Funeral services were held here on April 25 for John MacLachlin (Mac) Mason, a lifelong resident of the community and a man known across Canada for his work in lacrosse.
He died on April 22 at age 57 after a battle with cancer.
Mason was a member of the Canadian, Ontario, and Fergus Thistles Lacrosse Halls of Fame. He managed the Fergus Senior B club for many years, publicized the team through volunteer television work, and he also was the league’s convenor for many years.
Years after the town’s team folded, Mason would still receive phone calls from lacrosse teams from across Ontario who wanted to learn about the abilities of players they were considering.
“I probably travelled further with him than anybody,” said Don McNiven, who worked at the local cable TV station. Mason was his commentator for senior lacrosse games, and that included games from right across the country when the Thistles were in the Canadian championships.
McNiven said one of his fondest memories of Mason was the time in British Columbia when Mason was recording a game for a delayed broadcast, while at the same time phoning home the play by play to the TV station.
McNiven said that with a microphone in one hand and a telephone in the other, Mason broadcast the Thistles’ fortunes to home, and McNiven later heard from local police that hundreds of lights were on late at night in homes across the town, all listening to the lacrosse game.
“I don’t think I knew anyone who could look at a lineup and have it like Mac. He didn’t need to look again. And he remembered every name and every number,” McNiven said.
He added that one of Mason’s proudest moments came during a terrible year for the Thistles. The team won only four games in the league all season, but was hosting the Canadian championships. That year, 1990, the club won that national tournament with six straight victories after a rededication to reaching the heights.
McNiven noted Mason was a very popular fellow with players and everyone else.
“He was a tremendous motivator – a fun loving guy. He was a great joke teller. He loved to sing on the bus. That probably led to his stint with the Hilltop Singers.”
Mason volunteered at the TV station for over 20 years.
“He brought a lot of people to Fergus [to play], and some of them stayed,” McNiven said. He remembered one time five coveted Mississauga players were looking for a place to play and Mason convinced all five to come to Fergus.
Marlene McConnell remembers Mason from his work at the Fergus Legion.
When Mason became involved, she said, he quickly moved up the ranks and became president. When he first got ill during his term, McConnell, as first vice-president, took over his job until he. recovered.
“Mac was very easy going,” she said. She laughed as she remembered that when something needed to get done, his favourite expression was “We’re working on it.”
She added that if there were not enough volunteers for a chore, Mason always showed up to make sure things got done.
“He was a great guy to work with,” she said. “He never got upset about anything. He was everybody’s friend. We’re going to miss him.”
McConnell presented Mason with his Legion Past-President’s medallion in his final weeks, and said, “That was an honour.”
Wellington Advertiser editor Dave Adsett said when he hired Mason as an advertising representative, he soon learned Mason seemed to know everyone in the Fergus area.
Adsett, too, said Mason had a terrific memory, and was constantly answering reporters’ questions about people, events, and business.
“He was a good guy to work with, and he had a great sense of humour,” Adsett said. “He seemed to know exactly when to crack a joke, and when it was time to get down to business. Mac was a very empathetic man, and could read people’s moods very well.
“We’re all going to miss him around here.”
