CATCHER
CATER
CATHCART
CATTERALL
CATTO
CATTON
CATZMAN
CATCHER o@ca.on.grey_county.artemesia.flesherton.the_flesherton_advance 2007-09-05 published
PRIDDLE,
Stanley▼
Alexander▼
Suddenly at Grey Bruce Health Services Owen Sound, on Sunday
September▼ 2, 2007, Stanley Alexander
PRIDDLE of Markdale in his
78th year. Beloved husband of the late Vivian
PRIDDLE (née
DAWSON.)
Dear friend of Joyce
ROWE of Hanover. Loving father of Brenda
CATCHER of Owen Sound, Evelyn
CREGO
(Reg▼) of Burlington, and
David PRIDDLE
(Camilla▼) of Manotick. Dear grandfather of Ryan
DEMERCHANT, Allison
DEMERCHANT, Cole
PRIDDLE and Brock
PRIDDLE.
Sadly▼ missed by sisters Rosetta
MUIR of Dundalk, Margaret
BROWN
and Verna MARKOVICH both of Shelburne. Also survived by mother-in-law
Lillian DAWSON of Shelburne, and brother-in-law Tom
DAWSON of
Dundalk.▼
Predeceased▼ by parents Roy and Jessie (née
BADGEROW)
PRIDDLE.
The family will receive Friends at the May Funeral Home,
Markdale, Thursday 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. and Friday from noon
until 1: 30 p.m., where a funeral service will be held Friday,
September 7 at 1: 30 p.m. Interment in Maple Grove Cemetery, Dundalk.
If desired, memorial donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation
or the charity of your choice would be appreciated.
Page 3
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CATCHER o@ca.on.grey_county.artemesia.flesherton.the_flesherton_advance 2007-10-17 published
PRIDDLE,
Stanley▲▼
Alexander▲▼
Stanley Alexander
PRIDDLE of Markdale passed away suddenly in
the Grey-Bruce Regional Health Centre in Owen Sound on Sunday
evening, September 2, 2007.
He was born on July 10, 1930 in Osprey Township, the only son
of Roy PRIDDLE and Jessie
(BADGEROW)
PRIDDLE. He and his three
sisters attended S.S.#2 McIntyre in Osprey Township where his
parents farmed. In 1944 Stan's father purchased a home near Dundalk
where the family resided for many years.
Stan's working career started after high school when he found
employment with Aitchison's Bakery in Dundalk. He worked there
for 12 years and learned the baking trade. In 1957 he took over
the bakery in Markdale which had been started by Allen
SMITH
of Dundalk. Two years later he purchased a building across the
street and moved the business there.
On October 24, 1959 he married Vivian
DAWSON of Dundalk and together
they owned and operated Priddle's Bakery. And that bakery was
a great success. People still rave about it today. Just last
year someone told his daughter Brenda that she used to go to
his bakery and had to hide the pastries she bought in different
areas of her house so people wouldn't eat them before meal time.
Many of the pleasant memories shared by those who attended visitations
and the funeral revolved around the bakery.
After Stan sold the bakery in 1972, he worked as a baker for
Vern's
Donuts in Owen Sound His employer, Vern
BARBER, remembered
Stan as someone who always had a smile on his face, and his co-worker,
Paul DICKSON/DIXON said that Stan taught him how to be a good baker.
Stan worked for Vern for 17 years before ill health forced him
to retire.
Stan's favourite pastime was to drive a car. He enjoyed travelling
to many places, both locally and far away. He has been in every
Canadian province and in many parts of the United States, to
the Bahamas and
to Jamaica. "If you're not going, you're not
living!" was his motto.
In retirement years he and Vivian purchased antique cars and
attended local parades and car shows. If a stranger wanted a
ride in one of his cars, he gave him one. They had many adventures
with these cars and met many new people along the way.
Stan had a good sense of humour. He was generous, quiet kind
and considerate. He was held in good esteem by all who knew him.
Stan is survived by his daughters, Brenda
CATCHER of Owen Sound
and Evelyn (Reg)
CREGO of Burlington and by his son David (Camilla)
PRIDDLE of Manotick, near Ottawa. He also has four grandchildren,
Ryan and Allison
DEMERCHANT and Cole and Brock
PRIDDLE. He is
fondly remembered by his friend Joyce
ROWE of Hanover who has
arranged to have a tree planted in his honour near Griersville.
