John Deveau was many things: a family man, a Nova Scotia MLA, and a lifelong Toronto Blue Jays fan who had always hoped to see them play in person.
A sudden fatal aneurysm in July meant he never got the chance to fulfil that dream on his own – but his wife Carol Deveau, with John’s ashes in tow and a shared love for the game in her heart, was able to make that dream a reality this month.
Sporting the Jays jersey John wore for over 15 years, Carol was in the stands with a small container of John’s ashes and his obituary when the Jays played the Boston Red Sox on Sept. 24 and 25.
“They did a wonderful job, my husband would be so proud of them,” she said.
A Nova Scotia couple was set to attend their first Blue Jays game together last week. Instead, Carol Deveau went alone after her husband’s sudden death over the summer, bringing his photo and ashes so he could be with her while she “fulfilled his wish.”
John had been dealing with heart problems for a few years, but Carol was able to purchase tickets for the games after he was cleared to travel by their doctor back in June.
She had intended to surprise him with the tickets, but told CBC News in an interview she wasn’t able to keep the secret.
“He was so happy, there were tears in his eyes,” she said.
John had been a fan since he was a kid, but had never been able to attend a game. Carol said he always made sure to cheer the Jays on while watching at home. She said he could name every player on the team and loved to give encouragement or suggest plays through the screen.
She tried to keep that tradition alive at Rogers Centre last week, too.
“Every time the Blue Jays would get up to bat I would hold his obituary picture and ashes up so he could tell them what to do,” Carol said.
Though the Jays lost the first two games of that series with the Red Sox – which came amidst the team’s stress-inducing playoff push – Toronto delivered a decisive win in the third game with a final score of 6-1.
Carol told CBC News she was ecstatic to be able to see that win.
“Oh my God that was so good. It was like a prayer,” she said. “They were awesome … John was there with me, and I know he would have been rooting for them too.”
According to Carol, John was a “wonderful man” and a special member of the community. After his retirement he volunteered with the Special Olympics and at the Tabitha Centre, a community outreach program run out of the couple’s church in Nova Scotia.
He also spread his love of sports through his family. Carol credits John with getting her into sports, and says whenever any of his kids or grandkids had a game, he was always there supporting them.
With the Jays awaiting Game 1 of the American League Division Series, fan excitement in Toronto is through the roof. The Jays will play their first game of the playoffs on Saturday versus either the Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees.
Back at home in Nova Scotia, Carol is rooting for the Blue Jays to take it all the way – and believes that John is doing the same.
“He was at that game and he’s with them throughout the series now,” she said.
