In memory of Gus Etchegary, Canada Soccer Hall of Fame honoured member

Gus Etchegary, the Newfoundland Labrador Soccer President who brought his provincial association into Membership with Canada Soccer in 1967, has passed away at age 98. An honoured member of the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame, the former player-turned executive served five years as President of Newfoundland Labrador Soccer and later served as Vice-President for Canada Soccer.

As noted in his obituary, he was also “intertwined with the fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador for over seventy years.” Across his career, he served as President of the Fisheries Association of Newfoundland and Labrador Ltd, Vice-President of Fisheries Products Ltd, Commissioner of International Commission of North West Atlantic Fishers, and a Director of Fishery Council of Canada.

He played for the St. Lawrence Laurentians and later Burin soccer team, then took on the role of President for the Burin Peninsula Athletic Association. He served as President of Newfoundland Labrador Soccer from 1966 to 1971 and served as Vice-President of Canada Soccer for two years from 1971 to 1973.

From his career in football, he was inducted into Newfoundland Labrador Sports Hall of Fame and Newfoundland Labrador Soccer Hall of Fame as well as locally the St. John’s Soccer Hall of Fame, the Burin Peninsula Soccer Hall of Fame, and the St. Lawrence Soccer Hall of Fame.

Said Etchegary in 1984 of Newfoundland Labrador soccer’s membership to Canada Soccer, “it was the dedication of those who were involved that made it work. I think of people like Fred Tessier, Adrian Miller, Hobie Pike, Angus Barrett, and Doug Sweetapple.”

Beyond sport, he was awarded an honourary degree of laws from Memorial University in 2008 and was named a “Senior of Distinction” by Newfoundland and Labrador’s provincial government.

Born on 28 May 1924 in St. Lawrence, Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Etchegary was the oldest living honoured member of the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame at the time of his passing on 7 May 2023. He is survived by his wife Kay as well as children, grandchildren, extended family and friends.