"Mr. Andy Smith"

On behalf of our entire Board of Directors, I am very pleased to let you know that last night at our Board Meeting, it was unanimously decided that from this day forward the winners of the Year-End Tournament each season will be presented with the Andy Smith Award at the Year-End Awards Banquet.

Andy, a very special thank you from all of us for helping to create such an amazing league 30 years ago.  Your dedication, loyalty, sportsmanship and support of the BOSL from day one until now is very evident to your peers and is very much appreciated.  30 years as a player in this league is quite an achievement as well.  You are a role model for all of us and you certainly represent everything that this league is about!

Personally speaking, it has been an absolute joy and an honour being a teammate of yours this year.  Knowing what you are going through health-wise makes the fact that you come out to our games and team functions to support your team all the more impressive. 

In closing, your well-deserved legacy with the BOSL is now firmly in place through this annual award and I truly hope that you are out there on the field with us for several more years to come!

Regards
Mike Porkolab

From Andy Smith —

The 1st couple of years of the BOSL existence, I played with the invited Stelco team, in the BOSL League, until I turned 35 yrs of age.

After reaching the minimum age limit of 35, I was then eligible & became a BOSL team player. During this time, I worked with Gary Wright at Stelco, who was responsible for creating this slo-pitch league.

Enjoying the fun & camaraderie of this league, I wanted to give something back.  I served as captain for 10 consecutive years. The first 6 years were with Co-captain Bill Leithead from 1991 to1996 & the remaining 4 years I co- captained with Phil Davies.

I usually played 3rd base, beside some great shortstops like Nelson Gale, Joe McGregor, Kevin McLaughlin, John Andersen & Mike Drexler just to name a few.

I am very fortunate & honored to have received the Warner Thomas award in 1995 & the Willard Pilatzke award in 2007. I have been battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma since 1994 & to this day I am still inspired by the work ethic & positive attitude Warner & Willard showed during there playing days.

In 2009, the BOSL was very generous in sponsoring me for my “relay for life” walk and currently they are doing the blood donors PINTS for PINTS contest in my honor.

Aug. 10/2010, BOSL president, Mike Porkolab sent me an email that the winners of the Year-End Tournament each season starting this September (2010) will be presented with the Andy Smith Award. I could not be more proud to receive this legacy.

My thanks to all the presidents, executive members, captains & umpires who have put in so much time & effort to make the BOSL such a success.

After 30 years of games, tournaments, team parties, banquets, all high-lighted with fun & giving back to the community, we have made the BOSL a model for other cities to follow.

Smith, Andrew James ‘Andy’
November 6, 1947 – November 14, 2010

Andy was a devoted husband, father, papa, brother, uncle, friend and sports fan.  He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Aileen (nee Rattu), his daughter Kelly Britton and son-in-law Trevor, his grandson Anthony and grand puppy Bear.  He will also be remembered by his sister Audrey Martin (John), brothers Jack Smith (Rhonda), and Alan Smith (Marg), his sisters-in-law Linda Vargo (Chris) and Sandra Randall (late Tom) and nine nieces and nephews and eighteen great nieces and nephews. 

Andy was a 30 year member of the Burlington Old Timers Hockey & Slo Pitch leagues, 3rd degree Karate Black Belt, Curler, Golfer, Fisherman, Gardener and a Country and Western music fan.  He worked at Stelco in Hamilton for 38 years and was retired for the last 8 years, then became known as “Handy Andy”, you broke it he could fix it.  Andy will be missed by all. 

Thank you to Dr. Leber & Dr. Walker, the Stem Cell transplant team and all the wonderful caregivers at the Juravinski Cancer Clinic and the Juravinski Hospital (C4 & ICU), he gave it his best.  The fight started in November 1993 and ended in November 2010 for Andy, but his fight is not over.  Andy’s remains will be used in a Nation Wide study to conquer this dreaded disease for maybe the next generation, followed by cremation.  Donations to Cancer Research, Stem Cell Transplant or just giving a pint of blood would be appreciated.

Nov 23, 2010 — On behalf of my family, I would like to express our deep appreciation to the Burlington Oldtimers Assoc.  Your support, prayers, cards and attendance at the "Andy Smith Celebration of Life" ceremony was so very meaningful. To see so many players, past and present just re-enforced the kind of man Andy was and will be remembered as.  Although Andy will no longer be playing on your field, I am sure he will still be playing 3rd base somewhere next season and maybe even strapping on his skates. 

Again thank you —  Aileen Smith & Family

Andy Smith

Andy's Grandson (Anthony)
carrying on the tradition :-)