Bob Grylls, Contributor
A perpetual memorial for Mel DeHaan was established in the main lobby at the Westmeath Arena. It is located in a section of an cabinet of hockey memorabilia and includes a picture alongside the cabinet showing Mel with many hockey players and coaches at a hockey awards day.
The Westmeath & District Recreation Association (WDRA) and Whitewater Region lost a valuable employee April 30 2021 to an illness. Melle De Hann’s mechanical skills and tenacity will be sorely missed at the Westmeath Arena & Community Hall.
Mel was what one would call a ’Gem” of an employee – multiskilled and reliable. Mel came on board some years ago as the maintenance manager responsible for all mechanical operations and maintenance activities in the ice-arena, the upstairs hall and the ball diamond. He maintained a good relationship with community members and users of the facilities.
Jerry McIntyre, Operations Manager at Whitewater Region noticed Mel early on with a passion for his job and a quick learner. Jerry called Mel a “Trailblazer.”
Neil Nicholson most familiar with Mel’s work schedule said, “There was not a single thing that was done at the Westmeath Recreation Centre that Mel did not have a finger in.”
Brenda Grady knew him as an employee and a friend. “Melle was a smart, industrious man, with a kind heart and incredible attention to detail.”
