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VALADAO o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-07-08 published
MENESES, Francisco Inacio (April 1, 1918-July 7, 2005)
Of Russett Avenue. Visitation 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Ryan and Odette Funeral Home, 1498 Dundas. St. W., at Dufferin, Toronto. Mass 9 a.m. Monday at St. Sebastian's Church to Prospect Cemetery. Mr. MENESES, who died at Toronto Western Hospital, was predeceased by wife Maria, and is survived by: children Francisco A. MENESES (Maria), Lidina AVILA (Joseph), Maria DIAS (Manuel), Marilia ORMONDE (Lourenco,) Filomena VALADAO (Alexandre,) Pedro MENESES (Odilia;) 17 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren. Parking is no problem - simply enter from Dufferin, just north of Dundas.

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VALANT o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-10-31 published
VALANT, John Mark

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VALAO o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-02-11 published
KNOWLTON, Betty Wanda Ogletree
Passed away peacefully, at home in Carnarvon, on Wednesday, February 9, 2005. Beloved wife of the late Thomas Joseph KNOWLTON. Dear mother of Glen and Linda OGLETREE, Marlene and Claudio MESTRONI, Marie and David JAMES, Edward and Lydia KNOWLTON, and predeceased by Jim. Mother-in-law of Joanne VALAO. Loving grandmother of Laura (Matthew), Anthony, Marissa, Eddie, Kim, Kyle, and great-grandmother of Nicholas and Jonanthan. Dear sister of Mary, Gloria, Agnes, Vivian, Shirley-Anne, Ethel, Laura, and predeceased by Doris, Donna, Kathleen, and Bill. Fondly remembered by the KNOWLTON family, and her many nieces and nephews. Friends and family are invited to a Graveside Service at the Holy Cross Cemetery, 8361 Yonge Street, Thornhill, on Saturday, February 19, 2005 at 1: 30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or to the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated by the family and can be arranged through the Gordon A. Monk Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Minden, K0M 2K0 (1-888-588-5777).

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VALASQUEZ o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-02-14 published
Shot man died shielding brothers
By Emily MATHIEU and Nicolaas VAN RIJN, Staff Reporters
A 22-year-old man shot dead in an Etobicoke apartment Saturday afternoon was killed defending his two young brothers, his grief-stricken mother said yesterday.
Toronto police say Orlando GRUNDY was killed after "a number of persons" entered his 13th-floor apartment at 2777 Kipling Ave. and began shooting at about 5 p.m. Saturday.
Residents in neighbouring apartments talked of hearing shotgun blasts coming from apartment 1308 where GRUNDY, of Jane Street, had gathered with his brothers and several other people.
GRUNDY's mother Sydney is in no doubt about her son's bravery.
"He dove in front of his brothers," she said yesterday as the family gathered to discuss what little they knew about Saturday's events. "He took the bullet for the other two."
The two younger boys, both injured in the gunfire, "were holding their brother in their arms" when police arrived on the chaotic scene, she said.
"His brother was laying in their arms, and they handcuffed them."
Two other men were injured in the attack, which GRUNDY's family said occurred when "people came in and started shooting at everything." They were taken to Sunnybrook hospital, where one victim remains in critical condition with a gunshot wound to his face, while the other is out of intensive care and expected to make a full recovery.
GRUNDY's mother said she was beginning to hear details from her two younger boys, who were later released from custody and gathered with family members yesterday.
"We all loved him," she said softly as she reflected on her dead son, whom she called a "soldier of love.
"He's my oldest son."
The gunmen fled the building and, despite a massive search by police and members of the Emergency Task Force, managed to elude capture.
Toronto police yesterday appealed for the public's assistance in tracking down the shooters responsible for Toronto's seventh homicide this year, but investigators have so far not released a description of the wanted men.
The GRUNDY family's grief capped a violent weekend in Toronto, one that also saw Szilvia VERES, 35, of Toronto killed in a Friday night shooting and 50-year-old Donald Andrew LATREMOUILLE die of unknown causes during an argument with roommate Christopher Gordon PHILLIPS at their Davenport Rd. residence Friday. PHILLIPS, 27, has been charged with manslaughter.
Saturday's violence included an early-morning shooting at the Flamingo Bar on College St. that left a man and a woman slightly injured.
A suspect in the Flamingo bar shooting turned himself in late Saturday.
Edwin VALASQUEZ, 20, turned himself in to 14 Division police around 9 p.m. Saturday; he faces numerous charges including attempted murder while using a firearm and two counts of aggravated assault. Faruth PORTOBANCO, 25, of Toronto was arrested earlier in the Flamingo incident.
Two off-duty paramedics, in the club when gunfire broke out at 2: 30 a.m. Saturday are being recommended for civilian citations after they tackled the gunman and disarmed him.
Gunfire continued to echo on Toronto streets just after noon yesterday, sending shoppers ducking for cover in the parking lot outside several stores in the Albion Rd. and Islington Ave. area of Rexdale.
Police said a man was sitting in his car in a plaza parking lot at 950 Albion Rd. when three suspects approached and "almost immediately opened fire with three guns."
Although a number of bullets hit his car, shattering the windows, the intended victim was able to flee without injury, Detective Debbie HARRIS said in a statement.
Police converged on the area and, with the assistance of heavily armed Emergency Task Force officers, arrested three suspects and recovered two handguns and a quantity of drugs.
Ali Nassir SHOWBEG, 23, faces charges including attempted murder and possession of cocaine for trafficking.
The other two suspects, Sean Conrad GRANT, 21, and Vanessa Charlene BAILEY, 19, are charged with possession of a restricted firearm and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
And police are continuing their search for the suspect in Friday's fatal shooting of VERES, who died instantly after a man opened fire as she and her husband, 46-year-old Kemenczy MIKLOS of Toronto, were in a parking lot at 15 Brookbanks Dr., in the York Mills Rd. and Don Valley Parkway area.
A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for John KOVACS, 52, of Etobicoke, who was last seen fleeing in a 1999 silver Honda with Ontario plates 149 WRX. KOVACS faces charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder.
With files from Jordan HEATH- RAWLINGS, Priya RAMANUJAM and Jim WILKES

