By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

They both started in Parc Extension and they both wound up in Niagara-sur-le-lac.

They both fell in love with the Montreal Canadiens, the Expos and the games.

They noticed every nuance, romanced about their team, suggested roster moves and their city’s history, learned from watching and became fans.

John Jepson was born in 1951 and lived in the Parc Extension, at the north end of Park Avenue, an extension of the artery.

Danny Thompson was born in Parc Extension 10 years later in 1961.

Parc Ex is bounded by the Metropolitan Expressway 40, to the north; l’Acadie Blvd, to the west; Casgrain Ave. to the east; and Beaumont Ave. and Rue Jean-Talon, to the south, respectively. To the east sat Parc Jarry.

The Montreal Expos played their first game their on April 14, 1969 as LF Mack Jones tripled, homered and knocked in five runs as the Expos edged the St. Louis Cardinals 8-7, thanks to 5 1/3 scoreless innings from Dan McGinn.

Jepson lived about a two-minute walk from the home of the Expos.

Thompson’s father used to tell him how from the balcony of their apartment building they could see part of the Jarry Parc outfield.

Many love affairs began in Parc Ex. As a teenager, Ari Mellios left his window open at nights to hear PA announcers Claude Mouton’s voice carry out of Parc Jarry say “Now batting John BOCCC - uhh - BELLL - uhhh.” Mellios fell in love. He coached the North Delta Blue Jays. Maybe you have heard of a couple of his former players: 1B Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC) and LHP Jeff Francis (Surrey, BC).

Both Jepson and Thompson moved to Ontario in 1970. They did not meet until 1999, when Jepson was the general manager for Jason Chee-Aloy’s Team Ontario 18U and Thompson coached for Marc Picard’s Team Ontario 17U.

They discovered that they had grown up a few blocks from each other. There was an instant connection. The two from Parc Extension saw their friendship extend to parks across the province.

Jepson and Thompson would talk at meetings and tryouts etc. It wasn’t long before a deep bond formed. Jepson was GM of the Ontario Youth Team which won three gold medals in a four-year span (2005-06 and 2008).

After being with Team Ontario for two years, Jepson co-founded the Toronto Mets with Howie Birnie and Jason Chee-Aloy.

A year later Thompson, along with the legendary Ed Heather and John Benvie founded the Terriers.

Jepson ran the Mets annual Canada Day Classic tournament and always invited the Terriers. The Terriers ran the Brawl in the Fall tourney in September and reciprocated by inviting the Mets.

The pair got along great because winning was not that important — helping get an player to school was — and they had mutually agreed that they wanted to run organized events. As Thompson has often said “John was the king of being organized.”

Even when the season ended they stayed in touch on a daily basis because it was hockey season and both were Habs fans. They would manage the Canadiens via text, email and at weekly dinners. And if it was on game night they had to meet early so Jepson could get home in time for puck drop.

Jepson attended the final game at the old Montreal Forum and has the official commemorative shirt in a shadow box hanging on his wall along with other Habs memorabilia.

On Tuesday, Sept. 25 I drove to Niagara-On-The-Lake exit where I met Thompson, left the my car in the lot of a fast food place. Thompson drove me in to see Jepson and his wife Linda in Virgil.

Don Campbell of the Premier Baseball League of Ontario, had asked me to present Jepson with a PBLO Lifetime Achievement honour.

Eight days later I received an email from Thompson ...

“I remember you wrote a column one time and mentioned this song ... Am waiting for JJ to be lifted into an ambulance to take him to Hospice ... Melanie was driving Linda in her car so Linda would have has a vehicle there. Look what song comes on the radio.”

Who of us among us, who lost loved ones, can’t relate to Diamond Rio’s One More Day?

Jepson spent his final 11 days at Hospice Niagara in St. Catharines.

John Jepson, 67, was taken too young by pancreatic cancer.

He now has a front row seat on Cloud J-412 to watch the rest of the baseball playoffs ... and his Habs.

He will be missed by myself … and so many others: …

Nicole and Mike Tevlin, co-owners, Terriers Baseball: “John made everyone who knew him sleep easier every night. He cared so much about everyone, and he looked after all our players as if they were his own kids. He helped make us a family. If there was ever a question from a player, he would not rest until he had a satisfactory answer. John was a solid man, who’s level-headed thinking kept everyone around him on the right course. His spirit and way of being will influence us well into the future. John was a special man and a good friend.”

Don Campbell, commissoner of the PBLO: “John was a great guy to go for a beer with ... because he didn’t drink. He’d drink pop. The conversation was always easy and fun. He could loosen up on Diet Coke. John genuinely cared about every franchise in the league, not just the one he was running. Better still, he cared about the sport of baseball, the people and kids involved in it. It was never, ever about him. Never.

“He was a voice of reason. John had a great sense of humour and a great ability to listen. JJ had just two faults in life and if you can go through such a great life with only two, well you’re still batting. Yes, he loved the Habs and did not like the Leafs much! And he loved to tell people both! He was very political off the field and never political on it. Strange quality in a person. But one to be admired.