He is also survived by his sisters Rosetta
MUIR of Dundalk, Margaret
BROWN of Shelburne and Verna
MARKOVICH of Shelburne. His mother-in-law
Lillian DAWSON of Shelburne and his brother-in-law Tom
DAWSON
of Dundalk also survive. He was predeceased by his parents Roy
and Jessie
PRIDDLE, and by his brothers-in-law Bill
MUIR,
Donald▼
BROWN and Stephen
MARKOVICH.
A funeral was held on Friday, September 7 at the Donald and May
Funeral Home in Markdale. His daughter Brenda wrote the eulogy
and his son David delivered the eulogy along with his own thoughts.
His other daughter, Evelyn, prepared a collage of pictures of
Stan at various stages in his life. Rev. Mark
WAUGH officiated
at the service and David
FRIES played the organ. A floral arrangement
was made for Stan by Bernice
TUPLIN of Feversham.
Friends and relatives were present from Markdale, Dundalk, Owen
Sound, Chesley, Cambridge, Burlington and Manotick.
Page 3
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CATCHER o@ca.on.grey_county.owen_sound.the_sun_times 2007-09-04 published
PRIDDLE,
Stanley▲
Alexander▲
Suddenly at Grey Bruce Health Services-Owen Sound, on Sunday
September▲ 2, 2007, Stanley Alexander
PRIDDLE of Markdale in his
78th year. Beloved husband of the late Vivian
PRIDDLE (née
DAWSON.)
Dear friend of Joyce
ROWE of Hanover. Loving father of Brenda
CATCHER of Owen Sound, Evelyn
CREGO
(Reg▲) of Burlington, and
David PRIDDLE
(Camilla▲) of Manotick. Dear grandfather of Ryan
DEMERCHANT, Allison
DEMERCHANT, Cole
PRIDDLE and Brock
PRIDDLE.
Sadly▲ missed by sisters Rosetta
MUIR of Dundalk, Margaret
BROWN
and Verna MARKOVICH both of Shelburne. Also survived by mother-in-law
Lillian DAWSON of Shelburne, and brother-in-law Tom
DAWSON of
Dundalk.▲
Predeceased▲ by parents Roy and Jessie (née
BADGEROW)
PRIDDLE and brothers-in-law Bill
MUIR,
Donald▲
BROWN and Stephen
MARKOVICH.
The family will receive Friends at the May Funeral
Home, Markdale, Thursday 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. and Friday from
noon until 1: 30 p.m., where a funeral service will be held Friday,
September 7th at 1: 30 p.m. Interment in Maple Grove Cemetery,
Dundalk. If desired, memorial donations to the Heart and Stroke
Foundation or the charity of your choice would be appreciated.
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CATER o@ca.on.grey_county.owen_sound.the_sun_times 2007-12-03 published
CATER,
Frank
Former Inspector of Detectives with the Metropolitan Toronto
Police Force and Former Mayor of the Town of Port Elgin 1980-1985
- At Lee Manor Owen Sound, on Friday, November 30th, 2007 in
his 91st year. Husband of the late Ruth
SHEPPARD who predeceased
him in 1987. Loving Dad of Lynne
ARMSTRONG of Port Elgin and
her friend Jim
MORGAN, and Janie and her husband Leonard
MOULDER
of Owen Sound. Dear grandfather of Kimberley
ARMSTRONG of Mississauga
and Robert
ARMSTRONG of Calgary. He is survived by his brother
Grant CATER of Burlington and by his dear friend Patricia
WILLIS
of Waterdown. Predeceased by his son-in-law Harold
ARMSTRONG.