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VALCHEFF o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-07-21 published
VALCHEFF, Henry E.
At West Oak Village Long Term Care Centre, Oakville on Wednesday, July 20, 2005, Henry VALCHEFF of Burlington, in his 80th year. Beloved husband of the late Catherine Blossom VALCHEFF (April 1993.) Loving father of Patricia MIZZI (Joseph) of Orillia, Gary VALCHEFF (Brenda CONTOIS) of Brantford, Gail CAMPBELL (Lawrence) of Hamilton, Gerald VALCHEFF of Burlington, Henry M. VALCHEFF (Susan TAN) of Burlington and Colleen VALCHEFF (David MORGAN) of Toronto. Henry's gentleness, knowledge and wit will be missed by his grandchildren, Coriann MIZZI, Ian MIZZI (Amanda,) Matthew VALCHEFF, Tyler VALCHEFF, Carly VALCHEFF and Kathleen MORGAN. Dear brother of John of Markham and Arthur (Pauline) of Port McNicoll and predeceased by his sister, Shirley SANGSTER. Born and raised in Port McNicoll, Ontario, Henry was a certified Great Lakes Captain and Pilot, and a longtime employee of the C.P.R., and Ontario Hydro, Niagara Region. He moved his family to Burlington in 1971 to take a position with Ontario Hydro, was a longtime member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 60, Burlington, and served with the Merchant Marine. Visitation at Smith's Funeral Home, 1167 Guelph Line (one stoplight north of Queen Elizabeth Way), Burlington (905-632-3333) on Thursday 7-9 p.m., Friday 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. with Vigil Prayers, Friday at 7: 30 p.m. Funeral Mass will be Celebrated at St. Raphael's Roman Catholic Church, 4072 New Street, Burlington on Saturday, July 23, 2005 at 10: 30 a.m. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Burlington. If desired, expressions of sympathy to the Alzheimer Society would be sincerely appreciated by the family. www.smithsfh.com

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VALCHEFF o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-08-04 published
DIACK, " Anne" Beatrice Annabelle (1915-2005)
On Tuesday, August 2, 2005 at Father Lacombe Care Centre, Calgary, Anne passed away peacefully. She will be lovingly remembered by her daughter Nancy ROSE (Murray) of Calgary, son-in-law Rae McINTOSH (Unionville, Ontario;) grandchildren Michael ROSE (Andrea) of Taber, Alberta, Niki REMESZ (Steven) of Kamloops, British Columbia, Allyson VALCHEFF (Joe) and Daniel McINTOSH of Markham great-grandchildren Joshua and Jacob ROSE, Mason REMESZ and Jacob and Benjamin VALCHEFF. She was predeceased by her husband Leslie DIACK 1985, and her daughter Peggie McINTOSH 2003. The family wishes to thank the staff of Father Lacombe Care Centre for their thoughtfulness and exemplary care of Anne. Memorial service will be held at Lakeview United Church, 3023 63rd Ave. S.W. on Friday, August 5 at 1 p.m. Reverend Gerry Scharff presiding. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Father Lacombe Care Centre, 332 146 Ave. S.E., Calgary, Alberta T2X 2A3.

