MONTREAL – We are saddened to report that David Norcott, a former teacher and school principal who was a member of McGill University's 1969 Yates Cup championship football team, died on Sept. 5. He was 75.
 
Norcott apparently lost control of his all-terrain vehicle while driving near his Nootka Island home, on the remote, rugged west coast of Vancouver Island.
 
Originally from Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Que., he was born on April 28, 1948 and attended Macdonald High School before enrolling at McGill in 1966. A six-foot, 180-pound linebacker and defensive back, he played three seasons for McGill from 1967 to 1969. In his senior year, McGill posted an 8-2 overall record, capturing the 1969 Yates Cup league championship and the national semifinal Atlantic Bowl, before losing 24-15 at Manitoba in the national final, the school's first team to reach the Vanier Cup game. That squad, a group known as the "Mooney Men", is slated to be inducted to the McGill Sports Hall of Fame on Oct. 19, as part of the University's Homecoming Week 2023 festivities.
 
"Dave was so looking forward to our special honour and he will be missed unbelievably by all the members of our '69 team," said Cliff Moore, captain of that squad. "We are all overwhelmed by his tragic accident. He was well liked by all of his teammates. He was a very smart and effective football player, a wonderful human being, a great friend and an outstanding teammate."
 
Sadly, Norcott is the fifth player from the 1969 team to pass away, preceded by Angus Curry (2014), Stephen Neville (2017), Dr. Ken Aikin (2018) and Bill Holt (2021).
 
Norcott also played intramural sports, served on his class executive and was a Scarlet Key Society honouree, awarded to McGill student leaders who go above and beyond what is expected of them, showing outstanding dedication to their community and their peers. He graduated from the school of education at McGill in 1970, followed by a master's degree at Antioch University in Seattle, Wash.

He served as a teacher and football coach at Lindsay Place High School in Pointe Claire, Que., and John Abbott College in Ste. Anne de Bellevue, where he helped coach the varsity football team to three consecutive Bol d'Or collegiate AAA championships from 1975 to 1977.
 
"He was the defensive coordinator with me for three years at Abbott and we won three titles, the best years that I ever had coaching," said former teammate George Wall, a quarterback on McGill's 1969 team, who was head coach at Abbott in the 1970s and later, part of the coaching staff that guided McGill to it's first Vanier Cup title in 1987. "He was the best, a very hard-nosed football player, a terrific coach and a great guy."
 
Norcott had a long teaching and administrative career in Quebec, British Columbia, China, and Singapore. He was a high school principal in both British Columbia and at Singapore American School.

He is survived by his wife Jenny; brothers Mike and Gary; three adult children Kim, Erik and Tanys; and four grandchildren Cohen, Halle, Nova and Aston.
 
A celebration of life is scheduled to be held at Ladner Fisherman's Hall, Delta, B.C. on Sept. 24,
 
Condolences can be submitted online.
 
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
MOBILE SITE: http://mcgillathletics.ca/mobile/index.aspx
WEBSITE: www.mcgillathletics.ca
E-MAIL: earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca