Condolence Notice - Guy Pomahac

This notice is from the archives of The Notice Board. Information contained in this notice was accurate at the time of publication but may no longer be so.

The University of Lethbridge expresses its deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Pronghorn Sports Hall of Fame member and alumnus Guy Pomahac (BEd '81, MEd '03), who passed away Friday, August 18, 2017 following a long illness.

Pomahac, a longtime teacher in southern Alberta, was one of the most decorated Pronghorn athletes in history, having excelled as a member of the judo program. A member of the Canadian National Judo Team 10 times from 1971 to 1983, he won 10 provincial championships, two Canadian senior championships, a Canadian junior title and was an alternate for the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. In 1998, he was inducted into the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame.

Competing for the Pronghorns from 1977 to 1980, Pomahac led the judo team to two Canada West team championships. Individually, he won four Canadian University titles and three Canada West titles. He competed at the World University Games on two occasions and was inducted into the Pronghorn Hall of Fame in 2002.

Pomahac also served the U of L as a member of senate from 2003 to 2008 and was a proud member of the University of Lethbridge Alumni Association, serving as its vice-president from 2003 to 2007.

Following is his obituary notice as well as memorial service details.

GUY ANTHONY POMAHAC, of Lethbridge, passed away at the St. Michael's Health Centre, Palliative Care Unit, on Friday, August 18, 2017 at the age of 61 years, after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer.

Guy was a life-long educator, serving for 32 years in the Lethbridge School District, where he taught Science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics), Physical Education, Career and Technology Studies, At-Risk Alternative Education and a variety of Option Programs. He also served as a Faculty Associate in the Faculty of Education at the University of Lethbridge for 3 years from 2006 to 2009. He received his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Education from the University of Lethbridge, and was working towards his Ph.D. in Education from the University of Calgary. His students will remember him as a teacher who genuinely cared for them, and who recognized their potential and expected their very best efforts. Guy was an internationally recognized athlete. He was a member of Canada’s national judo team, and continued to be an active coach with the Lethbridge Kyodokan Judo Club right up to the time of his passing. He was inducted to both the University of Lethbridge Pronghorn Hall of Fame and the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame. In addition to judo, Guy was passionate about hockey, lacrosse and golf. Guy had deep love of music, from classical to blues, and loved to dance.  He was outgoing and had a knack for striking up friendships wherever he went. He touched so many lives as a teacher, an athlete, a coach and a friend, and he will be sorely missed throughout Alberta and beyond. Guy was predeceased by his parents, his brother Greg, and his sister Monica.

His loss will be most deeply felt by his son Joshua and his daughter Taylor.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, September 1, 2017  at 12 p.m. at ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2405 - 12 Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB with Father Kevin Tumback, Celebrant.

 A Reception and Celebration of Guy’s Life will follow at 1 p.m. in the Assumption Church Hall.


Contact:

Trevor Kenney | trevor.kenney@uleth.ca | 403-329-2710