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VALCKE o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2005-02-14 published
London's 'father of baseball' dies
Peter WIDDRINGTON, whose career spanned sports and business major leagues, was 74.
By Hank DANISZEWSKI, Free Press Business Reporter
Peter WIDDRINGTON combined his passion for business and sports and became a giant in both fields. WIDDRINGTON, the former president and chief executive of John Labatt Ltd. and chairperson of the Toronto Blue Jays during its World Series championships, died Friday night at 74.
The London man was in the middle of his annual ski trip to Aspen, Colorado., a ritual for the past 25 years, when he had a heart attack while getting into a cab and died.
Family and Friends recalled his strength and energy.
"The entire Blue Jays family is saddened by the loss of Peter WIDDRINGTON, who was truly one of the fathers of baseball in Canada," said Blue Jays president Paul GODFREY.
David SCATCHERD, owner of the Oakwood Inn in Grand Bend, and a lifelong friend, called WIDDRINGTON a "doer" with a competitive streak.
"When he took something on, he got it finished," SCATCHERD said yesterday.
WIDDRINGTON's younger brother, Michael, said he had lost his best friend.
"I don't care what his birth certificate said, he acted like he was 45," Michael WIDDRINGTON said.
All agree Toronto-born Peter WIDDRINGTON was a "character" in the best sense of the word, who always stuck out in a crowd.
"He was larger than life. He was one of the most irreverent, outrageous guys you could ever meet," said Janet STEWARD/STEWART/STUART, a family friend and managing partner at Lerners law firm.
Armed with an M.B.A. from Harvard, WIDDRINGTON started his business career as a beer salesperson for Labatt in 1955 and worked his way up to become president and chief executive from 1973 to 1989.
He took over Labatt at a time when the brewing giant was diversifying into food, sports and entertainment businesses.
For an avid sports fan like WIDDRINGTON, Labatt's purchase of the Blue Jays was a dream come true. As chairperson of Labatt's board, WIDDRINGTON set aside $25 million to create the TSN sports network in 1984.
The dream culminated in the Jays' back-to-back World Series wins in 1992 and '93.
When the victory parades wound through downtown Toronto, WIDDRINGTON rode in the lead car.
When Major League Baseball commissioner Fay VINCENT was forced to resign in 1992, WIDDRINGTON was chosen by team owners to take over as interim administrator of the billion-dollar sports league, splitting his time between New York and his London office.
Londoner Don McDOUGALL became president of Labatt Breweries the same day WIDDRINGTON became chief executive of its parent company, John Labatt Ltd.
McDOUGALL said WIDDRINGTON really understood the beer business and expected a lot of himself and his employees.
"He was demanding, but six of the best years of my life were spent working for him.Just" two weeks ago, McDOUGALL and WIDDRINGTON had dinner and reminisced about their days at Labatt.
"We were saying it was great to be in business at a time when it was Okay to have fun doing your work," said McDOUGALL.
Along with his jobs at Labatt and the Blue Jays, WIDDRINGTON served on the boards of many large Canadian companies.
After retiring from Labatt, he continued to take on tough corporate assignments, such as heading up Cuddy International in 1996, when the London company was in upheaval because of an internal family feud.
He also became chairperson of Calgary-based Talisman Energy when it was involved in a controversial oil exploration project in wartorn Sudan.
STEWARD/STEWART/STUART said WIDDRINGTON was known for his wild sense of fashion and outgoing personality. She said he married his teenage sweetheart, Betty Ann, whom he met when they were teens working at a summer camp.
Despite his busy career, STEWARD/STEWART/STUART said WIDDRINGTON was a devoted dad to the couple's daughters, Cindy and Stacy.
SCATCHERD met WIDDRINGTON when they were students at Pickering College, a private school in Newmarket.
He said WIDDRINGTON was an all-round athlete who worked and played with equal fervour.
WIDDRINGTON's death comes only six weeks after the passing of another London corporate legend, former London Life chief executive Earl ORSER.
WIDDRINGTON's death is also a major blow for the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, based in Saint Marys.
Tom VALCKE, the hall's president and chief executive, said WIDDRINGTON recently had become fundraising chairperson and was in New York with him last week to made a pitch to business magnate and former Montreal Expos owner Charles Bronfman.
"Peter had just stepped in and was the white knight we were looking for," said VALCKE.
A funeral service will be held at noon Friday at St. Paul's Cathedral in London.
Peter WIDDRINGTON 1930-2005
Business Career: President and chief executive of John Labatt Ltd. 1973-1989; chief executive, Cuddy International 1996-99 chairperson, Laidlaw Inc., Brick Brewing Co., Talisman Energy and director, Brascan Ltd., BP Canada, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Ellis Don, Stratford Festival
Sports: Chairperson of Toronto Blue Jays; administrator of major league baseball 1993.

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VALCKE o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-02-14 published
Former Blue Jays chairman
Canadian Press, Monday, February 14, 2005 - Page S7
Toronto -- Peter WIDDRINGTON, the long-time Labatt executive and former chairman of the Toronto Blue Jays, has died, the baseball club said yesterday. He was 75.
WIDDRINGTON was on a ski trip in Aspen, Colorado., when he suffered a heart attack on Friday.
"The entire Toronto Blue Jays family is saddened by the loss of Peter WIDDRINGTON, who was truly one of the fathers of baseball in Canada," Blue Jays president Paul GODFREY said. "He was passionate about our great game through all of his years and made an invaluable contribution to our organization."
WIDDRINGTON skied on Friday morning, had lunch with some Friends at a comedy club, then got into a taxi and suffered the heart attack, said Tom VALCKE, the president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
"He always lived life to the fullest," VALCKE said. "He was always skiing or sailing."
WIDDRINGTON had gone to Aspen just days after joining VALCKE in New York, where they met with Charles Bronfman to ask him to sponsor the Hall's planned academy at Saint Mary's Ontario
"He had the personality and the charm to look a Charles Bronfman in the eye and make a proposal to him," VALCKE said. "He was at that level.
"Although Peter was just a member of our advisory board, he would walk the walk."
Well known as he was in baseball circles -- WIDDRINGTON was a board member with the Blue Jays from 1976 until the mid 1990s he was equally as famous in the business world.
He began his career at Labatt in 1955 as a salesman and worked his way up the ladder. He became president and Chief Executive Officer in 1973, a position he held until 1989. He also served as the chairman of the brewery from 1987 to 1991.
The graduate of Queen's University and Harvard Business School was also a former chairman of Laidlaw and Talisman Energy and a board member at SNC-Lavalin Group, Haynes-Dana, ADT and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, among others.
More recently, he served as the chairman of Brick Brewing and vice-chairman of the board for Radiology Corporation of America. He also served on the board of Gatekeepers Business Solutions.

