The PGA of Ontario Remembers Orest Spooner

The PGA of Ontario Remembers Class "A" Life Professional - Orest Spooner (1936-2022)

We are saddened to hear of the passing of PGA of Ontario, Class "A" Life Professional - Mr. Orest Spooner

It is with both sorrow and "sweet swinging" memories that we announce the peaceful passing of Orest Shpuniarsky, known professionally as Orest Spooner, aka "Spoonman" on August 8, 2022. He "putted out" due to natural causes at Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare in Windsor. In lieu of flowers, those interested in donating may "chip in" to The Downtown Mission in Windsor.

Orest was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. If unfamiliar with its location, Orest would gleefully tell you that Moose Jaw is about six feet from the moose's ass. Orest is the oldest of three sons born to Jacob and Anne Shpuniarsky (nee Semeniuk). Jacob immigrated to Canada from Ukraine, via Poland and Germany, in 1928 and worked as a carpenter, initially with the Canadian Forces. Anne was born and raised in Shiho, Saskatchewan. The family lived in BC and Quebec, before settling in the Junction area of west Toronto in 1945. Orest was proud of his Ukrainian heritage and spoke the language in his youth.

Orest attended Humberside Collegiate Institute and played sports such as baseball, football and basketball. His interest in golf began as a caddy at Lambton GC and Islington GC. After studying engineering at U of T for two years, he worked as caddiemaster at The Toronto Golf Club in 1957.

His 64-year career as a PGA of Canada member began as an assistant pro at Toronto Golf in 1958. At this time, the head pro, Lou Cumming, suggested that Orest's name be anglicized and the name Ernie Spooner was created. By the early 1960s, he reverted to using Orest, but friends often referred to him as Ernie into the 1970s.

Orest worked at Toronto Golf under head pro John (Jack) Hunt from 1959 until 1966. It was here that Orest met his future wife, Anna May Mills. She had moved to Toronto from Matachewan, Ontario, to work as a waitress at the club while completing her teacher training at Normal School in North Bay. They married in Toronto in 1961 and life was never again normal for Anna May. Their first two children, Michael in 1961 and Annalee in 1966, were born here.

In the winter of 1965-66, on Toronto Golf's 9th hole, known as "Valley" because it slopes to Etobicoke Creek, Orest took Michael tobogganing. On their third run, they unexpectedly reached the creek bank and the toboggan dropped "fore" feet down to the frozen creek. Orest injured his lower back and this was the beginning of lifelong daily exercises to stretch and strengthen his core and back muscles, which would inevitably tighten when he was fatigued, in cool weather, or facing a downhill 4-foot putt.

In 1967, Orest accepted the head professional position at the London Hunt and Country Club. His son Derek was born in 1968. Orest teed it up twice in the Canadian Open. First, in 1967 at St. George's GC, where he was paired for the first two rounds with PGA tour rookie Hale Irwin, who Orest noted bombed the ball 30 yards past him off the tee. Second, in 1970 at London Hunt, when he characteristically declined to accept the exemption into the field that was traditionally granted to the host club's head pro and instead played his way in at the Monday qualifying. After failing to make the cut, Orest introduced players on the first tee for the 3rd and 4th rounds. He recalled some younger American pros chuckling at his attire, likely a boldly coloured or patterned, swinging 60's era sport coat. He overheard one pro joking, "Who is this guy? The Duke of Paducah?", referring to an American comedian and country musician from the 1940s and '50s, who wore loud suits on stage.

In 1972, Orest became the head professional and club manager at Lakewood Golf Club in St. Clair Beach, just east of Windsor. As fate would have it, Orest's first home in Windsor was a flip wedge away from Bob Panasik, marking the beginning of a long friendship.

