POEI o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2006-01-03 published
Walter Massey
TOVELL, 89: Fascinated by museums
By Astrid POEI,
Staff
Reporter
Walter Massey
TOVELL believed in studying the history of the
world around him, and how it was created, in order to understand
today's world.
It was a passion he followed throughout his life, Friends and
family say.
"He was always interested in the environment and historical questions.
It was his life," said his brother, Vincent
TOVELL, 83, who retired
as a history and nature show producer with the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation. "He was a lifelong teacher and educator -- those
are very important words and they are absolutely correct."
TOVELL, a scion of Canada's Massey family, a former director
of the Royal Ontario Museum and a geologist, died Friday at the
Avalon Retirement Centre in Orangeville. He was 89.
"One of the reasons that he was so interested in the Royal Ontario
Museum is it's not just a science museum, a humanities museum,
human history museum, archeology and all those things," his brother
said.
"He was very supportive of all of them, which made him a natural
director when there had been all kinds of problems in change
and growth."
TOVELL was the eldest grand_son of Susan
DENTON and Walter
MASSEY,
who purchased 80 hectares of land and built a farm called Dentonia
Park, near what is today Victoria Park and Danforth Aves. After
attending Upper Canada College and the University of Toronto,
he received his doctorate in geology from the California Institute
of Technology in the 1940s and served as a professor at U of
T, where buildings bearing his family's name, such as Massey
College and Hart House (named after his great-grandfather, Hart
MASSEY,) still stand.
In 1973, TOVELL was appointed director of the Royal Ontario Museum,
after trustees had dismissed his predecessor for "launching the
Royal Ontario Museum in strange futuristic directions," the Toronto
Star reported at the time. Despite pushing for expansion during
his three-year tenure, Friends said he never got used to the
recent changes at Canada's largest museum.
"Walter was not fond of the new design and that would be an understatement,"
said his friend and executor of his estate, Wayne
TOWNSEND. "He
felt that the front entrance should always be pointed towards
the university because the university is a place of learning
and he didn't like the idea that the new entrance pointed towards
Bloor St. because it made it a little more commercial. He always
felt that the museum should be a place of learning, as opposed
to a tourist attraction."
TOVELL retired in 1975 and kept up an active pace, venturing
out on oil expeditions and geological tours to such places as
Iceland.
Fittingly for
TOVELL, who was forever learning, he eventually
settled in a renovated schoolhouse in Orangeville, where he helped
establish the Dufferin County Museum and Archives. It helps ensure
the museum continues to thrive independent of government funding,
Townsend said.
"Certainly in Dufferin Country, it was always neat for us to
recognize the fact that he was well-known through the country,
but at home he was always relaxed, never wore a tie, he always
looked like he had just come off the farm," said
TOWNSEND, who
is also the museum's curator and director.
During his time in Dufferin County,
TOVELL penned a guide to
the Niagara Escarpment, set up a trail near the Island Lake conservation
area and was one of the founding members of the Kortright Centre
for Conservation,
TOWNSEND said. He was also a member of a number
of naturalist groups and pushed many environmental causes.
"He felt near the end of his life that you become secure by being
involved in your small community than the big communities of
the world," said his long-time friend. "It's much easier. It
always starts at home."
TOVELL leaves brothers Vincent and Freeman, children Mariane
Muir and Denton, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be held on January 14, 2 to 4 p.m., at the
Dods and McNair Funeral Home in Orangeville; a service will be
held January 15 at 2 p.m. at the Historic Church at the Dufferin
County Museum and Archives, Highway 89 and Airport Rd.
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POEI o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2006-01-30 published
2 motorcyclists die in icy plunge
Survivor drifts on Lake Simcoe ice
Officials warn about unsafe conditions
By Robin MacLENNAN,
Special To
The
Star With files from Astrid
POEI
Innisfil, Ontario -- An Innisfil man spent four terrifying hours
drifting on Lake Simcoe's treacherous ice overnight yesterday
after the two Friends he was with plunged through a pressure
crack on their motorcycles and drowned.
The 22-year-old survivor struggled to light candles and use a
flashlight and keep in touch with police using the cellphone
he'd brought along in an emergency survival pack, but rescuers
said it was nip and tuck.
"Phone reception in the area wasn't that good and he didn't know
exactly where he was," South Simcoe Police Sgt. Brian
MILLER
said, speaking of the challenge facing rescuers in locating the
man.
"It was dark and difficult."
Police said they were not sure if the survivor, a passenger on
one of the bikes, managed to jump off as it hit the metre-wide
pressure crack in the ice at about 4 a.m. He might have climbed
out of the water.
The drivers -- Brian
DWYER, 22, of Innisfil and Randal
HILTS,
22, of Bradford -- went down with their bikes and drowned in
the deep water between Snake Island and Fox Island. Their bodies
were later recovered by York Regional Police divers.
Police and fire officials have cautioned residents to stay off
the ice on area lakes and rivers, especially with the region's
recent cycles of thaws and freezes.
"You have to be aware of the conditions that exist and the thickness
of the ice and if you're not familiar, don't go out," York Regional
Police
Insp.
Norn
MILES cautioned. "Unfortunately, we've had
a lot of these incidents over the years and they're tragic for
everyone."
Police said the survivor, who was travelling with a survivor
kit and cellphone wrapped in plastic inside his backpack, attempted
to gain some warmth by lighting candles while waiting for rescue
workers. He was found by Innisfil firefighters at about 7: 45
a.m. and transported to shore in an airboat. He was treated at
noon at Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie for hypothermia, abrasions
and bruises, and police said "he'll be perfectly Okay." The identity
of the survivor has not been released.
Emergency crews searched the lake near Innisfil unsuccessfully
for about four hours, struggling to locate the man on the lake's
frozen expanses.
Police said the men left an Innisfil home at about 3 a.m., eventually
venturing out across the ice after "joy-riding" along the shoreline.
"The surviving witness was uncertain where they went out onto
the ice because they had been riding up and down the shore area
for quite a while," said York Regional Insp. Rod
RAMAGE.
The three, who
RAMAGE said were riding motocross motorcycles
without headlights, "were doing the typical things that 22-year-old
boys do when they get out on their motorcycles in an area where
they don't have to worry about other vehicles.
"They were all over hill and dale, probably doing doughnuts and
popping wheelies along the way,"
RAMAGE said. "It is my understanding
they were doing their motocross activities in around the shore,
on and off the ice in the shallow area, for about an hour before
they decided to head across the lake."
The trio of Friends was riding tandem across thin ice between
Fox Island and Snake Island when their vehicles went into open
water, police said.
They were "going for a drive around the area there, and had no
specific plan to go anywhere."
Onlookers gathered at the shore off Innisfil Beach Park, straining
to watch rescue efforts happening near the middle of the lake.
"It's too bad, you hate to see it," said Bill
ANDREWS. "
Probably
young guys doing something foolish."
Police said alcohol might have been a factor in the drownings.
Ice conditions in the area are described as unsafe because of
recent warm temperatures and rain.
A steady downpour drenched rescuers and those who watched from
shore yesterday as water pooled on the lake, turning ice into
slush.
"I wouldn't go out there for anything right now,"
ANDREWS said,
shaking his head. "Just look at the conditions."
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POELL o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2006-01-10 published
ANDRECHEK,
Melitta
Passed away, surrounded by the love of her family, on Saturday,
January 7, 2006. Beloved wife of Martin, her soulmate and caregiver.
Cherished mother of Melinda (Shane). Dearest daughter of Hedwig
POELL.
Predeceased by her father Karl. Loved daughter-in-law
of Laura and Elmer
CAMPBELL. Dear sister of John and his children
Cliff and Monika. Melitta will be sadly missed by her many Friends
and relatives both here at home and
in Austria. Friends will
be received at the Jerrett Funeral Home - North York Chapel,
6191 Yonge Street (2 lights south of Steeles) on Wednesday from
2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday at 10: 00
a.m. from St. Gabriel's Church, 650 Sheppard Avenue East.
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POELZER o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2006-03-27 published
O'DONOVAN,
Diarmuid
In his 91st year, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 25,
2006, at Houses of Providence, Toronto. Beloved father of Cathy
and Marv HAVERY,
Kilian and Loretta
O'DONOVAN, Diarmuid and Kathy
O'DONOVAN,
Con and Sue
O'DONOVAN, Neave and Ted
GREIG, Emir and
Jim POELZER,
Mora and Marc
OUELLETTE, and Grainne
THORSBY and
the late Jim
THORSBY, and his two stepsons, Rick and Gary
JOHNSON.
Cherished by 32 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, his
niece Pauline
O'DONOVAN and many other nieces and nephews. Diarmuid
was born in Cork, Ireland and emigrated to Toronto from Dublin
in 1954. He was predeceased by his first wife
Rosaleen (née
CREANER,)
his second wife
Lidy
JOHNSON, his daughter Roisin and brother
Donal. He is survived by his brother Don and sister Peggy in
Dublin. His loving presence, his wit and gentle humour, will
be sadly missed by all his family and Friends. Friends may call
on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the R.S. Kane
Funeral Home (6150 Yonge Street, at Goulding, south of Steeles).
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Luke's Roman Catholic
Church (39 Green Lane, Thornhill) on Wednesday, March 29, 2006
at 11 o'clock. Interment to follow at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.
Donations to Providence Healthcare Foundation, 3276 St. Clair
Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario, M1L 1W1 or St. Bernard's Residence,
685 Finch Avenue West, Toronto, Ontario, M2R 1P2 will be appreciated.
Condolences www.rskane.ca.
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