One of the legendary figures in Newfoundland and Labrador sport passed away Wednesday. Jack Reardigan was 95.
Reardigan, from St. John’s, was a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame, the Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador Hall of Fame and the Royal St. John’s Regatta Hall of Fame.
It was in the sport of hockey in which Reardigan first rose to prominence.
A proud St. Bon’s boy, Reardigan donned a senior St. Bon’s jersey when he was 17 and played in the St. John’s senior league, battling for the Boyle Trophy for the next 20 years.
One of the all-time greats on the storied squad, Reardigan helped the Blue-Golds win the Boyle Trophy 15 times, and was a member of six Herder Memorial Trophy provincial senior champions.
Following his playing days, the smooth-skating Reardigan took up officiating and refereed for the next 19 years, calling everything from minor hockey to exhibition games involving touring teams from the Soviet Union.
He served as St. John’s Referees Association president, assistant provincial referee-in-chief, vice-president and junior chairman for the Newfoundland Amateur Hockey Association, and was a long-time member of the NAHA appeals committee.
Reardigan was also well-known for his involvement with the Royal St. John’s Regatta, rowing for 14 years and serving 48 years on the Regatta Committee, including two terms as president.
He was also president of the Royal St. John’s Regatta Hall of Fame.
He first dipped his oar in Quidi Vidi Lake as a member of the St. Bon's crew in 1944.
At the time of his death, he was an honorary member of the Regatta Committee.
His sister, Gert Reardigan, was the first female coxswain in Regatta history. She passed away in 2010 at age 85.
In a 2006 Telegram feature, Jack Reardigan said he felt like a kid every Regatta Day.
“It’s like Christmas, only better,” he told reporter Rosie Mullaley. “I look forward to it so much. It's the best day of the year.”
sports@thetelegram.com