Friends may call at the W. Kent Milroy Port Elgin Chapel, 510 Mill
Street, Port Elgin (Town of Saugeen Shores) on Monday, December 3rd,
from 2.00 to 4.00 and 7: 00 to 9:00 p.m. Funeral services will
be conducted in the Chapel on Tuesday at 2: 00 p.m. with the Rev. Robert
WIDDOWSON officiating. Interment Sanctuary Park Cemetery, Port
Elgin. Memorial contributions to the Canadian National Institute
for the Blind, Diabetes Society or the Kidney Foundation would
be appreciated as expressions of sympathy. Portrait and memorial
online at www.milroyfuneralhomes.com
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CATER o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2007-01-05 published
CATER,
Sheila (née
CURRY)
With her children at her side providing love and support, Sheila
CATER
(CURRY) of Point Edward lost her courageous battle with
cancer at Bluewater Health -- Norman Site's Palliative Care Unit
on Thursday, January 4, 2007 at the age of 66. Sheila will be
remembered for her independent spirit, her love of Friends and
family, her wonderful sense of humour, positive outlook and her
selfless attitude when thinking of others. She was supported
in her short fight by her many Friends and was determined to
be a survivor. Sheila is lovingly remembered by her daughter
Leslie (Greg)
GRIMES of Cambridge and by her son Gary (Ati
POWELL)
CATER of Brights Grove. She will be forever remembered as Nanny
by her grandchildren Eric and Lindsay
GRIMES.
She is survived
by her former husband James
CATER of Sarnia and is predeceased
by her parents Harry and Lillian
CURRY.
She will be missed by
Jonathan, Philip and Scott
POWELL.
Sheila's friend Bruce
GATES
was a special person in her life and she had many dear life long
Friends who meant the world to her. She will be sincerely missed
by her relatives back home in England, the residents of the Point,
Friends at the Point Edward Ex-Serviceman's Club, Sarnia Yacht
Club, Tuesday Executive Ladies' Golf Club and by the employees
at Chalmers' Construction from where she retired just one short
year ago. Visitation will be held at the McKenzie and Blundy Funeral
Home and Cremation Centre, 431 Christina St. N., Sarnia on Friday
from 7-9 p.m. and Saturday from 12-2 p.m., followed by a Memorial
Service at 2 p.m. in the chapel, officiated by Angela
MacDONALD.
Interment will follow at Lakeview Cemetery. Friends who wish
may forward memorial donations to the Breast Cancer Society,
118 Victoria Street, Sarnia N7T 5W9. Messages of condolence and memories
may be left at www.mckenzieblundy.com A tree will be planted
in memory of Sheila Cater in the McKenzie and Blundy Memorial
Forest. Dedication Service Sunday, September 16th, 2007 at 2 p.m.
at Wawanosh Wetlands Conservation area.
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CATER o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2007-01-13 published
CATER,
Rita
(FORTNEY)
At Trillium Villa Nursing Home on Friday, January 12th, 2007,
Rita (FORTNEY)
CATER, age 82 of Sarnia, beloved wife of the late
Robert CATER
(July 27th, 1992,) dear sister of Irene
SIEFRIED
(the late Stanley) of Kitchener and Petronella
SMITH
(Allen)
of Cardston, Alberta and a very special aunt of Rebecca
FORTNEY
of Sarnia. She will be sadly missed by many nieces and nephews.
Predeceased by parents Joseph and Otillia
(MEYER,) and brother
Alex FORTNEY (1984.) A Mass of Christian Burial will be held
from Queen of Peace Church on Monday, January 15th at 11: 00 a.m.
Interment will follow at Our Lady of Mercy Cemetery. Friends
may visit with the family at the D.J. Robb Funeral Home on Sunday
between the hours of 2: 00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Prayers
will be offered Sunday afternoon at 2: 00 p.m. Memorial gifts
to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Multiple Sclerosis Society
or the Charity of Choice would be appreciated by the family.
Messages of condolence may be sent to djrobbfh@cbtech.net
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CATHCART o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-10-09 published
FOULKES,
Evelyn
Mary (née
CATHCART)
(July 6, 1911-October 6, 2007)
It is with heavy hearts that we (Frank and John) announce the
passing of our dear mother Evelyn in her 97th year. Predeceased
by our father, Reginald Alfred
FOULKES, and her beloved sister
Thelma LAMPING and brother-in-law Jack, Mom was a member of Westminster
Presbyterian Church for 86 years. This association and her daily
reading of her Bible helped give Mom the strength to carry on
after Dad's death fourteen years ago. Mom had a feisty but at
the same time gentle spirit and was never heard to say ill of
others: she was always a Lady. She endlessly expressed her gratitude
for her bountiful life and her long and happy marriage of 59 years
with Dad. She was kind, generous, open-hearted and unconditionally
loving to us and to our families. We are especially grateful
to the East York Concert Band, for their never-ending kindness
to Mom after Dad's passing, and
to Ernie SHARMAN from the church,
who continued to remember Mom after she no longer was able to
attend services. She will be sadly missed by her daughters-in-law
Irene and Lillian, and her grandchildren Bryan, Michael and his
partner Mylène, Kristen (Rayner) and husband Matthew, and Craig.
