London – Rose McCoomb, 70, the original chair of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame's museum when it was moved from Toronto to St. Marys, died peacefully at University Hospital in London, Ontario on October 18, 2008. Her husband Carl, now living in Komoka, was the original curator, and the couple commuted from London to St. Marys literally hundreds of times to sort out and set up what the Hall has in place today.

It wasn't easy.

"There were literally truckloads of artifacts that, due to a foreclosure, were moved during the night from Toronto to a bank vault in London, and then, due to lack of space, to the basement of the post office in St. Marys," recalled Judy West, a St. Marys resident who spearheaded the restoration of the century-old farmhouse that the Hall uses as its museum to this day.

"Because of the rush, nothing in the collection was organized or labeled, yet Rose and Carl somehow found the energy to meticulously go through thousands of items and catalogue, index, and cross-reference them. It was a mountainous, unimaginable, and unenviable task, yet they took it upon themselves to complete it with a totally positive spirit. Rose was one of the sweetest and kindest people I have ever known, and she just had an amazing way of bringing the best out of people.

McCoomb, an accomplished vocalist, displayed pride and passion in everything she did.

"Rose was tenacious, in the nicest of ways," said John Harlton, the Ball Hall's former executive director.

"She was always supportive, amiable, conscientious, and boy oh boy, she went about her business with conviction. She had a real knack for diplomatically moving and shaking what was necessary in order to get the job done."

The labour of the McCoombs still bears fruit at the Hall, for as recently as yesterday, a couple from Belleville, Dave and Arlene Davidson, happened to drop by the museum when it was closed but occupied by the current president and CEO of the Hall, Tom Valcke. Valcke invited them in but because of a commitment was only able to spend about a half hour with the guests.

"The Davidsons did what everybody does when they visit the Hall, which is to have all of their expectations exceeded and walk out of the place blown away at Canada's impact on the baseball industry," noted Valcke.

"They raved about the quality and quantity of the displays, and knowing that Rose had just passed away, I had an especially proud feeling knowing that she could witness the joy that her legacy has left behind. She really put her heart and soul into that museum, and anybody that didn't have the good fortune to meet her can still get to know her a little by seeing what she put together here."

"Because of this scenario that repeats itself time and time again, I often wonder if we wouldn't be better off not charging admission, but rather, asking for a 'donation-as-you-exit.' I wonder how Rose would feel about that?"

The McCoombs' two sons, Jim and John, were by Rose's bedside when she passed away. She is also survived by Jim's wife Teresa and a pair of granddaughters who she couldn't stop talking about to anybody who would listen, Stephanie and Breanne.

A memorial service to celebrate Rose's life will be held at the Westview Funeral Chapel, 709 Wonderland Road North, on Saturday, October 25th, 2008 at 3:00pm, with a visitation one hour prior. On-line condolences from those who knew Rose through the Ball Hall can be sent to baseball@baseballhalloffame.ca

ST. MARYS – 21 October 2008