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STROPPA, John Romeo
Passed peacefully May 7, 2017. John will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 63 years, Yvette (nee Fraser), his brother Ed, and his numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
John was predeceased by his mother Pierina, brother Elso and mother-in-law Alice.
Born in 1926 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 1949, John joined the Winnipeg Blue Bomber Football Club as a half back. During the football season the daytime was dedicated to Imperial Oil and every evening was dedicated to football practice. In his first year John received the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy for Canadian Rookie of the year in the Western Conference of the CFL. John and his team had a wonderful season in 1950, making it all the way to the Grey Cup, where they lost to Toronto in the famous Mud Bowl. His football career ended prematurely after the 1951 season due to a serious injury.
It was in Imperial Oil's Winnipeg office in 1948 that John met Yvette and they married in 1953. In April, 1960, John accepted a job transfer to Edmonton. That same year, John also started a career in football officiating, moving into the CFL in 1967, first as a field official (#39), working 250 games in 15 years, and then as a supervisor of officials for another 11 years. The President of the Blue Bombers Club on behalf of the Club recently sent a note for John, offering its prayers for a "proud member of the CFL family". In 1982, with 37 ½ years of service, and at age 56, John retired from Imperial Oil. Besides being members of the Esso Annunitant Club, John and Yvette kept busy as longtime members of the Gyro Club of Edmonton, and Celebrating Italian Families of Edmonton Society (CIFES). John was honoured in 2003, for his volunteer service to the community since 1996, as a member of CIFES, and was presented with the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal. John and Yvette traveled extensively before and after retirement, visiting many countries.
Warmest thanks to staff at University of Alberta Hospital.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2017, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Santa Maria Goretti Community Centre, 11050 90 St NW, Edmonton, AB.
Memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, 201-9452 51 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T6E 5A6 or online at www.cancer.ca.
To send condolences, please visit: www.connelly-mckinley.com
Connelly-McKinley Funeral Home
10011-114 Street
Edmonton, AB T5K 1R5
780-422-2222
Published in The Edmonton Journal on May 13, 2017
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