By Laureen McMahon
BC Catholic

VANCOUVER -- Gianfranco Giammaria was a man who loved his family, his church, teaching school, and playing sports, especially hockey.

When he died of sudden cardiac arrest brought on by a heart arrhythmia during a hockey match in December 2006, his family and friends were devastated. The St. Helen's Elementary vice-principal was only 35 and appeared to be, in the words of his wife, "the picture of health."

"He never took a sick day, which is why his passing was such a shock to us and to his colleagues," said Denise Giammaria. "If there is one thing we have taken from Gianfranco's sudden and untimely passing, it is that we would never want others to have a similar experience."

On February 22, a who's who of well known local sports figures laced up their skates for the second annual Gianfranco Giammaria Memorial Society Celebrity Hockey Game at the PNE Agrodome. It was organized by Denise and family friend and former Vancouver Canucks star Cliff Ronning.

The object of the benefit game, said Denise, is to support an ongoing effort to raise money to purchase Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for as many recreational locations as possible, so others struck with life-threatening erratic heart rhythms like her husband might be saved.

"Gianfranco might have lived had an AED been used by a trained administrator," said Denise. "While I can't bring my children's father or my husband back, we can all do a great deal to help others survive sudden cardiac arrest by making sure that AEDs are placed in high-traffic areas of as many locations as possible."

Among all-star players showing up for the hockey benefit to challenge Gianfranco Giammaria's former team, the North Burnaby Eagles, were former NHLers Al Iafrate, Russ Courtnall, Gino Odjick, Marc Crawford, Richard Brodeur, Dave Babych, Kirk McLean, Gary Nylund, Gary Valk and Ernie "Punch" McLean.

Also skating for the cause were Vancouver Whitecaps players Jeff Clarke, Steve Kindel and Alfredo Valente, as well as actor Jackson Davies and Mike Reno of Loverboy.

Prizes won by fans in the 2,000 plus crowd included a one-hour skate with Ronning and former Canucks captain Trevor Linden at Eight Rinks in Burnaby.

Last October a Burnaby man survived because of the quick use of an AED which had been installed just three months earlier at the C.G. Brown Memorial Pool. It was one of eight community recreational centres in the city to receive a defibrillator from the Giammaria Memorial Society, using funds raised at last year's benefit hockey game.

Dave Ellenwood, Burnaby's director of parks, recreation and culture, said at the time that playing community sports has become much safer, thanks to Gianfranco Giammaria's legacy.

"It's such a heartwarming development coming out of such a tragic situation for that family," Ellenwood noted.

Denise Giammaria said this year's goal was to raise enough money for 25 defibrillators and training for more recreational facilities, including the Burnaby Winter Club.

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Chris Metcalfe, the founder of Mediquest Technologies, said portable electronic AEDs automatically detect the potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia and can instantly administer a controlled shock to stop an arrhythmia and allow the heart to return to its normal rhythm.

His North Vancouver company places defibrillators in homes, businesses, and everywhere else that people gather, including schools and churches.

"An AED unit is one of the most effective life-saving technologies available, because when a defibrillator is used early, the chances of survival climb from less than five to over 60 per cent," he said. "Sudden cardiac arrest takes more lives than breast or lung cancer and automobile accidents combined. In North America, over 650,000 people die each year because of sudden cardiac arrest, and early defibrillation is the only definitive method of treatment."

The average response time of an ambulance in Canadian cities, he added, is eight to 12 minutes, making an AED a critical item for all facilities. They are designed to be simple to use and easily learned in first aid and CPR classes. They also help prevent the permanent brain damage which can occur four to six minutes after a stricken person stops breathing.

Four years ago Metcalfe delivered a defibrillator to St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Secondary and trained students and teachers in its use after a student at nearby Argyle High School died suddenly from cardiac arrest during a gym class. The units cost under $2,000.

The STA unit was donated jointly by the Knights' St. Edmund's Council 13252, the fourth degree St. Eugene De Mazenod assembly 2458, and Lions Gate Council 7095, said Metcalfe, who belongs to the Knights.

At the time of his death, Gianfranco Giammaria had been vice-principal at St. Helen's elementary for a number of years, and was an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion in the parish.

He was still in high school when he first began volunteering to teach catechism, said his wife, and "it helped him realize that teaching was going to be his true calling."

He became a teacher and worked at a number of schools before becoming vice principal at St. Helen's. As well as hockey, he played soccer and basketball with friends, helped out with his son's hockey and soccer teams, and spent as much time as possible with his family outdoors.

After Giammaria's sudden passing and while still in the early days of mourning, Denise enlisted the support of her children Dante, Mauro, and Alessia (now 11, 10, and 7), her husband's parents and Ronning to approach the PNE about the possibility of holding a benefit hockey match.

"I had begun to realize how respected and loved my husband was by everyone. The PNE was wonderful to work with, and they have been very supportive of the work we are doing. So many people came forward to help, and now we are expecting the benefit to take place every year. More sponsors were on board this year than last, and we are very optimistic that we are going to reach our goal when all the money has come in," said Denise.

"We are also grateful for the wonderful support of organizations devoted to educating the public on Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome," she said. "Thanks to the help and support of so many, Gianfranco's legacy lives on. I know that he would be so proud of the good work being done in his name. From the bottom of our hearts, I want to thank everyone who has been involved."

The mission of the Canadian Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes Foundation is "to save the lives and support the families of children and young adults who are genetically predisposed to sudden death due to heart rhythm disorders."

April 2/2009