectionately known as "Mr. Z," died Oct. 11 at the age of 73.

He taught in West Salem schools for 33 years. He and his wife, Delores, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in September.

His longtime friend, Wilbur Johnson, said Zanter was always trying to do something for the community.

He was active in starting the school district's forest, was the first to run the West Salem swimming pool and was active in athletics.

He directed summer athletics and was a wrestling referee for area conferences. He also started Gym Gems, a gymnastics group in West Salem, as well as a slow-pitch softball league.

"I think they'll remember Jim as an excellent teacher, coach and primarily as a craftsman in the latter years," Johnson said.

Johnson and Zanter spent a lot of time during the past few winters building toy trucks out of wood. Johnson referred to Zanter as the "craftsman" while he was the "pupil."

Zanter also was known as "Z."

"He was always giving people nicknames, but I don't know if he picked his or not," Johnson said.

Zanter nicknamed Johnson "The Tweaker" and once gave him an award tomake it official.

"He'd do little things like this all the time for friends,"Johnson said.

Ted Ledman, also a retired teacher and a friend of Zanter's, became friends with Zanter when he and his wife moved to West Salem in 1964.

A year later, they were next door neighbors.

Zanter was a big jokester, Ledman said, doing things like naming himself the sheriff of Gills Coulee and the head of the Gills Coulee Beautification Association, with Ledman as the only member.

"We were pretty much alike," Ledman said. "We were always laughing about something."

For about the past 20 years Zanter, Johnson and their wives went out together every Wednesday night to play euchre.

They also made frequent golf trips. On a few occasions, Zanter organized golf tournaments in which the proceeds would go to charity.

The catch, however, was that the three-person teams had to have a combined age of at least 200 years.

Although Zanter became less active when he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease in June, he kept his life as normal as possible, his wife said.

"No one knew what was going on," she said.

The disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, causes progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord, which leads to atrophy and eventually complete paralysis of the voluntary muscles.

Delores Zanter said everybody who talked to him recently said he always had a smile on his face and remained cheerful.

Johnson and Ledmen agreed Zanter never brought up the subject of the disease and he never complained about it.

He kept golfing for as long as he could, and when it was too hard he'd just ride along in the golf cart, Ledman said.

The Zanters and Johnsons continued going out to eat until about a month ago.

"He kept trying to go as long as he could," Johnson said.

Zanter agreed, saying he continued reading the newspaper and watching football games.

"He worked on his computer and worked his puzzles in the paper until the last day," Zanter said.

Ledman said when he saw Zanter a few days before he died, he wasn't able to talk much, but still left a joke on his computer for his friends.

"He was a real classy guy that did a lot of things and I think he'll be missed by a lot of people, Ledman said."There were a lot of people that knew him and liked him."