Burlington has a long and notable sports history that includes many outstanding athletes, coaches, officials, media, and volunteers. The Burlington Sports Hall of Fame (BSHOF) is dedicated to identifying and honouring these individuals who have created this rich tradition. This year, BSHOF is celebrating its 15th year and is proud to be inducting four new honourees at their 2023 ceremony on Tuesday, May 30 at the Burlington Golf and Country Club.
Our next honouree being inducted into the Athlete category is Dr. Marnix Heersink. Marnix Heersink was not only an outstanding athlete but is also a community builder, through his philanthropic endeavours in Canada and the U.S., where he now resides. Dr. Heersink is an individual who Burlington is proud to call one of its own.
Marnix’s youth was spent playing every sport possible. He competed in hockey, softball, soccer, tennis, and football in minor leagues in Burlington. He also played basketball in the 1965 CANUSA games. When asked about the benefits of playing so many sports, Marnix explained that he gained movement skills from each sport, which helped him in all athletics and he also had the confidence to try anything, and indeed, he excelled at most. Marnix commented that he enjoyed team sports because he loved the camaraderie, learning how to understand team dynamics, and learning how to work with people.
Marnix excelled academically and athletically while attending Burlington Central High School and was a key member of the basketball, football, and track teams. In 1964, Marnix was named team captain of the Central Junior Zone 1 basketball champions and MVP of the prestigious 8 Ball tournament.
As part of the graduation ceremony in 1965, Marnix was awarded the M.M. Robinson Medal for his athletic and academic achievements.
After graduating, Marnix followed his older brother, Ben, to the University of Western Ontario (now Western University). While at Western, he played one year of intercollegiate soccer, but his heart was on the basketball court and this is where he achieved fame and accolades. Marnix played varsity basketball from 1966 to 1972 and was a three-time team MVP for the Mustangs. Marnix led the Western Mustangs to the 1968 O-QUAA championship, winning the E.C. Lebel plaque as playoff MVP; he was named a league all-star in 1967, 1968, and 1972; and awarded first-team All-Canadian in 1972.
Marnix was honoured in 2010 at Western University, where he was inducted into the Mustangs Backcourt Club Hall of Honour and in 2011, he was inducted into the John P. Metras Sports Museum, including the “W” Hall of Fame.
An impressive athletic resume! However, it is what Marnix has achieved off the court that truly amazes and inspires.
Marnix completed his bachelor’s degree as well as his medical training at Western, graduating magna cum laude. He then completed an internship at Montreal’s Royal Victoria Hospital and residency in ophthalmology at the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia.
Marnix and his wife Mary Parks Heersink moved to Dothan, Alabama, where he is the founding partner of Eye Center South. He specialized in cataract surgery complemented with lens implantation and laser vision correction. Dr. Heersink has professional affiliations throughout Alabama and the southern U.S. Marnix and Mary have dedicated their lives to raising their family, and supporting numerous health-related initiatives, providing opportunities and incentives for their community and beyond.
Marnix has shown financial and leadership support, serving on many boards and institutions in Alabama, including, among many others, the Boy Scouts of America, Troy University, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
The Heersink Family Foundation has endowed scholarships and fellowships, including a cornea fellowship at Wills Eye Hospital, a glaucoma fellowship and optometry scholarships at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He also founded the Eye Education Foundation, a non-profit educational institute for eyecare professionals.
Through his philanthropic efforts, Marnix contributes to many health science-related endeavours. In the last two years, Dr. Heersink generously contributed to two universities, one in his adopted home at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, which named its medical school the Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, and locally at McMaster University, where the newly-minted Marnix E. Heersink School of Biomedical Innovation and Entrepreneurship will open in the fall of 2023.
The Heersink Family Foundation is active internationally, where it supports many cultural endeavours from museums to music, promoting student exchange between the Netherlands and the U.S. through scholarships. For these efforts, they were presented with the Netherland-America Foundation Ambassador’s Award in Washington in 2022.
Never forgetting his roots in sports, Marnix has coached multiple youth teams and was the middle school basketball coach for Houston Academy.
Marnix and Mary have been married for 45 years, and have six adult children — one dentist and five doctors. All of their children have in turn learned the value of volunteerism and philanthropy.
The Burlington Sports Hall of Fame is very proud to induct Dr. Marnix Heersink into the Athlete category.
The induction reception will be held on May 30 at the Burlington Golf & Country Club. The emcee for the evening will be Steve Foxcroft. Tickets are $60, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. There will be a cocktail social from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with the official induction ceremony starting at 7:00 p.m. There will be a cash bar and hors d ’oeuvres served throughout the evening. For tickets, contact Wayne Heslop at Wayne.Heslop@cogeco.ca or at 905-520-8922.
