For many years, one touchdown drive was soon followed by another.
Don Esch, often with his wife Sharron in the passenger seat, drove the Gainer-mobile around the perimeter of Taylor Field to celebrate six-point plays by the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The 1970s-era vehicle was Taylor-made, as it were, with a gopher hole where a sunroof would ordinarily be situated. With Don at the wheel and Sharron navigating, Gainer the Gopher would pop out of the top and exhort the fans to rejoice after every one of the home team’s touchdowns.
“Players from the opposing team used to squirt water at us when we went behind the visitors’ bench,” Sharron recalls. “It was fun — pure fun.”
Those reflections, and so many others, were shared on March 17 when a service was held in Don’s memory at Speers Funeral Chapel in Regina.
Don was 83 when he passed away on March 11.
Respects were paid by a legion of friends that included past and present Roughriders fans and volunteers, including at least one individual who had worn the Gainer suit since the mascot was introduced in 1977.
Not long after that, Don became the ingeniously nicknamed “Gopher chauffeur.”
The gopher-mobile was born when Don McDougall was officially in charge of halftime entertainment and unofficially in charge of enlistment.
“Don talked to a number of other elementary-school principals he worked with about getting involved,” Sharron says. “When the car became available, he asked Don if he would drive it.”
McDougall wasn’t exactly driving a hard bargain. The invitation was amicable — and one that was quickly accepted by Don, who was an elementary-school principal for most of his 32 years as an educator.
“He loved it,” Sharron says. “Even in the years when we weren’t winning, he formed pure friendships.”
In a vocational context, he also met Sharron, who was a Grade 8 teacher at Al Pickard School when Don was its principal.
Don was a widower when he started seeing Sharron. Don’s first wife, Peggy, was only 48 when she died on Feb. 13, 1989.
Sharron and Don exchanged vows on July 10, 1992.
“I did spend at least one anniversary by myself, because Don was in Winnipeg with the football team,” Sharron says, breaking into a chuckle, “but that was OK.”
It goes without saying that the Gainer-mobile did not make the excursion to Manitoba, but Don had several other reasons to travel.
Consider the sundry tasks he cheerfully performed for the benefit of his favourite football franchise.
As one who also drove without the company of a mascot, Don was behind the wheel when the team’s equipment needed to be transported via the highway to road games in centres such as Winnipeg and Calgary.
If there was a need to drive a player to and from Saskatoon for medical treatment, the team knew who to call.
Don & Sharon Esch – courtesy Sharron Esch
In 1989, Don drove Gainer’s car in the Grey Cup parade, one day before the Roughriders defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 43-40 to win the second championship in franchise history. The car had been transported via railway to Toronto, where Don picked up the vehicle and ensured that it would be in place for the parade.
“There he was, out on the 401 (highway), in Gainer’s car,” Sharron says, still marvelling at the memory.
The only main driver in the long life of the Gainer-mobile, Don also assisted the team by serving on the halftime entertainment committee, helping new players get settled in Regina, scheduling appearances by the cheerleaders and delivering corporate packages.
Always versatile, he even wore the Gainer costume on occasion during 25-plus years of volunteering for the Roughriders.
“Don loved football,” Sharron says. “He loved to help people and he loved to have fun.”
There was also a love of family, including his four children — Dan, Cathie, Jeff and Chris.
“Don loved kids,” Sharron says. “We have eight grandchildren and he loved every one of them equally. He loved to tease his grandchildren, and his own children, and tell stories.”
Heredity was clearly a factor when Dan also served as a Roughriders volunteer.
There was also a time when the San Diego Chicken, who visited Regina for a 1981 CFL game, chased Chris on to the field as part of a gag.
These rich memories are of solace to Sharron and the entire family, which was steadfastly by Don’s side as he struggled with health issues in recent years.
Death came suddenly, ultimately, at the Pasqua Hospital — which was known as the Grey Nuns Hospital when Don was born there on Sept. 21, 1939.
“People should remember him for his kindness, his caring and his sense of humour,” Sharron says.
“He was always very considerate. Some people get on the phone and rant and rave (while complaining), but Don always understood that the person on the other end of the line wasn’t responsible for the issue.
“He always treated other people like he wanted to be treated.”
His good nature was underlined in a tribute Sharron prepared for a remembrance card that was distributed at the funeral.
“We laughed, we cried, we travelled and we kissed,” she wrote. “So many kisses and so much love were shared by Don and me in our everyday lives. I will miss him terribly, but I have all the memories, his children and our grandchildren, who were ever so important to us.
“Au revoir. Love you forever, love you for always.”
