Teri Yamada, Former RCGA Green Section Head, Passed Away

Obituary
Teri M. Yamada
April 23, 1958 – January 8, 2025

I am now on the wrong side of the turf. Not many can claim a 40-year career in golf with only a mediocre ability to play the game. But I was lucky to work with a variety of turf companies and associations including 18 years at the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA), now Golf Canada.

I surprised my predeceased artist parents Sam and Ruth, and architect brother John, and surviving brother Mark by selecting an agriculture degree in environmental horticulture. As it worked out, agriculture was my key to the world, allowing me to study landscaping in Japan and greenhouse work in France.

Upon returning to Canada and working in the fertilizer industry, golf course machinery, irrigation and golf course construction, I was hired to redevelop the Green Section for the RCGA. That included working with golf course superintendents preparing national championships; introducing the Audubon Co-operative Sanctuary Program to Canada; and developing the Canada Turfgrass Research Foundation (CTRF). Being an 8-yr member of the USGA Turfgrass & Environmental Research Committee helped me to properly establish the CTRF. I enjoyed ten years hosting a live, phone-in garden clinic for AM 900 CHML in Hamilton every Saturday morning in the 90s. At the same time, I worked with golf course superintendents across Canada. They were a hard-working, under-appreciated group of people with whom I really respected and enjoyed working with.

In 2019, I was welcomed to be one of the first female members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews in Scotland. That was truly one of the greatest honors a golfer can receive.

Although I had no children, I’m grateful that I was able to see my nieces Sam and Alex and nephew Erik grow to be such interesting adults of whom I am extremely proud. My sister Riki is an extraordinary mother and a wonderful sister to the end. I do regret that I will not be able to better know my grand-niece Ember.

I can only apologize to my best friend and love of my life Doug Moxon. You did not sign up for these last few months. I was lucky to have found someone with whom I could start and end every day laughing. I just wish we could have had more time together.

For those still reading and curious about what took me out, shortly after retiring I received a diagnosis of sporadic CJD in April 2024. That literally made me the one in a million that contracts this insidious disease. I always thought that I might be a bad retiree, but I never expected it would kill me.

CJD is a “mean” disease which progresses rapidly and without mercy. It has a menu of symptoms that pop up without any warning and attack your physical and mental well-being. For this reason, I am thankful that Canada allows MAID (medical assistance in dying), and I was fortunate to have the knowledgeable and caring Dr. Xie as my guide through this experience. I am also thankful that we have access to the compassionate and supportive services at the Campbell House Hospice.

There will be a visitation held on January 23 from 2:00pm - 4:00pm with tributes taking place at 3:00pm at Fawcett Funeral Home at 82 Pine Street in Collingwood. Instead of flowers, please consider making a donation to The Hospice Georgian Triangle Foundation. The service they provide is invaluable. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Thank you to everyone with whom I shared an interesting chat, a great meal, or a big laugh. You know who you are.