BC Rugby is deeply saddened to learn of Gary Fumano’s passing. He was 84.

Gary was a lifetime Meraloma Club Member, where he started playing Rugby as a teenager, and would became a major figure at the Club over the next 70 years. Over the decades, “Gus” represented the Lomas at junior, senior and Old Boys levels, coached and managed many teams, and organised international tours and countless Club events. It was also at the Meraloma Club that he met his wife, Teresa Gilraine,. Together, they had two children in Maria and Dan, who also went on to represent the Lomas.

Gary’s Rugby career began at Kitsilano High School, where he also played football. After graduation, he left for Western Washington State College on a football scholarship where he spent four years excelling as a defensive lineman and setting Western Washington’s single-game record of 32 tackles (which still stands today). He was also part of the group that formed Western Washington’s first Rugby team, a program that still runs strong 60 years later.

On his return to BC, Gary became a four-time Rounsefell Cup winner with the Meraloma Rugby Club and represented British Columbia from 1966-1969 against some of the world’s best teams. A fierce opponent and talented team-mate, Gary featured on the BC side that defeated the British & Irish Lions touring team in 1966. In 1977, Gary was awarded the Vancouver Rugby Union Howie McPhee Trophy to the First Division Player displaying outstanding sportsmanship.

Gary served as a Rugby administrator for over 30 years, and managed several successful BC Representative teams throughout the 1970s.

He was a Past-President of the Meraloma Rugby Club, and was awarded the Club’s highest honour, the R.D. Hayes Award, in 1974.

Gary was recently voted to be inducted into the BC Rugby Hall of Fame Class of 2024 for his notable accomplishments in Rugby as a player and administrator at Club, Provincial and National levels.

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