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VALCKE o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-02-18 published
Peter WIDDRINGTON, Executive and Chief Executive Officer: 1930-2005
As the head of Labatt, he was a 'father of baseball in Canada' who established the Blue Jays in Toronto and later came close to becoming president of the American League. For a time, he was even commissioner of baseball
By Allison LAWLOR, Special to The Globe and Mail, Friday, February 18, 2005 - Page S7
Peter WIDDRINGTON once mused that he could well be the only beer salesman with an M.B.A. from Harvard. The long-time executive and former chairman of the Toronto Blue Jays took his Ivy League degree to John Labatt Ltd., where he started out in sales and held senior positions along the way before becoming head of the company in 1973. He held that position until 1989.
When talks started more than 30 years ago about bringing major league baseball to Toronto, Mr. WIDDRINGTON was at the front and centre. He helped put together a team that would eventually make it happen. The day came on March 26, 1976, when the American League voted to expand to Toronto, awarding a franchise to a group made up of Labatt, Imperial Trust Ltd. and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. Three months later, a franchise fee of $7-million (U.S.) was agreed upon. Early on, the owners decided that the franchise was to be run on sound business principles, where the baseball people were allowed to act freely within certain parameters, but were to report back to the board.
"He was definitely one of the fathers of baseball in Canada," said Paul GODFREY, the president of the Blue Jays. "Without the corporate leadership of Labatt's, there would have been no baseball in Toronto."
Mr. WIDDRINGTON's interest wasn't focused just on the bottom line: He was also a big sports fan. He truly loved the game of baseball and was lucky enough to have been chairman of the Blue Jays during the glory years leading up to, and including, the 1992 and 1993 World Series, when the team beat Atlanta and Philadelphia respectively. He watched as the Blue Jays became the first team to capture back-to-back World Series titles since the 1977-1978 Yankees.
Even last year, long after he had left the team's corporate management, Mr. WIDDRINGTON would still make the two-hour trip to Toronto from his home in London, Ontario, to watch a game with Mr. GODFREY. Or, if he wasn't with the president, then he'd be down in the stands taking in a game. "He was one of the big fans," Mr. GODFREY said.
Born in Toronto, Peter Nigel Tinling WIDDRINGTON was the son of Margery MacDONALD and Gerard WIDDRINGTON. His father, who emigrated from England, was assistant headmaster at Pickering College, a private school in Newmarket, Ontario, midway between downtown Toronto and Barrie. The young Mr. WIDDRINGTON attended Pickering College, where he played football and hockey. After high school, he studied economics at Queen's University and then went on to Harvard Business School. Later, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Western Ontario.
One of his early successes as president of Labatt was to have the bright idea of producing a Canadian version of Budweiser, with the result that the beer grabbed a 7 per cent market share in the opening weeks of the 1991 summer season -- a stunning figure by industry standards. Two weeks later, Labatt launched "Bud" in Quebec and sold out its entire inventory in a day.
In addition to his role as president and chief executive officer, Mr. WIDDRINGTON served as chairman from 1987 until 1991, when Interbrew of Belgium took over the beer company and the Blue Jays. During his time at Labatt, he also played a key part in the creation of TSN, Canada's first all-sports network.
In 1993, Mr. WIDDRINGTON temporarily occupied the office of commissioner of major-league baseball after Fay VINCENT was forced out by the owners, and deputy Steven GREENBERG left of his own accord.
"There was no senior person in baseball in the commissioner's office and, at the time, there were 170 people working there, so I was there on somewhat of a part-time basis for an average of two to three days a week from January through until December," Mr. WIDDRINGTON said.
Then, for a few years in the mid-1990s, he was also the chairman of Major League Properties until interim baseball commissioner Bud Selig decided Mr. WIDDRINGTON should go because he was no longer affiliated with baseball.
"I miss baseball, and I miss the Jays, but I had to recognize that when Interbrew bought Labatt's, they were going to make some changes, as they are entitled to do," Mr. WIDDRINGTON later told a reporter. "I personally was disappointed but, structurally and objectively, I understood."
Mr. WIDDRINGTON's power-packed résumé shows he was also chairman of Laidlaw Inc., a director of Brick Brewing Company, Radiology Corporation of America Inc., Gatekeeper Business Solutions Inc., and Pickering College. In a 1994 interview with The Globe and Mail, he admitted that he wasn't the type to retire and head south to golf every day or lie on a beach.
"Really, I'm a professional manager, I guess you could say," is the way Mr. WIDDRINGTON described himself at the time.
How did he find the time for everything at an age when he could have easily been slowing down his life? "I do the best I can in juggling time and responsibilities," he said in 1994. "It depends on my other schedules. I can't drop everything and devote all my time to baseball. Am I retired? I suppose I'm retired from Labatt's, but certainly I'm not retired in the sense of playing golf or going down south, but I don't have a 9-to-5 job."
That same year, he was in the running to become president of the American League. While he never seriously saw himself as a contender for the commissioner's job, the American League job had its attractions. After all, his beloved Jays were an American League club.
"I was approached [to apply] in both cases," he told The Globe and Mail. "I've been interviewed twice for the American League post. I would be interested in the job. I think they'll be making up their minds fairly shortly. I think I would enjoy it very much, but I'm just taking it a day at a time."
In the end, it came to nothing and instead, he found himself involved in operating a series of companies.
In 1997, he landed in the middle of a bitter corporate conflict of the kind long remembered by the business community. A succession feud erupted within the family that owned Cuddy International Corp., then Canada's largest poultry processor with about $500-million in annual sales, a staff of 3,000 people worldwide and a juicy contract to supply McDonald's with McNuggets. The London, Ontario, company had been rife with plots and counterplots that pitted the founder against one or more of his five sons, and between 1992 and 1996 had gone through several chief executive officers. At the time, Peter WIDDRINGTON was the fifth or sixth Chief Executive Officer.
Not surprisingly, the situation was not to anyone's liking and Mr. WIDDRINGTON made his exit. Most recently, he was chairman of Brick Brewing of Waterloo, Ontario
Until the end, Mr. WIDDRINGTON had one foot in the business world and one foot in the sports world. Earlier this month, he had joined Tom VALCKE, president of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, in New York, where they met with Charles Bronfman to ask him to sponsor the hall's expansion and planned academy in St. Marys, Ontario Mr. WIDDRINGTON was chair of the hall's fundraising campaign, which is currently aiming to raise $5.3-million. Mr. VALCKE was more than impressed with Mr. WIDDRINGTON's skill in the boardroom on February 2. "Based on that meeting, we will be having another meeting with [Mr.] Bronfman."
Afterward, Mr. WIDDRINGTON remarked that it was one of the best presentations he had ever been a part of. Despite the high note, he didn't have time to celebrate or even to join his colleagues for dinner. He bid them farewell and immediately headed back to the airport. Just over a week later, after an exhilarating day of skiing in Aspen, Colorado., he suffered a heart attack.
"He was living life in the fast lane," Mr. Valcke said.
Peter WIDDRINGTON was born in Toronto on June 2, 1930. He died in Aspen, Colorado., on February 11, 2005. He was 74. He is survived by his wife, Betty Ann, daughters Cindy and Stacy, brother Michael and three grandchildren. A funeral service is set for today at St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

