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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2011-07-20, Page 5(Wirth SSI tt=Star • Wednesday, July 20,`201 ormer Godrich resident killed in Nicaragua Colin Allin shot in outdoor cafe while watching NHL hockey Sykes tct Signal -Star I could easily forgive Ron ail Allin for indulging in a measure of bitterness, fluent or even self pity. eir youngest of two sons, 40, was gunned down_ in tdoor cafe in Managua, Mc - a, June 13 as he watched the Ramp of the Stanley Cup !Ifs between the Vancouver cis and Boston Bruins. The n murderers made off with rnputer on a motorcycle. spite six operations to repair ge to vital organs, he passed y in a Managua hospital e a seventh was possible. Allin passed away in the morning hours °f luly 3 with arents, Ron and Gail and er, Kelly, at his bedside. tle the potential for the cou feel anger, resentrn.entand s great, their capacity for rstanding, compassion and eness is even greater.. ey have every right to be at the world. spite the senseless and circumstances and the ran acct of violence that claimed ite their son, the daring =man with the carefree and trusting spirit, the Allins bear no animosity towards the people of Nicaragua or the murderers responsible for their son's death. "We were overwhelmed by the love and affection the people there gave us and they said 'you have to be wonderful people if you are Colin's parents' Ron said. "I have no bitterness and I think that is because of my faith," Gail said. "He lived life and he enjoyed it and he lived a lot in his 40 years" Ron agreed, adding that Colin's death is being handled with a sense of resignation and accept- ance through a strong faith. Growing up. in Goderich, where dad was the manager of the Bank of Montreal, Colin had visions of becoming a rock star and Gail fondly recalls the daily challenge to wake him up and get him off to school. "He said there were no rock stars with Grade 12 education: she remembered with a bit of a laugh. Poring through family albums and a childhood Journal, the cre- ative mind of the potential rock star was much in evidence, with each daily entry illustrated with detailed drawings, highlighting a creative flair that belied his eight years of age. Gail would read through some of the entries that chronicled family life and outings to cubs with friend Jeff. Precious memories that form part of the carefully and lovingly.crafted scrapbooks detailing the adven- turous life of son Colin. But that dreaded call about the well being of a family mem- ber, dreaded by every parent, actually came from their son. Kelly, in Moscow, a day after the shooting. With their computer disabled for repairs the Allins were contact -ed Tuesday, June 14 by their son Kelly, working in Moscow with Deloitte Touche, who had been frantically con- tacted by Colin's Managuan landlady, Maria. She had been at the outdoor cafe with Colin that fateful evening. The Allins, who had sent their passports for processing just a week before, received immediate passport assistance from MP Ben Lobb's office and were in Nicara- gua by Friday evening. "He was awake when we arrived there," Ron said. "He said 'I want to go home with you dad." His condition would wander in and out of stability and' he was moved from the public hospital, which provided basic care, to a hospital that could provide spe- cialized treatment, a move arranged by son Kelly and his company, Deloitte Touche. The damage to organs was too severe, however, and Col n passed away July 3 with hi mily at his bedside. "He had two operations by the time we got there and they had removed his kidney. One bullet had damaged the liver and injured organs. He was shot through the chest so the lungs "It has been said that some th ing as small as the flutter of a butterfly's wing con ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world." � OtIItuhtIlitV �a�flil(�1'ii,ltil llr.', for the Allin Family of Goderich to help defray the medical rst s incurred with the tragic death of their son Colin, NK::CNc7UuCl. Sattrdav, July :30th 4:00 pni H:(10 }gym Knights of Columbus Hall 390 Parsons Court, Goderich 4' Join us for a barbecue meal, live entertainment and a silent auction. Among the many items for the silent auction is a slynod lobby. Ow hockoy*soy and a tuN week of Hockey School. Donations will be graciously accepted, Newspaper accounts of the Allin murder garnered the attention of local media and pressed local authorities to follow up on the case. Ron and Gail AIIin of Goderich spent about three weeks in Managua at the bedside of their son. Their other son Kelly, of Moscow, joined them. were damaged, an intestine was damaged and his condition was septic. There was no way to control the infec- tion," they said. • A group of friends and business clients shared a memorial service with the CONTINUED > PAGE 5 Fundraiser plannsdtoasslst to ANIn fainily Son shot and killed in Ar Nicaragua Ron and Gail Allin of Goderich spent three weeks at the bedside. of their son, Colin, who underwent six operations in a Managua, Nicaragua hospital after being shot while he watched a Stanley Cup playoff hockey game at an out- door cafe. Despite medical efforts, Colin passed away on July 3, with his parents and brother, Kelly at his side. The fam- ily held a funeral in Managua attended by many of Colin's friends and busi- ness associates. The Allins got to know and love the people in Colin's life there. They returned to Goderich with Colin's ashes and a funeral mass was held at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church on Friday, July 8. Colin did not have medical insur- ance coverage and the family realized thousands of dollars in hospital and surgical bills while. their son under- went treatment and six operations. In a gesture to help the Allins with the medical costs, a community fund- raising barbecue is planned for Satur- day, July 30 at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Parsons Court from 4 to 8 p.m. Guests will be provided with a bar- becue meal, live entertainment and a silent auction that already includes a signed Bobby Orr jersey and a full week of hockey school. Donations will be accepted and eve- ryone is invited to attend the fundraiser.