Evelyn was grateful to have had time with her great-grandchildren
Noah and Abigail. Friends may call at the Trull 'East Toronto'
Funeral Home And Cremation Centre 1111 Danforth Ave., (one block
east of Donlands Subway) on Wednesday, October 10, from 2-4 and
7-9 p.m. Service to be held in the chapel on Thursday at 10: 00 a.m.
Interment at Pine Hills Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations
to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 154 Floyd Ave., East York,
would be much appreciated. We are no other than a moving row
Of Magic Shadow-shapes that come and
go Round with the Sun-illumined
Lantern held In Midnight by the Master of the Show. Good-bye
Mom; until we meet again.
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CATTERALL o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-08-10 published
RHODES,
Sheila
Dorothy
(CATTERALL)
At Shorthills Villa Retirement Community, Fonthill on Wednesday,
August 8th 2007 Sheila Dorothy
(CATTERALL)
RHODES of Fonthill
in her 85th year. Beloved wife of the late Major John Keble "Dusty"
RHODES, DSO, CD (1993.) Loving mother of Peter Ian
RHODES
and wife Judy of Wayland, Massachusetts, and Victoria Anne
RHODES
and friend Carol
WILLIAMS of Mississauga. Loving grandmother
of Kathleen Ann
BURGESS (née
SANDHAM) and husband Derek, Laura
Elizabeth SANDHAM and husband Jeff
HALLETT, Michelle Ashley Pritchard
RHODES, and Christine Leslie Pritchard
RHODES.
Also loved by
her great-grandchildren, Gillian Rachel
HALLETT and Catherine
Elizabeth HALLETT. and Cameron David Ian
BURGESS.
Close friend
of Margaret Barlow of Fonthill. Survived by loving brothers Robert
CATTERALL and friend Lorraine
LIN and Ross
CATTERALL and his
wife Denise of the United Kingdom. A private family service will
be held at the James L. Pedlar Funeral Home, 1292 Pelham Street,
Fonthill on Friday, August 10th 2007. Cremation to follow. Online
condolences may be forwarded through www.pedlarfuneralhome.ca
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CATTO o@ca.on.grey_county.owen_sound.the_sun_times 2007-07-16 published
SAWYER,
Janet
Helen (née
HENDERSON)
At her home surrounded by her family, on Sunday July 15, 2007.
Janet SAWYER (née
HENDERSON) of Southampton at the age of 62.
Wife of the late Kenneth W.
SAWYER.
Loving mother of Kent of
Southampton, Deanna and her husband Mark
PRENTICE of Barrie and
Lisa and her husband Robb
GEE of London. Proud Nana of Brianna.
Dear sister of Joan and her husband Keith
WEBB of Coldwater.
Also survived by her sister-in-laws, Dorothy and her husband
Jack RILEY,
Karen
MATHESON, Linda
McLAREN, RuthAnn and her husband
John McCLINTON,
Darlene and her husband Dennis
NEILLY, June and
her husband Doug
CATTO,
Marlene
SAWYER, Helen
SAWYER, Laura-Lee
SAWYER and by her brother-in-laws, Bruce
SAWYER and his wife
Sandi and Douglas
SAWYER and his wife
Jennifer.
Fondly remembered
by her many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her parents John
and Helen HENDERSON.
Visitation from the Eagleson Funeral Home,
Southampton, on Tuesday July 17, 2007 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A Funeral
Service to Celebrate the Life of Janet
SAWYER will be conducted
in the Chapel of the Funeral Home on Wednesday at 1 p.m. A Time
of Fellowship and Sharing will follow at the Walker House. Cremation.
Private Interment of Ashes at a later date. Expressions of Remembrance
to the Grey Bruce Humane Society or to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Condolences may be forwarded to the family through www.eaglesonfuneralhome.com.
