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Walter Gretzky: On Family, Hockey and Healing
The inspiring story of an ordinary man who, from humble beginnings and against the odds of a devastating illness, has led—is leading—an extraordinary life.
To many people, Walter Gretzky is the ultimate dad, the father of the Great One, Wayne Gretzky, and the first inspired coach to a talented young boy. Walter’s major insight into hockey—that a player should “go where the puck is going”—guided Wayne’s brilliant style, and Wayne himself has said about his “It’s God-given. It’s Wally-given.” It’s safe to say that no other famous hockey player’s father is held in such high esteem, and that Walter Gretzky has carved out this singular niche in his own right.
Now, for the first time, Walter tells at length the story of his life, about growing up on a small family farm, about meeting and marrying Phyllis, about raising four boys and a girl in a modest home in Brantford on the salary of a telephone repairman, about hanging onto his modesty and values when the comet of talent and celebrity hit.
Walter also talks about the process of recovering from a stroke that came close to killing him ten years ago. Through his own grit and determination, and with the help of dedicated therapists and doctors, his family and friends, Walter battled back from an aneurysm that left him with many cognitive difficulties and destroyed a decade of memories—including his recollection of the death of his mother and almost all of Wayne’s NHL triumphs of the eighties.
As many of the people who have encountered Walter even briefly will testify, he is very charismatic, and it’s his extraordinary compassion, which has flourished since his stroke, that makes him so compelling. Yes, he struggles with some limitations, but he has also discovered a calling in helping others. All of his many public speaking engagements are for charity, and this book would not exist were it not for Walter’s role as the official spokesperson for Canada’s Heart and Stroke Foundation. The only way he would ever agree to talk about himself at such length was in the hope that his experience with stroke would be useful to other people. “Every second of every day is important to me,” he writes, “and I only hope that if telling my story can help even one person, then all of this will be worth it. And remember, there is life after stroke…look at me!”
To many people, Walter Gretzky is the ultimate dad, the father of the Great One, Wayne Gretzky, and the first inspired coach to a talented young boy. Walter’s major insight into hockey—that a player should “go where the puck is going”—guided Wayne’s brilliant style, and Wayne himself has said about his “It’s God-given. It’s Wally-given.” It’s safe to say that no other famous hockey player’s father is held in such high esteem, and that Walter Gretzky has carved out this singular niche in his own right.
Now, for the first time, Walter tells at length the story of his life, about growing up on a small family farm, about meeting and marrying Phyllis, about raising four boys and a girl in a modest home in Brantford on the salary of a telephone repairman, about hanging onto his modesty and values when the comet of talent and celebrity hit.
Walter also talks about the process of recovering from a stroke that came close to killing him ten years ago. Through his own grit and determination, and with the help of dedicated therapists and doctors, his family and friends, Walter battled back from an aneurysm that left him with many cognitive difficulties and destroyed a decade of memories—including his recollection of the death of his mother and almost all of Wayne’s NHL triumphs of the eighties.
As many of the people who have encountered Walter even briefly will testify, he is very charismatic, and it’s his extraordinary compassion, which has flourished since his stroke, that makes him so compelling. Yes, he struggles with some limitations, but he has also discovered a calling in helping others. All of his many public speaking engagements are for charity, and this book would not exist were it not for Walter’s role as the official spokesperson for Canada’s Heart and Stroke Foundation. The only way he would ever agree to talk about himself at such length was in the hope that his experience with stroke would be useful to other people. “Every second of every day is important to me,” he writes, “and I only hope that if telling my story can help even one person, then all of this will be worth it. And remember, there is life after stroke…look at me!”
256 pages, Hardcover
Published October 23, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 11, 2014
Awesome book. Admiration for the family continues to grow. And they still bring tears to me.
February 10, 2026
Walter provides an authentic testimony of life before and after a stroke that nearly killed him in the early 90s. The father of arguably the greatest hockey player to have ever played in Wayne Gretzky, Walter discusses his upbringing in rural southern Ontario, Canada, in Canning, his marriage to Phyllis, and raising of his family in nearby Brantford where he spent the rest of his life. His opinions on the etiquette of hockey and raising a family, both intertwined, are prevalent, and he tells touching stories of both celebrities and fans within his travels that wanted to get to know the father of the Great One, some who would say is more popular within his hometown than his own son! The most touching stories are the ones that happened within his own street in Brantford, and that is what secured a five-star rating.
Walter explains how his stroke changed him in regard to his personality, but his outlook in life remained fairly constant. He provides tips on heart and stroke awareness to conclude the book as this is a book sponsored by the Heart and Stoke Foundation. Interspersed within the read are quotes from friends and family, like Wayne Gretzky, all supporting Walter the man, father, and advocate for health and contentment.
Walter explains how his stroke changed him in regard to his personality, but his outlook in life remained fairly constant. He provides tips on heart and stroke awareness to conclude the book as this is a book sponsored by the Heart and Stoke Foundation. Interspersed within the read are quotes from friends and family, like Wayne Gretzky, all supporting Walter the man, father, and advocate for health and contentment.
July 23, 2017
Ik ben al meer dan 30 jaar een grote fan van Gretzky. Ik heb twee boekenplanken vol boeken over Wayne, maar nu de vakantie begonnen is, is het dit boek over en van Walter dat ik voor de tigste keer herlees. In 2010 heb ik hem ontmoet, een voorbeeld voor ons allemaal. Als je wilt weten wat het betekent om de vader te zijn van een topsporter of hoe het is om uit het diepste dal weer op te krabbelen, koop dit boek. En als je een Gretzky fan bent, dan staat het al in je kast en doe dan net als ik: haal het eruit en herlees het. Een glimlach is gegarandeerd.
August 3, 2023
I loved this cozy Canadian read. Every Canadian loves the Gretzky family, whether they admit it or not. And these beloved family stories remind me of my childhood and stories my dad would share from his childhood. Good, clean, classic Canadiana.
October 3, 2018
Just a delight!
March 12, 2017
great book awesome read about Wayne Gretzksy father and how he over came a stroke in his life.
August 13, 2017
It was like listening to Walter Gretzky actually just speaking in front of you. The book goes on tangents, just like you would expect someone who is telling the story of their life thus far. Incredibly sad, especially thinking about how he has no memory of Wayne's achievements in hockey, but also how he doesn't remember the entire childhood of his youngest son! I liked reading the little interjections of Walter's friends and family as they told things from their perspective.
December 17, 2012
A good addition to any hockey fan's library. It's written in a very conversational style and so is a quick read. Some great hockey anecdotes, touching stories, an good info about strokes and recovery. Well worth the 50 cents I paid for it at a used book sale!
August 11, 2015
Slow to get into, but picked up. It was alright. I had already read Wayne's book and the two share a lot of the same stories. I did like that he seemed sincere in that he just wants his kids to have fun with their sports.
Read
January 3, 2016Written by Wayne's Dad. What I liked was that a good chunk of the book was about the other four kids in the family. They seem pretty normal, a sports family for sure, but, almost like any other lower middle class family of the era.
March 22, 2010
I had an aneurysm about a year ago so his book really spoke to me. I don't know that it would be a great read for most people but he is very forthright and open in telling his story.
Want to Read
March 25, 2023///DNF: Library borrowed expired at ~20%
I’m liking this so far, but the narration can be a little dull at times so I’m putting it down for now.
I’m liking this so far, but the narration can be a little dull at times so I’m putting it down for now.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews