The staff at bars and pubs can be a tight-knit group. It’s a busy and demanding atmosphere where people work side-by-side on long shifts. Right now, Sports Rock manager Jamie Jenereaux is off work for a serious health issue, and his absence is already being felt on the floor. “Jamie is going through double bypass [heart] surgery,” said Sports Rock owner Frank LeBlanc. “It just kind of happened over the last few months and here we are dealing with all of this. The staff are a little rattled, as is he, as is his family. We’re just here to help him recover, get through this and get through this surgery.” Jenereaux, 51, has worked at Sports Rock for 15 years. He is loved by his team. “He gets stuff done. You hear him before you see him. He keeps this place engaged. I don’t have enough good things to say about Jamie,” said LeBlanc. Amy Gallant has worked at the Sports Rock for 17 years and called Jenereaux a larger-than-life character who shows up to work before anyone else does and cares for his colleagues and customers. “We have to run to keep up with him. He’s really friendly to everybody. He’ll yell orders across the bar. He’s just hilarious to be with,” said Gallant. Paula Keating has been working with Jenereaux for 13 years. “He’s pretty funny. He’s always entertaining us. All of the customers love him. He’s really kind to us,” said Keating. “It’s a pretty serious operation. It’s hard to keep Jamie down. The operation alone we’re so worried about. The recovery, I don’t know how he’s going to sit still.” Gallant said she was with Jenereaux when he got the call letting him know he needed surgery. “I had to leave the office because he got so emotional and it was really scary for all of us,” said Gallant. The operation is scheduled for Thursday morning and his recovery will last months. LeBlanc, who has made countless promotional videos for social media with Jenereaux, drove him to the hospital in Saint John Wednesday morning. He was joking around and being “classic Jamie” on the drive there, LeBlanc said, until they got closer to their destination and things got a bit more serious. “It’s a scary ordeal, but he’s determined to be back here as soon as possible,” said LeBlanc. There will be a fundraiser for Jenereaux in the near future to help him financially while he’s away from the bar. “Not only that, we are also going to make sure Jamie is covered up until he gets back to work,” said LeBlanc. “He’s an important part of my family personally, the Sports Rock family. We’re going to make sure financially he’s coming through this unscathed.” For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
