Walter Gretzky, father of the Great One, dies at 82
Posted March 4, 2021 8:44 pm.
Last Updated March 4, 2021 11:25 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Walter Gretzky — Wayne Gretzky’s father, and ‘Canada’s hockey Dad’ — has passed away.
Wayne announced the news of his father’s passing Thursday evening on Twitter, noting Walter had “battled Parkinson’s and other health issues these last few years.” He was 82.
“For me, he was the reason I fell in love with the game of hockey. He inspired me to be the best I could be not just in the game of hockey but in life,” Wayne wrote.
“We will miss him so much, but know he is back with our mom and that brings me and my family peace. He truly was the Great One, and the proudest Canadian we knew.”
Gretzky’s impact on the sport extended far beyond his son Wayne and the legacy the latter forged on the ice, though The Great One often credited his father for helping him become an all-time talent. The elder Gretzky also coached at various levels, wrote two books about the game, and supported numerous charities through the Walter Gretzky Street Hockey Tournament and a number of other programs.
He was named to the Order of Canada in 2007 for his contributions to Canadian hockey and his philanthropic work, four years after receiving the Order of Ontario for his efforts.
In 2010, Gretzky cemented his place in Canadian history by participating in the Olympic Relay during the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, carrying the Olympic Torch on the relay’s final day before his son eventually lit the Olympic Flame.
