A Celebration of Athleticism and Community
The Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame’s annual induction ceremony celebrates athletes who made remarkable contributions to Ottawa’s sports culture. This year, hundreds of community members gathered at Landsdowne Park for the festivities.
Among this year’s inductees was the Ottawa Sooners 1974 Little Grey Cup-winning team, marking a pivotal part of Ottawa’s football history. One of their standout players was the late Howie Osterer, Canadian All-Star defensive tackle. Irv Osterer attended the event to honour his brother’s memory.
“It was a difficult night for me, but I am glad I went, as this was quite an achievement for my late brother, who I miss every day,” Irv shared with us.
A Lifelong Commitment to Sports
Howie Osterer’s journey from being a key player on the Sooners to refereeing football in Canada and Israel
highlights his enduring commitment to sports which extended well beyond football. After making Aliyah, he became an integral part of the Israel Baseball Association and represented the country as a Little League baseball official at important European tournaments.
In 2014 he tragically died at Kibbutz Gezer’s baseball diamond, a playing field he so dearly loved. Each year, a memorial softball game is held in his honour in Jerusalem. Reflecting on Howie’s passing, Irv shared:
“He died doing what he wanted to do; he passed away at home plate while umpiring a youth baseball game.”
His efforts earned him widespread respect, and as a token of remembrance, Israel retired his jersey number, 55, in both football and baseball—a rare honour that signifies his remarkable contribution to both sports. The batting cages in Israel are also dedicated to his memory
A Family Tradition of Athletic Excellence
For the Osterer family, sports are not just about personal success but also about giving back to the community. Howie’s father Joe Osterer (1926-2016), was one of the first inductees into Ottawa’s Jewish Sports Hall of Fame for his work in professional hockey as a referee and linesman. Years later, Howie and brother Murray made the Osterers the first intergenerational family represented in the Ottawa Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Like his brother a few years earlier, Murray was a Canadian All-Star and Little Grey Cup winner— and also won a Softball silver medal with Team Canada at the 1988 Maccabi Games.
This tradition of athletic excellence continues with Howie’s nephews, who have represented Canada in international competition in softball and baseball. Daniel, Robbie, Stephen and Jacob Osterer were on the Canadian team that won the softball gold medal at the 2017 Macabbi Games. Robbie pitched in the first Roberto Clemente Classic in San Juan, Puero Rico as a member of the SUNY Canton Roos and Stephen, an NCAA pitcher with Div 1 Cornel is now the director of pitching development for the American League Cleveland Guardian. Howie’s niece Elizabeth competed as an NCAA swimmer at Ohio State University.
A Community That Supports and Inspires
For Howie, the accolades were never the focus. His work with Scouts Canada and Israeli youth baseball reflected
his belief in the power of sports to bring people together.
“He was very active in Ottawa’s Jewish community” Irv noted, emphasizing Howie’s dedication to serving others. He was the recipient of the Friedman award for Community Leadership in 1992 and the Lou Honigman Award for outstanding sportsmanship.
“He was a larger-than-life guy, who believed in sports as a way to make people better”, Irv explained, emphasizing the enduring impact Howie left on everyone he encountered.
As Ottawa gathered to celebrate its sporting heroes, Howie Osterer’s contributions stand out as a reflection of his dedication to both sports and the Jewish community. From the football fields of Canada to the baseball diamonds of Israel, Howie’s influence continues to inspire those who knew him.