About Walter Gretzky
Walter Gretzky (October 8, 1938 – March 4, 2021) was a Canadian philanthropist who was the father of Canadian ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky. An avid hockey player as a youth, and a keen analyst of the game, he built a backyard rink for his children, and coached Wayne continually from the age of three, devising creative exercises and drills, and teaching him profound insights into how to play successfully. Wayne credited his father as playing a key role in his success, citing advice such as "skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been". Gretzky contributed to minor hockey in Canada, and helped many local, provincial and national charities, for which he was honoured. At the first tournament, Walter had enough money raised to award three scholarships, which increased to 15 scholarships a year. He was awarded the "Brantford Citizen of the Year award" in 1996. Tony and Mary owned a 25-acre (10 ha) cucumber farm in Canning, Ontario, where Walter Gretzky was born and raised.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.