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Jo Forman loved improving lives (Walk of Fame photos)

Jo Forman believed that positive results stem from honest effort. His son Murray Forman was telling us that yesterday. "And don't get me wrong, my father liked to win - a lot!" Murray added with a smile.

Jo Forman believed that positive results stem from honest effort.

His son Murray Forman was telling us that yesterday.

"And don't get me wrong, my father liked to win - a lot!" Murray added with a smile. "But a loss with effort and grace was always kind of a victory for him."

Murray Forman (shown) spoke on his family's behalf for his father, who was inducted at the Essar Centre yesterday into the Downtown Association's Sault Ste. Marie Walk of Fame.

"My dad never sought accolades for what he did. But he would be very proud and humbled if he could stand here with us today," Forman said.

Forman is remembered as the dedicated athlete, coach and leader who laid the groundwork for Northern Ontario Secondary Schools Association (NOSSA) and who promoted fair play, commitment and effort to a whole generation of coaches and athletes in the Sault and beyond.

Murray Forman was joined by his mother, Joyce and his sister Jan Marin.

Eric Alessandrini, a firefighter and life-long tireless volunteer was also honoured yesterday.

Alessandrini was on hand in person to accept his award but illness prevented him from speaking on his own behalf.

His close friend of many years, Ron Irwin, stood to thank the City and the Downtown Association for this generous honour for Alessandrini who was obviously very moved by it.

Dr. Peter Black, a world-renowned neurosurgeon and president of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies originally from the Sault, was unable to attend to receive his award.

Black's wife, Katharine and daughter Dia Black attended in his place.

Dia Black said that her father was very honoured by this recognition from the city he considers his hometown and still loves to visit.

She shared stories of the family's drives up from Boston while she was growing up and of swimming in lakes in Northern Ontario.

Celebrated Sault artist Doug Bradford attended to accept his award in person.

Bradford is best known nationally for his work as a past participant in the Canadian Forces artist program and the body of work he produced on the HMCS Calgary.

Bradford, a life-long resident of Sault Ste. Marie, thanked the City of Sault Ste. Marie and the Downtown Association for the honour of putting his name on a maple leaf on Queen Street.

A media release from the Downtown Association follows.

************************** SAULT STE. MARIE – (September 17) - The City of Sault Ste. Marie and the Downtown Association are pleased to announce that the Sault Ste. Marie Walk of Fame welcomed four new inductees today.

The inductees were: Eric Alessandrini (humanitarianism), Dr. Peter Black (neurosurgical medicine), Doug Bradford (watercolour artist) and the late Jo Forman (contributions to athletics).

“One of Sault Ste. Marie’s greatest resources is its people and the Walk of Fame serves as way of recognizing those who have achieved greatness in their respective fields of interest or study,” says Jamie Caicco, city councillor and co-chair of the Walk of Fame Committee.

The four inductees were honoured at a special ceremony held at the Essar Centre.

Each year, inductees are recognized for outstanding achievement in one (or more) of the following areas: athletic, cultural, academic or humanitarian achievement, outstanding contribution to community business, environment, sports, science or entertainment.

The Walk of Fame Committee reviews public submissions and selects a maximum of five inductees.

Inductees are honoured with a 16” x 16” granite maple leaf stone on the north side of the Essar Centre on Queen Street East.

Nominations for the 2011 Walk of Fame inductees will be solicited from the public next spring.

The Walk of Fame is an annual event and is a joint project between the City of Sault Ste. Marie and the Downtown Association.

************************** Click here to read biographies of the four people honoured in today's Walk of Fame ceremony.


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