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VALCKE o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-03-02 published
Morris LIEBOVITZ, Mathematician: 1936-2004
The youngest-ever math department head at an Ontario high school, he was a baseball zealot who amassed the world's largest collection of books on the subject
By Danny GALLAGHER, Special to The Globe and Mail, Wednesday, March 2, 2005 - Page S9
He was a math whiz who amassed the world's largest collection of books about baseball. To those who knew Morris LIEBOVITZ, he was an educator at heart who loved literature, country music, and anything to do with the U.S. Civil War and baseball.
Mr. LIEBOVITZ was born in Hamilton, Ontario, where he attended Westdale High School. There he struck up a lifelong Friendship with Russ JACKSON, a fellow numbers nut and baseball maniac. Together, they were so skilled on the diamond that they earned a tryout with a New York Yankees' farm team in the 1950s. It wasn't uncommon, as Mr. JACKSON would say, for the two Friends to skip school and watch major-league games on television, including that memorable day when Don Larsen pitched a perfect game for the New York Yankees (their favourite team when they were growing up) to defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers 2-0 in the fifth game of the 1956 World Series.
The two Friends were also mathematical geniuses, first at Westdale and then at McMaster University. "We were always in the same honours class in high school and took the same subjects," Mr. JACKSON recently recalled. "We'd come out of math exams at university and we'd check our answers and there was, maybe, one different."
After university, their paths diverged. Mr. JACKSON, a star quarterback at high school, decided to suit up for the Ottawa Rough Riders. Mr. LIEBOVITZ realized he did not want to be a lawyer after all and that his true passion was mathematics and teaching. Armed with two degrees from McMaster University in Hamilton, he got a teaching certificate and in 1961 took a job at Galt Collegiate Institute in Galt, Ontario By 24, he was head of the math department, the youngest-ever at an Ontario high school, and eventually wrote seven high-school mathematics texts.
In 1968, he changed careers, joining the Ontario government as an executive assistant to the minister of education. Over time, he served under all three major political parties, all the while helping to define the shape of education in the province. He retired in 1984 to become a business consultant.
Through all that, baseball remained a passion. In 1977, after the Blue Jays alighted in Toronto, he began buying baseball books lots and lots of them. By 1992, Mr. LIEBOVITZ had already amassed a fairly large collection when he came up with the idea of a road trip to a string of minor-league U.S. baseball towns (he was inspired by the classic baseball movie Bull Durham).
"Morris and I were at a party and I said we ought to go to the park in Durham, North Carolina," his cousin and best friend Larry GOLDHAR recalled. "So he picked me up on it and asked, 'Why don't we?' A lot of times, people say they're going to do something but they never do. Well, we did."
Eventually, with an assortment of Friends, they visited about 100 parks over a span of 14 years. It was during those trips that Mr. LIEBOVITZ's love of collecting baseball books reached its zenith. In every small town they visited, Mr. Goldhar scouted the baseball-card store while Mr. LIEBOVITZ stalked the used bookstores.
"After we had checked into the motel in each of these towns, we'd pull out the phone book and Morris would find out where the bookstore was located," Mr. GOLDHAR said. "Before we started our trips, Morris owned about 1,000 books... Sometimes he'd come back with 30 books. He was forever looking to add to his rare collection of first editions in baseball fiction." Mr. LIEBOVITZ's favourite books were all fiction: Bang the Drum Slowly, The Southpaw, Shoeless Joe and The Natural.
"Jerome Holtzman, the famous sports columnist with the Chicago Tribune, thought he had the biggest collection of baseball books but when he found out about my dad's, he was blown away," son Paul LIEBOVITZ said. "My dad collected over 3,000 titles and he had a very meticulous list of all the books."
The entire LIEBOVITZ collection is valued in excess of $300,000. While the fiction category remains in family hands, the non-fiction titles were all donated to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Saint Marys, Ontario
"Morry's book collection is the largest donation, both in size and value, in the history of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame," said its president, Tom VALCKE.
When the Toronto Blue Jays began play in 1977, Mr. LIEBOVITZ had another team to cheer for besides the Yankees. For years he lugged his baseball glove to Exhibition Stadium or to the SkyDome in the hope of catching a foul ball.
"I once bumped into Morry during the third period of a Leafs game," Mr. VALCKE said. "After he updated me on every one of his grandchildren, which always came first, we got talking baseball. He bled baseball. I could listen to Morry talk baseball forever."
Last summer, Mr. LIEBOVITZ finally caught a foul ball, from the bat of a Yankee, no less. "When he caught that foul ball, he might as well have won the lottery," Mr. VALCKE said.
Morris LIEBOVITZ was born January 17, 1936, in Hamilton, Ontario He died December 14, 2004, at North York General Hospital of complications from acute leukemia. He was 68. He is survived by his wife Lorraine, sons Paul and Eric, and sister Adele.

