Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Heaven Drafts Jim Mattila “The pope of Hockey

Ah, crap. Jim Mattila finally "...slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings...put out (his) hand and touched the face of God...."*


In Heaven an hour before the devil knew he was dead.



I'm sorry. There's a short list of people whose funeral I will attend; if you're reading this it's probably you. Jim's friendship was such that I want to be there. I want to be around those who knew him. I want to hear the stories. Bob said "You should have known Jim before the accident." Isn't that the way it too often goes? I wish I had known Jim when he was a deputy for St. Croix County; a hunter; a hockey coach so formidable that he was widely known as 'The Pope of Hockey' in this part of the state.

Dang it, dang it, dang it.


Surely there was a time I might have trod
The sunlit heights, and from life's dissonance
Struck one clear chord to reach the ears of God.
**

Our dear, departed, steadfast and worthy; Jim shall not be forgotten nor shall his pain encumber him longer. I am better for his friendship, pleased to have known him and do not begrudge him to Our God whom has gathered Jim unto Himself.

obituary link here

*'High Flight' John Gillespie Magee
** 'Poems' Oscar Wilde

2 comments:

kristi noser said...

Oh I am so sorry to hear about Jim, I know we will see him again in Heaven, but I will miss him very much.

erin said...

Rich played for him and I went to high school and college with one of his sons. I'm glad you will be representing us at the funeral.