Passing of Ward Gosse

Softball NL Is Shocked And Saddened To Learn That Ward Gosse Passed Away On Monday, January 20, 2025. .

To Ward’s Family And Friends Our Condolences, Thoughts And Prayers Are With You During This Difficult Time

Softball NL

Ward Gosse

Ward Gosse began his career playing Minor Softball in his hometown of Bay Roberts.

In 1979, Ward guided his CBN team to the Provincial Squirt Championship, while earning MVP and Top Batter honours.

In 1986, Ward was a member of the Bay Roberts team that claimed the Provincial Midget Championship and went on to represent the Province at the Midget Boy’s National Championship.

Ward played in the St. John’s Junior League for 3-years: 1987, 1988 & 1989.

In 1987 he won the Batting, Slugging and Triples Titles, while being named Regular Season MVP and was named to the All-League Team.

In 1988, he was member of the Junior 50’s team that captured the League Championship, he led the League in Strikeouts, was named MVP of the Regular Season and was named to the All-League Team.

In 1989, he led the league in Home Runs and represented the Province at the Junior National Championships as a member of the CBC Junior Travellers.

Ward played in the St. John’s Senior Men’s Fastpitch League (1986-2024) and enjoyed tremendous success…

13 League Championships
1993-1995, 1997-98, 2001-05, 2011-12 & 2023.

54 Statistical Awards
1 Doubles Title, 1 Triples Title, 3 Batting Titles, 3 Runs Scored Titles, 5 Shutout Titles, 5 Pitching Titles, 5 Strikeout Titles, 6 RBI Titles, 7 Home Run Titles, 8 Slugging Titles and 10 ERA Titles.

33 Individual Awards
Rookie of the Year in 1988, Sportsmanship & Ability in 2003, 1 Triple Crown of Batting, 2 Triple Crowns of Pitching, 7 Regular Season MVP’s, 10 Playoff MVP’s and 11 All-League Team Selections.

Ward played on 6 St. John’s Day Tournament Championship teams, capturing 3 MVP Awards and 1 Top Batter Award.

At the Provincial level, Ward played on 9 Senior Provincial Championship teams, capturing 6 MVP Awards and 1 Top Batter Award.

At the National level, Ward played on 15 Provincial Teams winning 6 Medals: 1 Gold, 3 Silver & 2 Bronze and was named to the All-Tournament Team on three occasions.

At the Master Men’s Nationals hosted in St. John’s in 2016, Ward led 3 Cheers Pub to a Gold Medal and was named Tournament MVP.

After his full-time playing days in Senior came to a close, Ward played 7-years in the St. John’s Intermediate Men’s Fastpitch League. He played two seasons (2015-2016) along-side his brother-in-law Robbie Brown with Bay Roberts Coors Light and played 5-seasons with Roebothan McKay Marshall Republic (2018-2022). He led Roebothan McKay Marshall Republic to three straight Intermediate League Championships (2018-2020) and captured 3 Playoff MVP Awards (2018-2020) and 1 Top Batter Award (2020). He also captured 3 ERA Titles (2015, 2021 and 2022).

At the Provincial level, Ward captured 1 Intermediate Provincial Championship in 2016 with Bay Roberts Coors Light and he was named Tournament MVP.

Internationally, Ward played in the ISC World Tournament in 2006 and was named to the 2nd Team All-World as Pitcher. In 2007, he played in the ASA Tournament and was named to the 2nd Team All-World. In 2012, he was a member of the Parry Island Hawks team that captured the Gold Medal (ISC II) and was named Tournament MVP and Most Outstanding Pitcher.

In the ISC Legends 50+ Division, Ward was the MVP in both 2018 and 2022 as a member of the Championship winning Sudbury Relics.

Other Awards
Softball NL Male Player of the Year (1994, 1995 and 1999).
Molson Athlete of the Month (9 Times Between 1995 and 2006).
Telegram Athlete of the Week (14 Times Between 1988 and 2014).
Named To Senior League 5th All-Decade Team – Pitcher (1997-2006).
Named One Of The Top 15 Senior League Performers (1957-2006).
Named Softball NL Most Outstanding Player (1987-2012).
Inducted Into Softball NL Hall of Fame (2014).
Inducted Into SportNL Hall of Fame (2019).