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VALDAGNI o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-02-15 published
AMATO DI CAMPOLEVRINI, Lanfranco (1922-2005)
Passed away peacefully, at his home in Toronto, on Monday, February 14, 2005, after a determined battle with cancer. Lanfranco is survived, and will forever be loved, by Liliana (CONTE,) his devoted wife of more than fifty years, his grieving son and daughter-in-law, Sergio and Lucy (Lake Forest, Illinois), his adoring grandchildren, Lilly, James and Finley, who missed Nonno's never-ending kisses and bear-hugs terribly, his sisters Laura and Maria Teresa and families and his brother-in-law Renato and sister-in-law Maria CRISTINA and families. He is pre-deceased by his brother, Salvatore.
Lanfranco was a generous, optimistic and gentle soul blessed with a wonderful sense of humour. He deeply loved his family, cherished his countless Friends and developed a respect for his adopted country, its citizens and way of life, which rivaled his feelings for his homeland. He taught his son all that is important in life and set for him an enduring example, which is proving impossible to follow. He did not know a stranger - he made Friends with everyone he met. He was an avid reader, a master of the crossword puzzle and an enthusiastic cheerleader at his grandchildren's varied athletic events. He leaves behind a chasm in our hearts.
Born in Rovereto, Italy on April 19, 1922, son of Giuseppe and Adile (VALDAGNI) AMATO, Lanfranco was educated in Milan. He served with honour and distinction during World War 2 with the Italian Army as Lieutenant of the 1st Regiment of Grenadiers and with the U.S. Army from September 1943; mentioned in dispatches by General Sir Harold Alexander. Lanfranco enjoyed a long and accomplished international business career, dominated by his experience with Olivetti (1950-1977). This included marketing, operations and senior management assignments in Europe, Asia, Africa and Canada, culminating in his appointment as President and G.M (1966) and Chairman of the Board (1973) of Olivetti Canada. After retiring from Olivetti, he joined Bregman and Hamann Architects as Director of New Business Development, then founded Riello Canada, Inc. and Riello Corp. of America, heading both as Chairman of the Board. Directorships included Four Seasons Hotels, Banca Commerciale Italiana of Canada, Gerling Insurance, Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Italian Chamber of Commerce (past President, 1963-1966), Canadian Opera Company, Toronto Symphony and Ontario Council for the Arts. Honours included Order of Canada, Knight of Obedience of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Knight Commander of the Military Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, Knight of Corona d'Italia and Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy.
Visitation at 9: 30 a.m. and funeral service at 10:30 a.m. will be held at Holy Rosary Church, 354 St. Clair Avenue, Toronto, on Thursday, February 17th. Cremation. Private interment at Lake Forest Cemetery (Illinois). If desired, and with our gratitude, memorial donations may be made in lieu of flowers to the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, 600 University Avenue, Toronto M5G 1X5.

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VALDO o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-12-31 published
KUMHYR, Olga▼ (formerly VALDO)
Passed away peacefully on Christmas Eve in her 85th year. Wife of the late Roy VALDO and the late Syd KUMHYR. Dear mother of Terry VALDO (deceased) and his wife, Anne. Loving Baba Ollie to Kristin and David VALDO. Devoted▼ daughter of the late Sam and Annie ZRADOWSKY. Sister▼ of Ron ZRADO and his wife, Ada; aunt of Alan ZRADO. Private▼ funeral. If desired, donations in Ollie's memory may be made to the Alzheimer Society.

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VALDO o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-12-31 published
VALDO, Olga▼ (see KUMHYR notice)

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VALDO o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-12-31 published
KUMHYR, Olga▲ (formerly VALDO, née ZRADOWSKY)
Passed away peacefully on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2005, in her 85th year. Wife of the late Roy VALDO and the late Syd KUMHYR. Dear mother of Terry VALDO (deceased) and his wife, Anne. Loving Baba Ollie to Kristin and David VALDO. Devoted▲ daughter of the late Sam and Annie ZRADOWSKY. Sister▲ of Ron ZRADO and his wife, Ada; aunt of Alan ZRADO. Private▲ funeral. If desired, donations in Ollie's memory may be made to the Alzheimer Society.

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VALDO o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-12-31 published
VALDO, Olga▲
Please see the notice for Olga KUMHYR.

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VALE o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2005-04-11 published
VALE, Elsie Jane (née SANDILANDS)
A resident of Ridgetown, Elsie Jane VALE, died at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, on Friday, April 8, 2005 at the age of 90. Born in Glen Morris, Ontario daughter of the late John and Mary McCRAE) SANDILANDS. Mrs. VALE came to Ridgetown in 1993. She was a member of Erie Street United Church and a member of the United Church Women Wife of the late S. Fred VALE. Dear mother of Lona J. GOODAL of Ridgetown and Morris VALE and wife Linda of Thamesville. Grandmother of Robin VALE, Sandra (Brian) ENNETT, Shannon (Greg) McFADDEN, Jane GOODAL, Margaret (Dan) BENEDICT and great-grandmother of 6. Sister of Ruth LANG and husband Wilbur of Oakville. Also survived by sister-in-laws Marion SANDILANDS of Glen Morris and Mary VALE of Downviews. Family will receive Friends at the McKinlay Funeral Home, 76 Main Street, East Ridgetown on Monday from 3: 00-5:00 and 7: 00-9:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at the Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 at 1: 30 p.m. with Reverend William VANDERVEEKEN officiating. Donations made by cheque to the Alzheimers Society or the Parkinson Foundation would be appreciated. Online condolences may be left at www.mckinlayfuneralhome.com McKinlay Funeral Home 76 Main Street E. Ridgetown, Ontario (519) 674-3141

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VALE o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2005-05-03 published
BROCKBANK, Eva Olive (VALE)
(February 17, 1917-May 3, 2004)
Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free.
I'm following the path
God has laid you see.
I took His hand when I heard Him call,
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work, to play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way,
I found that peace at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A Friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss.
Oh yes, these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much,
Good Friends, good times,
A loved ones touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and peace to thee.
God wanted me now, He set me free.

