Memorable Manitobans: George Gordienko (1928-2002)

Wrestler, artist.

Born at Winnipeg on 7 January 1928, one of three sons of Vera Gordienko (c1895-1982) and Feodor “Fred” Gordienko (1890-1978), brother of Theodore Gordienko, he attended the Isaac Newton High School where he was a prominent member of the football team. He was the Manitoba amateur heavyweight wrestling champion before he turned professional for the next 30 years. He then quit wrestling and became an artist living at Black Creek, British Columbia. He died at Victoria, British Columbia on 13 May 2002. He was featured on an episode of the podcast Grappling With Canada.

Sources:

Obituary [Fred Gordienko], Winnipeg Free Press, 28 January 1978, page 245.

Obituary [Vera Gordienko], Winnipeg Free Press, 22 June 1982, page 41.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 22 May 2002.

“They will never be forgotten,” Winnipeg Free Press, 31 December 2002, pages A8-A9.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Andy Dujlovic for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 3 January 2022

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

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