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CATTO o@ca.on.grey_county.owen_sound.the_sun_times 2007-10-01 published
BEGG,
Eva
Elizabeth (née
MacPHERSON)
Of Tiverton, at South Bruce Grey Health Centre-Kincardine, on
Sunday, September 30, 2007, in her 80th year. Beloved wife of
the late Grant
BEGG. Dear mother of Stuart (Norma)
BEGG of R.R.#4
Walkerton and Beverley (Scott)
RAMAGE of Tiverton. Cherished
grandmother of Shawn and Cynthia
BEGG and Maggie and James
RAMAGE.
Loved sister of Catherine (Harry)
RUETZ of North Bruce, Jean
(Norman) CAMPBELL of Port Elgin, Marguerite (Mervin)
CATTO of
Tiverton, and Bruce (Grace)
MacPHERSON of Inverhuron. Predeceased
by brothers, Stuart, Angus and Eoin
MacPHERSON.
Also survived
by sisters-in-law, Grace
MacPHERSON of R.R.#1 Tiverton, Marianne
GREER/GRIER of Inverhuron and Helen
MacPHERSON of Kincardine. Sadly
missed by many nieces and nephews. Visitation at the Davey-Linklater
Funeral Home, 757 Princes Street, Kincardine, Ontario, N2Z 1Z5,
519-396-2701, on Tuesday from 2: 00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
The funeral service will be held at Knox Presbyterian Church-Tiverton
on Wednesday, October 3, at 2: 00 p.m., with Rev. Wendy
LAMPMAN
officiating. Interment, Tiverton Cemetery. Memorial donations
to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Knox Presbyterian Church
- Tiverton, or the Kincardine Hospital would be appreciated as
expressions of sympathy. Portrait and memorial online at www.daveylinklaterfuneralhome.com
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CATTO o@ca.on.grey_county.owen_sound.the_sun_times 2007-11-03 published
CRAWFORD,
Bob
Russel
Bob Russel
CRAWFORD, passed away suddenly, near Owen Sound, on
Thursday, November 1st, 2007, at the age of 56. For the past
25 years, Bob has lived and worked with his adopted family, Glen
CATTO of R.R.#2, Owen Sound, Ontario. A private graveside service
will be held at Oxenden Cemetery, on Saturday, November 3rd,
2007. If so desired, donations to the charity of your choice,
would be appreciated, as your expression of sympathy, and may
be made through the Brian E. Wood Funeral Home, 250 - 14th Street
West, Owen Sound, (519-376-7492).
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CATTO o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-07-28 published
CATTO,
Barbara
Jean (née
THOMPSON/THOMSON/TOMPSON/TOMSON)
With great sadness, we announce the death of our Mom, Jean
CATTO,
who passed away quietly at home, surrounded by her children,
on Tuesday, July 24, 2007.
Born on May 14, 1931, Mom grew up in Port Credit, Ontario. Following
graduation from the University of Toronto in 1952, Mom married
our Dad, James Arthur
CATTO on June 26, 1954.
Although Port Credit was home, Mom's heart was in Muskoka where
she and Dad spent many magical seasons. After our Dad died in
1984, Mom moved north to Muskoka in 1986. For 15 years the cottage,
the lake, the mergansers, the white pines and the beautiful rocks
of Muskoka provided a sanctuary and served as a welcoming refuge
for her far-flung kids and many other family members and Friends.
In 2001, Mom moved west to Victoria, British Columbia to be closer
to kids and grandkids, and her new view of the Olympic Mountains
across the waters of the Juan de Fuca provided much comfort.
We feel very fortunate that following a short illness, Mom was
able to spend her final days at home, surrounded by all of her
children, close family and Friends.
Mom will be sadly missed by her kids: Joanne, of North Yorkshire,
England; Babs, of Victoria, British Columbia; and Steve, of Fort
Simpson, Northwest Territories. Also grieving her passing are
sons-in-law, Colin
GRIFFITH and David
VERNON, her grandchildren
Ben,
Andrew,
Jack and Julia, her sister Peggy
ELLIOT/ELLIOTT of North
Carolina, and so many other dear family and Friends.
Please help us celebrate Mom's life during a memorial service
to be held, on Saturday, August 25, 2007 at 2 p.m. at Skinner and
Middlebrook, 128 Lakeshore Road, Port Credit, Ontario, with a
reception to follow.