At Lakewood, the majority of Orest's time was devoted to managerial duties. If you drove by his home at 2:00 am, you would see him through his kitchen window at the table mulling over the day's receipts. His presence on the golf course was infrequent, although too frequent for the teens working in the pro shop, whose missteps rarely eluded Orest's vigilant eye. Other than giving golf lessons and playing a few holes at dusk to survey the condition of the course and turn away trespassers taking shortcuts across the grounds, Orest was rarely on the golf course itself. He enjoyed playing tournaments and pro-ams, where he fraternized with old friends and offered support and encouragement to his amateur partners. One of his thrills was winning the Fair Villa Pro-Am in 1974, which he claimed was his first professional victory and trophy. This trophy was proudly displayed on the mantle in his den thereafter. In 1980, Orest and his 17-year-old student, Christa Teno, won the Ontario Pro-Club Champions championship.

In 1989, Orest moved to Beach Grove Golf and Curling Club in St. Clair Beach, where he served as an associate pro. Over the next 33 years, with no intention of retiring, Orest became a fixture at the club and came to know and be known by generations of club members. Orest also served several seasons as the curling club's drawmaster. In his final years, he worked as the 1st Tee Facilitator, most recently under Ryan Peltier, Director of Golf. In May 2022, Orest reluctantly resigned due to his failing health, turning in his card with the first 64 (years of service) of his career.

In golfing circles, Orest was well regarded as a kind-natured, good-hearted gentleman, who exuded traditional values and strict adherence to club rules, golf rules and etiquette. He never walked past a divot, ball mark, unraked bunker, untucked polo shirt or piece of litter on the course without stopping to address it.

On the course, Orest occasionally played sub-par rounds of golf and he diligently filed away his scorecards each time he did so. He hit his share of errant shots, so much so that he sometimes made Seve look like Moe Norman. After hitting wayward tee shots into treed areas, Orest in the forest would quip, "You can't see the Orest for the trees." He savoured these woodland opportunities to attempt low percentage, risk-reward escape shots and to scramble to save pars. He firmly believed in playing the ball as it lies and he never used the rules to obtain advantages for himself. Perhaps his biggest regret was that he never made a hole-in-one, although he would proudly inform you that Anna May had two aces to her credit.

On and off the course, Orest was known for his sharp, some might say "out of bounds," sense of humour and quick wit, which comprised mostly clever word plays, puns and double entendres, aka bad dad jokes, referred to as Spoonerisms. He playfully named himself President of the Word Association and he clowningly concocted the claim that his actual full name is Orest Shpuniarchevskovitchkoffowitzskichuk. He also had a seemingly insatiable appetite for food. Once in his sight, no plate would leave his grasp with a single crumb remaining on it. After a big meal, it was not uncommon to find him dozing off contentedly in a corner, dreaming perhaps of second helpings. That he managed to maintain a slim physique remains a mystery of modern metabolism.

Orest was extremely grateful for the profession of golf and proud of his membership in the PGA of Canada. He lived to work, to serve the clubs at which he was employed, and to provide services to the members, whom he valued, respected and enjoyed. He cherished the professional friendships he developed over the years. He continued to hit the road, as well as the odd fairway or green, with Panny to play in the southwestern Ontario Senior PGA golf events, known affectionately and pennilessly as the "No Money Tour," until he was no longer able to swing in the spring of 2022. In June 2022, Orest was honoured with a Life Membership by the PGA of Canada. When he was told of having received this designation, he was shocked and humbled. He asked in disbelief and awe, "What did I do to deserve this?"

Orest is survived by his brothers, Eugene in Edmonton and Zenon in Toronto; Anna May, his loving wife of 60 years; his three children, Michael (Mary Rella) and Annalee Este in Toronto, and Derek (Clarisa Peer) in San Jose, CA; his Californian granddaughters, Ava and Brynna Shpuniarsky, his step-granddaughter Talia Este, and his step-grandson Paolo Santalucia.

May peace be with you always and may God o'rest your soul sweet Spoonman, The Duke of Paducah, Mr. Shpuniarchevskovitchkoffowitzskichuk.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, November 20, 2022, at Beach Grove Golf and Curling Club. Tee time is 2:00 to 5:00 pm. All those familiar with Orest are invited to attend. Anyone wishing to share memories, Orest tales or Spooner scoops will be welcome and encouraged to do so.

Provided by: Michael Spooner