As far as roasts go, this one was flaming.
Michael McCoy’s retirement dinner at the River Rock Casino Resort on Tuesday was one of the most irreverent, audacious, funny and love-filled “goodbyes” that Richmond will likely ever experience.
No foible was left unmocked, no faux pas left unexposed as speaker after speaker took delight in roasting their “Michael stories” on a skewer.
Tuesday night’s levity was perhaps an antidote to the serious nature of McCoy’s career as executive director of Touchstone Family Association. For more than 30 years, his every action has been driven by an intense desire to give Richmond’s families the support they need to thrive, often in very difficult circumstances.
“Visionary.”
“Charismatic.”
“Generous.”
“Provocateur.”
These were some of the words used to describe McCoy in a video that had the audience in tears (of laughter) when it included his show-stopping performance of Esther Swilliams’ synchronized swim routine in front of an astonished crowd of social service professionals several years ago. Only McCoy could have followed up that act with his portrayal of Sister Mary Michael, Patron Saint of Bad Habits.
And although emcee Chuck Keeling, vice-president of stakeholder relations at the Great Canadian Gaming Company, promised that “what happens at Michael McCoy’s party, stays at Michael McCoy’s party,” it’s impossible not to share some of the evening’s speeches.
Before that night, few people would have realized that Maria Salzl, chair of Touchstone’s board of directors, missed her calling as a stand-up comedian when she retired as an RCMP officer and became a manager of Richmond Fire Services.
She praised McCoy for being multi-lingual — English, Spanish and trucker — and described riding on the Canada Line with him when “he offered to take his Ferragamos off his feet and give them to a man who was only wearing Guccis.”
“I can’t tell you the number times Michael was supportive of me,” she said with deadpan delivery. “Seriously. I really can’t.”
Dr. Bruce Hardy, who now co-ordinates the Child and Youth Care Counsellor degree program at Douglas College, said the words of Dorothy Parker came to mind when he thought of McCoy: “If you don’t have anything good to say about someone, come and sit beside me.”
When it came to over-the-top performances, McCoy met his match in Tracey Bell. As the audience waved tiny flashlights in the air as if they were teenagers at a concert, Bell transformed herself from Marilyn Monroe to Tina Turner, but also managed to turn McCoy into a stage-hopping Sonny to her Cher.
And yet, underpinning every gentle jab, every laugh at McCoy’s expense was a deep and abiding respect for him as a man and community leader.
Ann Kutcher, executive director of Westcoast Family Resource Centres Society, said that he provides the definition of the Real McCoy: “a person of strong values and beliefs, who stands by you and never gives up, never gives in. He says what he means and he’s made a real difference.”
Board member Lisa Martella called him “an inspiration, truly motivational.” Thanks to his leadership, Touchstone not only developed services that are innovative and creative but also have set new accreditation standards in Canada.
“Thank you for teaching me what it takes to be fearless,” said director of operations Judy Valsonis, who has worked alongside McCoy for the past 18 years and has been appointed the new executive director to replace him.
When it was McCoy’s turn to speak, he had his revenge on everyone who playfully mocked his propensity for long monologues by saying, “I’ll be brief . . . for as long as it takes.”
Then he displayed that other side of his personality — the deeply caring, authentically compassionate and tirelessly driven advocate for families.
He described his career as “a work of purpose and a work in progress,” saying he’s been truly humbled by the people who joined him in the dream.
“What I see,” he said, looking out into the room crowded with colleagues, friends, politicians and community partners, “is a room full of human beings being human.”
Together, everyone has created a sense of community “and I believe it’s a reflection of the first community we belong to, our family.”
“Every day I’ll quietly surrender myself to this simply extraordinary gift of human generosity,” he said. “I will say thank you for your faith in the work we’re doing, giving hope to families, and thank you for your generosity.”
He had to pause and gather his emotions as he reached deep into his heart to thank praise his partner of more than 38 years, Alvin Thompson.
“When I hit the wall, he’d help me find the door and, when I needed him to, he’d take me by the hand and walk me through it.
“Sometimes I say, ‘I wonder what my life would have been like without (him)?’ and then I’m glad I never have to wonder.”
McCoy has asked that, as his legacy, people donate to the Front Porch Program, a barrier-free initiative that provides support to families to help them through tough patches or prevent a crisis from evolving. It’s the only program that Touchstone offers that receives no provincial funding. As well as raising $10,000 for the program that night, Touchstone has set up a crowdfunding campaign in his honour. Donations to www.FundAid.ca/touchstone will ensure that the light is kept on.