At Mom's request, we thank you for donations to: Victoria Hospice,
1952 Bay Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8R 1J8.
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CATTON o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-01-13 published
WARNER,
Irene
Peacefully, at the Toronto East General Hospital on January 11,
2007. Irene was an active member of many bridge organizations
and was secretary to the American Contract Bridge League. Retired
from the Fraser and Beatty Law Firm. Lovingly remembered by brothers
Bill CATTON and Don
CATTON and families. Loved by daughter Lynn
and husband Hong
MARK and grandchildren Jeremy, Tiffany, Andrew
and Kevin. Will be missed by her bridge partners and community.
Friends will be received at the McDougall and Brown 'Scarborough
Chapel', 2900 Kingston Road (east of St. Clair Avenue E.) on
Sunday January 14, from 2-4 and 7-9 with Funeral Service held on
Monday January 15, at 1 p.m. Reception to follow. In lieu of
flowers donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or a humanitarian
charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.
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CATZMAN o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-06-15 published
CATZMAN,
Marvin
Peacefully, at home, with his family by his side on Thursday,
June 14, 2007. The Honourable Mr. Justice Marvin A.
CATZMAN,
beloved husband of Lynn. Loving father and father-in-law of Penny
and Jarrett
SHERMAN,
Julie
CATZMAN and Michael
ARBUS, and David.
Devoted Zaidy of Darryn. Loving
son of the late Irene and Fred
CATZMAN. At
Beth
Tzedec
Synagogue, 1700 Bathurst Street (Bathurst
south of Eglinton) for service on Friday, June 15th, 2007 at
1: 30 p.m. Interment Beth Tzedec Memorial Park. Shiva 23 Pinnacle
Road, daily from 1: 00 p.m. If desired, donations may be made
to the Marvin A. Catzman Memorial Fund c/o The Benjamin Foundation,
3429 Bathurst Street, Toronto, M6A 2C3, 416-780-0324.
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CATZMAN o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-06-21 published
Judge sensed the horror of wrongful conviction and freed Guy
Paul Morin
By Kirk MAKIN,
Page S8
Toronto -- As 21 judges of the Ontario Court of Appeal ascended
the stage at a recent gala dinner to sing a humorous tribute
to retiring Chief Justice Roy
McMURTRY, a hush fell suddenly
over the crowd of 1,600.
Moving slowly amongst his attentive brethren, visibly wobbly
and disoriented, was the familiar figure of Mr. Justice Marvin
CATZMAN.
Well into a battle with lung cancer, Judge
CATZMAN had
left his sick bed to honour his chief justice. No one was struck
more by this unexpected, bittersweet glimpse of the Court of
Appeal's most senior judge than Chief Justice
McMURTRY himself.
"One of the highlights of that dinner was Marv being there and
getting up and singing," he recalled. "I feel like I've lost
a very special friend. Everybody in the court feels that way."
Judge CATZMAN was a stalwart fixture on an extraordinarily strong
bench, one from which a dozen of judges could potentially be
elevated to the Supreme Court of Canada without drawing a serious
ripple of dissent.
A man with the calming instincts of a mediator, Judge
CATZMAN's
deft sense of humour and his ability to make others feel that
their opinions mattered deeply had long since made him a favourite
on the court.
"His manner was unfailingly polite and courteous," Mr. Justice
Michael Moldaver said. "Not once did I ever see him lose his
temper. Not once did I ever see him treat anyone with disrespect."
He said Judge
CATZMAN was a confidante and a mentor whose wealth
of knowledge and wisdom attracted a steady stream of judicial
colleagues to his office.
"If you had a difficult issue, he was the guy to go to," Mr.
McMURTRY
agreed. "He was a constant source of advice."
Raised in Toronto, he was the
son of Fred
CATZMAN, a prominent
city lawyer. While sociology was what initially attracted him
to the University of Toronto -- he obtained his undergraduate
degree in 1959 -- Judge
CATZMAN went on to acquire a law degree
immediately afterward at U of T's famed law school.
Following in the footsteps of his father, he was called to the
bar in 1965. He began practising at a firm founded by his father
and uncle -- Catzman and Wahl -- until his 1981 appointment to
the Supreme Court of Ontario.
As a trial lawyer, his highest-profile case was one in which
a young psychic, Rita Burns, unsuccessfully sued multi-millionaire
Peter Pocklington for not compensating her for advice that she
claimed had made him a fortune.
