Worden Teasdale, former president of the Royal Canadian Golf Association, has donated to the Proudfoot Corner of the Star Santa Claus Fund every year for decades.
For the past few years, he has done so in memory of his daughter, Kathryn (Kat) Teasdale, who died in 2016. She was a successful stock-car racer who also volunteered with several local charities, including Easter Seals.
This year, Teasdale’s contribution also honours another star athlete: Dr. Ron Taylor, who won as a pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals (1964) and New York Mets (1969) and went on to become the Blue Jays’ team doctor.
In the early 1960s, Teasdale and Taylor were buddies, studying engineering at the University of Toronto.
“We knew he was an excellent student, but we always thought he just had this cool summer job playing baseball … we didn’t know at first how good he was,†Teasdale says with a laugh.
Now 83, Taylor graduated with a degree in electrical engineering before starting his pro baseball career in the Cleveland organization. While he’d go on to play for several teams and was a closer for two Series champions, he also put his degree to good use as an electrician in the off-season.
During his time with the Mets, the Toronto-born Taylor went on a goodwill tour during the Vietnam War and saw firsthand the life-saving work done by medical teams on wounded soldiers. After his final big-league game in 1972, he returned to U of T, studied medicine and went on to run a family practice.
Ultimately, Taylor’s work led him to the Jays, where he was the team physician for three decades. He was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame (1985) and Canadian Sports Hall of Fame (1993), and named to the Order of Ontario (2005).
Acting on a nomination from Teasdale, the U of T Engineering Alumni Association honoured Taylor’s life at an award presentation Thursday night. Sons Drew and Matthew Taylor have also produced a film about their dad’s journey:
From his days at U of T, the 82-year-old Teasdale — who has been giving to the Corner “for longer than I can remember†— can also recall bumping into Joseph S. Atkinson, the son of long-time Star publisher and Santa Fund founder Joseph E. Atkinson. The fund was launched in 1906 to brighten the lives of underprivileged children at Christmas. Atkinson understood the need. His family had little money when he was young — he was once given a pair of skates by a woman who saw him watching other children skate in a park.
The fund’s first year helped more than 300 families. This year, with an assist from Proudfoot Corner and generous contributions by the Teasdale family and many more readers, the Santa Fund plans to deliver 50,000 Christmas gift boxes to kids 12 and under across Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga, Ajax and Pickering. The fundraising goal — with support from Metroland’s Mississauga News, Brampton Guardian and News Advertiser (Ajax and Pickering) — is $1.5 million by Dec. 31.
In the Corner: In keeping with tradition, donors may choose to be mentioned here. This week, we start with the Star’s own Bob Hepburn, who kicks in $200 … Edgar Goodaire returns with $100 … Eric Gorbell is back with $25 in memory of Diane M. Gorbell ... Andrew Tymoszewicz from Huntsville sends $100 … David Yeates donates $100 in memory of Patricia & Peter Lytle … Maureen Smeaton remembers husband Peter with $250. Peter Smeaton was in his 50th season as an off-ice official with the NHL when passed away in April ... Susy Miranda of Wasaga Beach chips in $25 … Former Star editor John C.P. King returns with $250 … Sharon and Jim Bradley remember Mort Greenberg with $50 ... Lionel McLean of Ajax donates $25 … Krista Wilson is back with $100 “to support children being children†... Ed Ludlow sends $100 in memory of Shadow … Robert Wetick of Burlington donates $200 … Larry Green remembers Jays fans Wes and Anne Green with $40 … Craig Gibson donates $100 in memory of his mother, Sevia Gibson ... Ceri and Viola Stephens of Tottenham deliver $120 ... Ron Simpson of Etobicoke sends $100 … Ted Gould of Newmarket helps with $75 … Richard and Dianne Poole return with $1,000 … Sandra Howson gives $100 in memory of husband Rich Howson, who was also a Corner supporter ... And Laurie Milmine gives $50 in memory of James William Wilcox.