Ward Marcel Gosse (1968-2025)

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend, Ward Gosse. Ward passed away suddenly at the age of 56 on January 20th 2025.

He leaves behind to cherish the memories of a life beautifully lived, that ended far too soon, his wife & friend of 30 years Karen, his daughters; Cassidy & Makay, his son; Samuel, parents; Lewis & Janet, parents-in-law; Dennis & Ruth, Nina & Elliott, sisters; Michele (Brian), Sonya (Wayne), Brothers-in-law; Robbie (Angie), Brian (Jenn), Darren (Shannon), Rod (Spring) and Bill (Laurie), sisters-in-law; Pam (Justin) and Sherry (Walter), nieces and nephews; Alex, Maddie & Logan, Seamus & Gabriel, Alexandria, Jackson & Regan, Cameron & Cole, Mandy (Ryan), Allie (Derek) & Taylor, Zachary (Heather), Brandon & Rebecca, and a large circle of extended family, friends and teammates.

Ward grew up in Bay Roberts beating around on his dirt bike between ballgames and hockey practices. Little else mattered in those younger days, as those were the places he felt most alive. Guarded by the love of his 2 sisters and parents – he was invincible!

Quite frankly, even at the age of 16, Ward was larger than life!

You needed only to be in his presence for a moment, to feel his confidence. It was that confidence that future teammates would come to depend on, and a girl he coached in fastpitch ball one summer 40 years ago (who he was consistently exasperated with, for performing backflips out in left field) would someday down the road, be drawn to as well.

His university days were spent at Field Hall where he met a group of guys to share in his zest for winning, who were all to ready for any adventures they cooked up. Many of them would become lifelong friends and one in particular (Sean Dowden) would eventually stand at his wedding as his best man.

Ward graduated with a degree in History & English and his love of history would stay with him his entire life.

Ward never much liked rules and that didn’t change as the years passed by. The surest way to get him to do something was to tell him he wasn’t allowed! He was a fierce defender on and off the ice, a formidable adversary on the mound or at the plate and often the life of the party if he got hold of a microphone at the bar after the game.

Ward has played with many ball and hockey teams over the years and many of his teammates were as close as family, he loved them dearly. Quite simply put, if Ward was on your team – he had your back

On December 4th 1994 at The Strand lounge, he bumped into that backflipping girl from the ballfield – all grown up. She told him a joke about a ‘wide mouth frog’ and when he left get a beer she told her friend .. “well he’s not coming back after that!” but he did come back .. and he came back every day after that.

There was never any doubt for either of them and in less than a year they were married. The rest, as they say, is history. But to leave it at that that would be to dismiss 30 years of adventure. The highs, the lows and all the moments in between that helped to build a beautiful life. A life that included a home in Torbay and 3 beautiful children.

He was a respected Town Councilor in Torbay who truly wanted to make a difference and he did, in so many ways. His moral compass was strong and sure when making decisions in that position and he took so much pride in that role.

It goes without saying that Wards achievements and accolades in the sporting world are extensive. But as much as Hockey and Fast Pitch were his passion, family was his lifeline, his children were his pride and joy – his world. They carry so much of him with them- the very best of him.

We had a lot of living left to do and The Big 5 will never be the same. He will be forever missed, forever loved and forever remembered.

You gave your all – and although there were chapters still left to be written, your story is one for the ages and is etched in the memories of all of those who knew and loved you.

You live on within your children and they will carry you forward with them.

Rest easy love.

I’ve got it from here.

Obituary
Condolences

Visitations
2:00-4:00pm on Thursday, January 23, 2025
7:00-9:00pm on Thursday, January 23, 2025
10:00-12-noon on Friday, January 24, 2025

Carnell’s Funeral Home
329 Freshwater Road
St. John’s, NL

A Celebration Of Life
3:00pm on Friday, January 24, 2025
The Royal Canadian Legion
930 The Blvd
St. John’s, NL