On the Court of Appeal, Judge
CATZMAN wrote or signed onto judgments
in numerous high profile or important cases, including ones in
which the court:
Upheld an unprecedented $1.6-million damages award to an Ontario
government lawyer who had sued the Church of Scientology for
libel
Struck down a law that made it a crime to possess marijuana for
medical purposes
Upheld a law permitting parents to use "reasonable force" to
correct their children's behaviour
Ended the custom of opening local municipal council meetings
with the Lord's Prayer
Permitted Gordon Folland, a man who was exonerated in a rape
conviction, to sue his defence lawyer for negligence after alleging
that he had spent three years in prison because his lawyer failed
to order DNA testing on underwear, found at the crime scene,
that would have pointed toward another man as the assailant
Overturned the acquittal of Erika Kubassek, a woman who attempted
to disrupt a same-sex marriage ceremony, after she claimed she
had received a message from God instructing her to shove Rev. Brent
Hawkes, pastor of Toronto's Metropolitan Community Church. "She
chose to deliver a message that she knew would fall on unreceptive
ears," Judge
CATZMAN wrote.
While he authored his share of criminal law rulings, they were
not Judge CATZMAN's forte, Judge Moldaver said. "I know Marvy
will forgive me for this, but whenever he was sitting on criminal
cases, he would run into my office on a regular basis and say:
'Mikey, I keep running across this thing called 'reasonable doubt.'
Can you tell me what it is?' "
However, that didn't prevent Judge
CATZMAN from maintaining a
deep sensitivity to the horror of a wrongful conviction. This
was never as evident as in February, 1993, when he granted bail
to convicted killer Guy Paul Morin, who would later be exonerated
in the murder of his nine-year-old next-door neighbour, Christine
Jessop.
Coming at a time when there was still a great deal of public
skepticism about whether wrongful convictions truly occurred,
the decision made Mr. Morin just the second Canadian convicted
of first-degree murder to be freed on bail.
In recent years, Judge
CATZMAN's seniority on the Court of Appeal
gave him the right to speak last whenever an appeal panel gathered
to discuss an upcoming ruling.
"I never saw Marvy try to bully anybody into a position," Judge
Moldaver said. "Any conference he mediated was filled with reason
and common sense. At the bottom of it all, he felt that a good,
strong, healthy dissent was a way of advancing the law, and of
getting the Supreme Court of Canada to look at it."
A sublime writer who was viewed by many of his colleagues as
being the dean of judgment-writers, Judge
CATZMAN felt litigants
were owed a ruling that was both readable and legally concise.
He put whatever time was required into crafting his rulings and
preparing for court.
"He had the ability to convert even the most complicated legal
issues into common sense," said his daughter, Julie, herself
a recent University of Toronto law graduate.
"No one came into court more thoroughly prepared," Judge Moldaver
said. "No one had a better command of the record. And this didn't
come about by chance. It came about by his hard work, his dedication,
his passionate love of the law and the joy he derived, every
day, from performing his judicial duties and bringing justice
to all who had the good fortune to appear before him."
Indeed, lawyer Steve Posen, a close friend who got married, recalled
that Judge
CATZMAN and his wife
Lynn showed up in separate cars
on the wedding day "so that he could read his papers for a trial
the next day."
Judge CATZMAN was known for employing his droll sense of humour
to persuade others to adopt his reverence for study and craftsmanship.
Judge Moldaver recalled once sending a draft of a judgment to
Judge CATZMAN to see whether it captured their shared view of
the case.
It arrived back with a note that said: "Mikey, I have read this.
It is terrible. Tears of laughter streamed down my face until
it hit me that you were serious about it, and not kidding. I
asked your secretary to take my name off the panel, but she insisted
that all three judges have to be listed. So, I pleaded with her
to substitute for my name the name of some long-gone judge, but
she said she would have to ask you about it.
"If, contrary to all reason, you decide to release this piece
of judicial drivel on an unsuspecting legal audience, would you
at least consider the brilliant suggestions I have made at pages
2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 18 and 19?
"Love and hugs, Marv."
Judge Moldaver also recalled occasions in the courtroom where
he sat back, preening himself after aiming what he felt was a
particularly incisive question at a lawyer. "I would look over
to Marv, and there, on his computer screen in big, bold, block
letters, was a message which usually went something like this:
'If you would keep your big mouth shut, we might get out of here
by 4: 30.'