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VALE o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2005-12-17 published
VALE, Gladys M. (née LECRAS)
At her residence on Friday, December 16, 2005. Gladys M. (nee LECRAS) VALE of Woodingford Lodge, Woodstock and formerly of Light Street, Woodstock in her 94th year. Beloved wife of the late Edward John VALE (1982.) Dear mother of Marjorie NEILL and her husband Bruce of Woodstock and mother-in-law of Bernice STUBBS and her husband John of Woodstock. Loved grandmother of Kevin NEILL and his wife Jennie, Jerry NEILL and his fiancee Donna WILLIAMS, Tim NEILL and his wife Sherri, Cindy WESLEY, Sharon McMULLIN and her husband Ron, Lori HUSK and her husband Harvey, Dianne CHAPMAN and her husband Mark, Kelly OSBORNE and her friend Aaron, Rick VALE and his wife Sue, David VALE and his friend Laura and will be remembered by her many great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren. Dear sister of Irene STANLEY of Woodstock and sister-in-law of Audrey GREEN and Eleanor HANSON. Predeceased▼ by her son Robert E. VALE (1988,) her great-granddaughter Dawn-Marie WESLEY, her brother Walter LECRAS, and by her sister Doris MOYER. Friends may call at the R.D. Longworth Funeral Home, 845 Devonshire Avenue, Woostock, 539-0004 on Sunday December 18, 2005 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m, where the complete funeral service will be held in the chapel on Monday at 11: 00. Interment later in the Anglincan Cemetery. Contributions to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario would be appreciated. Online condolences at www.longworthfuneralhome.com

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VALE o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-01-15 published
Sharon BENNETT
By Naomi CARNIOL, Saturday, January 15, 2005 - Page M6
Sharon Diane BENNETT started selling Avon products in 1967 because she wanted money to pave her driveway. Thirty-eight years later, that driveway has been paved four times.
"She was a natural," says Mrs. BENNETT's brother, Bill VALE. "She was so outgoing."
To many of her clients, Mrs. BENNETT was more than a cosmetics saleswoman. "Two of her customers were blind," says her daughter, Barbara DANIELS. " She would read them the book of Avon products, but she would also read them their mail... and take them to appointments."
Although she started out selling in one district, she ended up with clients all over the city. "If her customers moved, she would go with them," says her husband, Bruce.
Mrs. BENNETT died of cancer on Christmas Eve at the age of 63. Of the more than 200 people at her funeral, 50 were long-time Avon customers.
Born Sharon VALE in Toronto on December 12, 1941, she attended Birch Cliff Heights Public School and later, R. H. King Academy in Scarborough. She married Mr. BENNETT, her childhood sweetheart, in 1961 and began selling Avon six years later when Ms. DANIELS was 5. Although Mrs. BENNETT retired three years ago, she stayed in touch with her customers, many of whom dropped by the house over the summer.
His wife wasn't all about selling lipstick, Mr. BENNETT says. He recalls fondly the meals she cooked at a summer camp for the Toronto Boy Scouts and the swimming classes she taught at Birchmount Community Centre. But one thing definitely marked her as an Avon lady. "Her makeup was always perfect," Ms. DANIELS says.

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VALE o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-11-14 published
LEONARD, Dorothy▼ E.▼
With great sadness, the family announces the passing of Dorothy (Dodie) on Sunday, November 13, 2005, in her 83rd year. She is now reunited with her beloved husband Bill. Proud mother and mother-in-law of Cathy and Gord DALE, Sue▼ VALE, Joan and David MATTHEWS, Beth▼ and Tom HALPENNY, and Nancy and Larry ROBITAILLE. Loving▼ grandmother of Chris (special friend Vani BERRY,) Ken,▼ Janet (fiance Chris BECKER), Jenny, Michael, Brooke, Dale, Andrew and Alyson, and aunt of John and Kathleen JONES. Survived by Ruth LANGLEY, Rosemary▼ AMELL and Russell HEWETSON. She will be sadly missed by all her nieces and nephews and other family and Friends.
Friends may visit at the Trull "North Toronto" Funeral Home and Cremation Centre, 2704 Yonge Street (5 blocks south of Lawrence), on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral service will be held on Wednesday at the Lawrence Park Community Church (Bayview Avenue, just south of Lawrence), at 11: 00 o'clock. Interment to follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Georgian Bay Land Trust would be appreciated by the family.

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VALE o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-05-29 published
EVENSON, Edward Norman
Passed away suddenly on Friday, May 27, 2005 at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in his 68th year. Beloved husband and best friend of Patricia Mary (née MAXTED.) Loving father of James and John (Christie). Dearly beloved son of the late Conrad and Louise EVENSON of Marshall, Minnesota. Loving brother of Brunhilde EVENSON of Philadelphia, Ruth-Ann WELLMAN of Atlanta and Hjordis VALE of Mapleton, Minnesota. The family will receive Friends at the Humphrey Funeral Home - A.W. Miles Chapel, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Eglinton Avenue East), from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, May 30, 2005. Service will be held at Church Of The Ascension on Tuesday, May 31st at 2 p.m. Interment Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Memorial donations to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, 250 Bloor Street East, Suite 1000, Toronto, M4W 3P9 would be greatly appreciated.