“Past those two blips, he was always the voice of calm, and of wisdom, and of reason. Ontario baseball lost a great leader. Canadian baseball lost a great man.”

Greg Hamilton, coach and director National Teams Baseball Canada, who accepted the John Jepson person of the year award last year. “John was a passionate grassroots baseball person who cared deeply about Canadian Baseball growth and development. His love of the game and the thousands of youth participants whom he impacted will stand as a lasting legacy.”

Rick Johnston, The Baseball Zone, Terriers 15U: “My memories of JJ go back to his dealings as a Toronto Met. Following the Mets, John joined the Terriers organization and immediately implemented a system of communication to each and every Terrier family. His way of problem solving and finding solutions, while making it all very seamless ... he was without a question, the master of it. John you brought so much to to so many people and organizations in such a vibrant way. You were a man that when something need to be done, it damn well was done. You will sorely be missed.

My heartfelt condolences to you, your wife and the extended family. You taught all of us so many life lessons. I can’t thank you enough for the short time we spent together. Yours in Baseball,”

Jamie Lehman, Toronto Blue Jays scout: “John was the epitome of what makes amateur baseball in Canada so special. He gave his time, and his knowledge selflessly and treated every person he came across with such class. When we were getting T12 off the ground his help and mentorship were invaluable to me. He helped bridge political gaps, and was a huge part of figuring out the logistics to an event we had never run before. He will be missed by many, but especially by the Canadian baseball community.”

Shawn Lynn, owner, 18u head coach for the Ontario Royals. “First I would like to say that baseball truly has lost one of its best. I have known John for many years. It all started when I was playing for the North York Blues out of Bond Park when I was 10 years old. John was a big influence through my playing years and was instrumental in embedding the true love for the game. Just this fall after not seeing him for a while, I had the pleasure of crossing path with John again and after everything he has gone through to that point- John was out watching baseball and exited talking about it as always. It brought a smile to face.”

Honsing Leung, Toronto Mets 17U coach former John Jepson person of the year award (recognizing someone who has helped grow the game, move it forward both in the province and country but someone whom has helped the Mets program as well) winner: “I remember back around 2005-2006, we had Marcus Knecht and Greg Densem with the North York Blues bantam aged team. We were at a tournament and of course, JJ leads the charge with parents to find a Carraba’s and we’re sitting there talking. JJ had the kids convinced that through some DNA mix up that we were actually twin brothers ... born 25 years apart. He kept them going for most of the season. Over the past few years, once JJ was in Niagara, our meeting place would always end up at the Mandarin, a favorite of JJs. It’s actually quite fitting that there is a Mandarin across the street from the service on Sunday, I think he planned that.”

Linda Lewis, PBLO: “I first met John when I put a gold medal around his neck in 1992 and a silver medal in 1994. We kept in touch and visited with each other when we were at the either an OBA convention or a the national championships. I became commissioner of the PBLO in 2008 and John was with the Mets. In 2012, John became chairman of the board (interim) but we had him hooked. I will miss our conversations where we discussed the great game of baseball and his beloved Montreal Canadians. RIP JJ.”

Bob Roberts, former North York Blues and Toronto Mets manager: “John and I coached together since 1988 and been very close friends for 30 plus years - John was the first North York Blues field manager to guide a NY team to the to a National Championship appearance in 1992 - defeating a powerhouse and dominant Windsor Selects team in the Junior Eliminations - at the Nationals we finished fouruth in Jonquiere, Que. John and I were with the juniors in 1996 in Kitchener and won NY’s first ever gold medal with John at the helm. We also won a nantam gold medal in 2003 in Windsor, where John was my third base coach and waved home the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning, for a walk off win over Nova Scotia

“The legacy John has left from his many years of volunteering for about 35 years in youth baseball in Ontario, is one of caring, mentoring, being a friend to so many people and asked for nothing in return. He was larger than life. He once told me “baseball was his life, I love doing this.” He spent hours and hours, organizing trips to the USA for the Mets - I was the manager of the Mets 16s for eight years. During this time, JJ organized all US trips, including transportation, food and lodging, for players and coaches. Making sure all players and coaches were always looked after - as a coach, all I needed to do was instruct and concentrate on the games and practices. The baseball community will miss this wonderful human being for sure. I personally, will miss my good friend terribly. God Bless him and R.I. P. John!”

Blue Jays broadcaster Joe Siddall, who used to coach the Windsor Selects: “I was sad to hear about JJ. I remember working with Linda Lewis, Rick Downton and JJ with the PBLO. He always a calming voice of reason in the room ... a nice man to be around.”

Bernie Soulliere, Windsor Selects: “John Jepson. You could not have meet a more respectful and cordial Gentlemen no matter where we meet on or off the field. John has been an opponent at times. He was more than fair -- he was above winning. He did things in the best interest of all concerned. John was a great asset to whatever he undertook and did things with integrity. He was one of a kind John and will be greatly missed. Condolences to his family, on behalf of the Windsor Selects organization.”