"This was Marv's gentle, if not to subtle, way of chiding me
for being a smart aleck in the courtroom."
Judge CATZMAN had his idiosyncrasies. Mr. Posen recalled that
growing up in downtown Toronto, he and Judge
CATZMAN would regularly
attend a local cinema to watch movies that were known to be awful,
solely for the purpose of wisecracking about their flaws.
He also harboured a deep emotional attachment to a specially
designed desk which, according to Judge Moldaver, required a
dozen steroid-enhanced movers to manoeuvre. "It made the Queen
Mary look like a tug boat," he said. "I used to tell Marv that
if he put it on wheels, it would double as a mobile home."
In 2000, Judge
CATZMAN added to his notoriety with a satirical
masterpiece of reverse logic that he wrote for the Advocates'
Society Journal. Titled "The Wrong Stuff: How to Lose Appeals
in the Court of Appeal," it advised lawyers on a multitude of
ways to punch holes in their own ships.
"Judges are people, too," Judge
CATZMAN wrote. "They don't like
dry, boring legal arguments. They hunger for something to enliven
their day. Help meet this judicial need by making at least one
passionate speech to the jury every time you appear before an
appellate court. Invite your client and her entire family to
observe your performance. Instruct them carefully how to nod
enthusiastically, whistle and cheer in support of your submission.
"Overstate your case. Excoriate the opposing counsel. Pound the
desk. Sprinkle your argument with phrases such as: 'travesty
of justice,' 'abuse of process' and 'wisdom of Solomon.' (This
last phrase should be addressed, with a sly wink, to whichever
judge you think has been least receptive to your submission.)"
When a member of an appeal panel asks a question, Judge
CATZMAN
advised, lawyers should make fun of it. "Cast at the judges who
didn't ask the question a knowing look that says: 'I really feel
for you two. It must be tough to sit up there, day after day,
and listen to all these ridiculous questions.'
"Then, glance condescendingly at the judge who did ask the question,
blurt out the first thing that comes into your mind, and move
on quickly before he think of something else to ask you."
A staunch family man, Judge
CATZMAN organized annual road trips
to Florida and the Stratford Festival. He presided over a weekly
family dinner, and usually telephoned his children one or more
times a day simply to chat. He also liked to invent excuses to
drop in and play with his grand_son, Darryn.
The family remained inseparable through his illness, camping
out at the hospital where Judge
CATZMAN received his cancer treatment.
"He never once complained or felt sorry for himself," Julie
CATZMAN
said.
Indeed, Judge
CATZMAN would retreat into self-contained silence
to regroup following each grim prognosis, emerging 24 hours later
in good humour. Several months ago, given a brief reprieve by
his doctor, he delightedly returned to the Court of Appeal for
a week in which he heard several cases alongside two close Friends,
Mr. Justice James MacPherson and Madam Justice Eileen Gillese.
A camp instructor, swimmer and squash player in his youth, Judge
CATZMAN grew to have little interest in participatory sports.
However, he always maintained an abiding passion for his favourite
baseball team -- the Toronto Blue Jays.
His son David recalled sitting with his over-excited father at
the sixth game of the 1993 World Series, when Joe Carter strode
to the plate for what would become the most famous at-bat in
Blue Jay history.
"Hey, Davy, wouldn't it be great if he hit a home crack?" Judge
CATZMAN said. A couple of pitches later, as the ball soared over
the left-field fence, he kept yelping: "Davy, where'd it go?
Where'd it go?"
Among Judge
CATZMAN's most notable rulings was a 1993 decision
to grant bail to Guy Paul Morin, describing the case as unique.
This week, Mr. Morin broke a personal embargo on media interviews
to praise someone who had ventured far out on a limb for him:
"He was a judge who saw above the rest, and was the turning point
in my life," he said.
"When I was in Mr.
CATZMAN's courtroom, I felt there was something
special about this judge. I felt hope for a change. He granted
me bail and freed me from the nightmares of Kingston Penitentiary.
He was not just a great judge with a just decision, but a wonderful
human being. Thank you again, Mr.
CATZMAN."
Marvin Adrian
CATZMAN was born in Toronto on September 1, 1938.
He died of lung cancer in Toronto on June 14. He was 68, and
a lifetime non-smoker. He is survived by his wife Lynn and children
Penny, Julie and David.
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