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VALE o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-09-10 published
JACKLIN, Florence (née MUTCH)
Teacher at S.S.H. 5 Whitby for eight years and thirty-two years for the Toronto Board of Education, member of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Pickering Village) Ajax. At Ballycliffe Nursing Home on Thursday, September 8, 2005, in her 95th year. Beloved wife of the late Victor JACKLIN. Aunt of Christena "Tina" VALE. Great-aunt of Louise (Larry QUINN), George J. "Joe" VALE, David J. VALE (Debbie). Great-great-aunt of Marie BROADSTOCK (Bob), Brendon VALE, and Daniel VALE. Predeceased▲ by sisters Gladys and Wilhelmena, and by brothers William George, William John and George. The family will receive Friends at the McEachnie Funeral Home, 28 Old Kingston Road, Ajax (Pickering Village), 905-428-8488 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Sunday. Funeral Service in the Chapel on Monday, September 12, 2005 at 11: 00 a.m. Interment Salem Cemetery. Should family and Friends so desire, donations to the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation would be greatly appreciated.

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VALE o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-11-14 published
LEONARD, Dorothy▲ E.▲
With great sadness, the family announces the passing of Dorothy (Dodie) on Sunday, November 13, 2005, in her 83rd year. She is now reunited with her beloved husband Bill. Proud mother and mother-in-law of Cathy and Gord DALE, Sue▲ VALE, Joan and David MATTHEWS, Beth▲ and Tom HALPENNY, and Nancy and Larry ROBITAILLE. Loving▲ grandmother of Chris (special friend Vani BERRY,) Ken,▲ Janet (fiance Chris BECKER), Jenny, Michael, Brooke, Dale, Andrew and Alyson, and Aunt of John and Kathleen JONES. Survived by Ruth LANGLEY, Rosemary▲ AMELL and Russell HEWETSON. She will be sadly missed by all her nieces and nephews and other family and Friends. Friends may call at the Trull "North Toronto" Funeral Home and Cremation Centre, 2704 Yonge Street, (5 blocks south of Lawrence) on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral service will be held on Wednesday at the Lawrence Park Community Church, (Bayview Ave., just south of Lawrence) at 11 o'clock. Interment to follow at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Georgian Bay Land Trust would be appreciated by the family.

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VALE o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-11-21 published
BROCKINGTON, Phyllis Jane (née COLEMAN)
Long-time resident of Leaside, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 20, 2005 at the age of 92. Predeceased by her beloved husband of 63 years, Brock (Horace William), her oldest son Bob (Robert John), and her brothers Thomas Chester and Geoffrey Gardiner COLEMAN. Cherished mother of Bill (William Charles;) Linda Lee McCARTHY and Mary Anne WELSH. Dear sister of Shirley GAWLEY of Williamsville, New York and sister-in-law Vimy COLEMAN of Leaside. Mother-in-law of Yolanda, Elizabeth and John. Grandmother of Guy, Kelly, Mark, Christopher, Scott, Tim, Vanessa, and Erica. Great-grandmother of five. Fondly remembered by her many nieces and nephews, and very dear Friends, Inez VALE and Noreen MacINTOSH. Born in Toronto, Phyllis spent her early years in Chapleau, Ontario and Orlando, Florida. In the 1930s, the family returned to Toronto where she met and married her life partner, Brock. Following their wedding celebration in May 1937, the couple sailed to England where they planned to start their married life. Rumours of the coming war and the urging of their families persuaded them to return to Toronto. Establishing their home in the new community of Leaside, they designed and built family homes throughout Leaside and other new Toronto subdivisions until the 1970s. Snow Birds in retirement, they wintered in Florida with neighbours and Friends. Mother of four and partner in their business, Phyllis found time to be an active member of the volunteer community, most notably the Canadian Cancer Society, Girl Guides and Boy Scouts, Home and School and, in retirement, the Inter-generational Program at Northlea Public School. Her love of life-long learning, the opera, symphony and theatre, needlecrafts and gardening were a great joy to her. She was a caring and supportive wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She truly lived a full life. May the winds of love blow softly and whisper so you'll hear, we will always love and miss you and wish that you were here. We know how much you missed Dad. You are with him now. We wish to thank the staff at Donway Place and North York General Hospital for their loving care. The family will receive Friends at the Humphrey Funeral Home - A.W. Miles Chapel, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Eglinton Avenue East), from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, November 22nd. Funeral service in the Chapel Wednesday, November 23rd at 2 p.m. Private burial with her husband in Kearney, Ontario. If desired, donations in memory of Phyllis may be made to the charity of your choice.

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VALE o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-12-12 published
VALE, Violet▼ Elizabeth▼
Peacefully passed away on Sunday December 11, 2005. Forever remembered by brothers Leonard and Laurence, sisters Myrtle, Anita, and Vera. Violet will be sadly missed by many nieces and nephews. Violet will be forever in our thoughts.

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VALE o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-12-13 published
VALE, Violet▲ Elizabeth▲
Peacefully passed away on Sunday, December 11, 2005. Forever remembered by brothers Leonard and Laurence, sisters Myrtle, Anita, and Vera. Violet will be sadly missed by many nieces and nephews. Friends and family may visit on Thursday, December 15, 2005 from 12 until 1 p.m. at Jerrett Funeral Home, 1141 St. Clair Ave. W. (one block east of Dufferin). A Memorial Service will follow in the chapel at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society. Violet will be forever in our thoughts.

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VAL surnames continued to 05val002.htm