Greg Doliszny, Sc’82, was looking for a way to rekindle friendships and keep fit when he returned to Calgary after several years overseas.
So he rejoined a fitness group in 2016 to work out and socialize.
That’s where the former chemical engineer with ConocoPhillips met Dr. Paul Beck, Artsci’84, PhD.
Doliszny and Beck were talking this past November and found they had both gone to Queen’s University. Greg graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1982. Paul picked up a Bachelor of Arts in 1984 and a PhD in Biology in 1987, later getting his medical degree at the University of Calgary.
As they reminisced, the two discovered they had tried out for the Queen’s Golden Gaels football team. Neither made the cut so they turned to other sports. Greg played volleyball and Paul played rugby. (Interestingly, Paul’s son Evan played rugby at Queen’s after his own football tryout).
Dr. Beck then mentioned his father, Dr. Peter Beck, Meds’55, had played with the Golden Gaels. Greg revealed his father, Ben, had played, too, and the two sons realized Peter and Ben were on the same 1951 squad, coached by the legendary Frank Tindall.
The 1951 team was rebuilding and they were overmatched by the stacked teams at Western and the University of Toronto. But standings aside, there is much more to this story of coincidence and connection for these fathers and sons.
It turns out Ben and Peter were both linemen. Peter Beck was a defensive end and Ben Doliszny, or Big Ben, as he was known because he was well over six feet tall and weighed 240 pounds, was a tackle, playing both offence and defence.
When Paul told his dad about Ben, the sharp-as-a-tack 90-year-old fondly remembered his old linemate.
But what he said next surprised Greg and Paul and warmed their hearts.
Peter Beck recalled that Big Ben was a gifted athlete who served as his football mentor.
The two would often stay after practice and work through their blocking and tackling assignments. Ben was 28, Peter 20. Ben was finishing up a student career delayed by service during the Second World War.
Ben and Peter only played that year together. Ben went on to law school at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Peter played for two more seasons with the Gaels. His brother Paul played as well.
Ben Doliszny passed away in January, two months before turning 99. But, Greg says, he was “honoured” to hear the kind words and warm memories shared by Peter after so many years.
Paul sent Ben a photo of Peter wearing his 1951 yellow team jacket prompting Ben to say, “I have one of those,” and he proudly posed with it.
There is a bond that is strong among teammates. It’s something Peter celebrates and something Ben, even near the end, felt deeply.
