LUCA
LUCAN
LUCAS
LUCE
LUCERO
LUCIO
LUCKASAVITCH
LUCKOCK
LUCY
LUCA o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-07-11 published
MARTINO,
Domenic
Surrounded by the love of his family on July 9, 2007 after a
special weekend with the marriage of his son. Domenic
MARTINO,
loving husband of Sandy and beloved father of David and Stephen
passed away after a courageous fight with cancer. Domenic just
welcomed Mirella into his family with David's marriage on July 6,
2007. Domenic was known for his incredible sense of humour, his
deep commitment to his family, his straightforward nature and
honesty. He built D. Martino Construction into a strong and thriving
business. He passes on to his two sons a wealth of knowledge,
sense of fairness and commitment to quality. He leaves behind
his parents Francesco and Carmela
MARTINO, his sisters Teresa
LUCA
(Joe) and Rosemary
MARTINO (Jonathan,) father-in-law Domenico
SANSALONE
(Pamla,) sister-in-law Adelaide
SANSALONE (Vittorio,)
and brothers-in-law Giancarlo (Mirian), Fortunato (Lina). He
leaves numerous nephews and nieces, Friends and many, many extended
family members that will be left with a gaping hole in their
hearts. We will all miss him. Visitation will be at Marshall
Funeral Home, 10366 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill (4th traffic
light north of Major MacKenzie Dr). Visitation will be on Tuesday,
July 10 from 6-9 p.m. and
on Wednesday July 11 from 2-4 p.m.
and 6-9 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Saint Mary Immaculate
Church 10295 Yonge St. Richmond Hill at 10 a.m. on Thursday,
July 12. Domenic's brave, courageous, uncomplaining battle against
mesothelioma can be recognized by a donation to the Canadian
Cancer Society (please designate for mesothelioma research).
This would be appreciated by the family.
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LUCAN o@ca.on.middlesex_county.strathroy.age_dispatch 2007-01-09 published
JANSSENS,
August
Peacefully, at home in Kerwood, on Thursday, December 21, 2006,
in his 89th year, August
JANSSENS. Survived by his loving wife
of 34 years, Josephine. August will be sadly missed by children
Michel (Maria)
JANSSENS, Paul
JANSSENS, Raymond (Diane)
JANSSENS
and Rita (Rick)
LUCAN. Survived by grandchildren Michelle (Serge,)
Matthew, Michael, and Marcus; Lisa, Andrew, Miranda, and David
Rick and Britney and great-granddaughter Olivia
FERREIRA.
Also
survived by sister Rosalie. Also remembered by many extended
family. August is predeceased by his first wife Johanna (1959),
daughter Rita (1952), granddaughter Kristel (1987), four brothers,
and one sister. Visitation was held at Denning Bros. Funeral
Home, on Tuesday, December 26, 2006, from 7-9 p.m. with a funeral
service in the chapel on Wednesday at 11 a.m. with Father George
Chimbinda officiating. Interment followed at Strathroy Cemetery.
Donations to the Strathmere Lodge Auxiliary Fund or Saint_Josephs
Neo Natal Care Unit would be appreciated by the family. A tree
will be planted as a living memorial to August.
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LUCAS o@ca.on.simcoe_county.nottawasaga.stayner.stayner_sun 2007-06-27 published
MacKINNON,
Beverley
Ann (née
WYLLIE)
Peacefully on Saturday June 23rd 2007, age 69 at Collingwood
General and Marine Hospital, after a brief and courageous struggle
with cancer. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband,
Ian. Proud and loving mother of Nancy (Andrew
LUCAS,) of Alliston
and Shawn (Tara
ATHOE) of Brampton. Beloved Nana of Cameron and
Shannon LUCAS, the light of Bev's life. Devoted sister to Dorothy
KLAZER
(Ron) and Jim
WYLLIE (Fran,) of Brampton. Sister-in-law
of Gordon MacKINNON,
Toronto,
Muriel
BAIRD (the late Jim,) Ridgetown,
and Jeanne
MacKINNON (the late Ronald,) France. Auntie Bev will
be lovingly remembered by her nieces and nephews. Cherished by
her many Friends, especially colleagues in teaching, Rachel Massey
and Iris Dunse. Bev and Ian left Brampton in 1992 to start their
retirement adventure in Wasaga Beach. Spending time at home,
the cottage, and enjoying winter vacations down South, Bev and
Ian were inseparable for over 45 years. Family, Friends, needlework,
Toronto Blue Jays and spending summers near Parry Sound were
Bev's passion. She is now reunited with her young son, Scotty
who predeceased her in 1974, and her parents, Andrew and May
WYLLIE of Lambton Park and Brampton. Cremation has taken place.
Friends and family are invited to Carruthers and Davidson Funeral
Home, 7313 Highway 26 (Main Street), Stayner, Ontario (705-428-2637)
on Thursday June 28, 2007 for visitation at 1 p.m. with a Memorial
Service to follow at 2 p.m. Refreshments following. In lieu of
flowers, the family would appreciate donations of remembrance
to “Sleeping Children Around the World” (www.scaw.org) or Tenderfeet
Education Centre, Nairobi, Kenya (tenderfeetkids.org).
Page 17
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LUCAS o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-01-08 published
LUCAS,
Harry
W.
(Veteran World War 2 as a Spitfire Pilot; Early Member of the
Canadian Race Drivers Association; Member of Recreational Aircraft
Association of Canada; Retired Vice President Canadian Colemans
Peacefully at The Davis Centre, Bolton, on Saturday evening,
January 6, 2007, Harry W.
LUCAS,
Bolton, in his 84th year, beloved
husband of Mary
WALKER.
Loving father of Mary
LUCAS, Oakville
Mike LUCAS (deceased) and his wife Susan
LINDSEY, Bolton; Scott
LUCAS and his wife
Susan
RICHARDS,
Bolton. Dear grandfather of
Jillian and Evelyn
LUCAS.
Sadly missed by his sister Mary and
her husband Bill
ABBOTT,
Port
Perry.
The family will receive
their Friends at the Egan Funeral Home, 203 Queen Street South
(Hwy. 50), Bolton (905-857-2213), Wednesday morning, January 10
from 10 o'clock until time of memorial service in the chapel
at 11 o'clock. If desired, memorial donations may be made to
the Alzheimer Society of Peel, 60 Briarwood Avenue, Mississauga
L5G 3N6 or the charity of your choice. Condolences for the family
may be offered at www.eganfuneralhome.com.
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LUCAS o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-09-13 published
LYNCH,
Donald
Kenneth
Born March 12, 1925 near Saint John. Died September 9, 2007 in
Ottawa
Aviation was a major part of Don's life. He served with the Royal
Canadian Air Force during the final years of World War 2, then
with the Royal Air Force after the war - Bomber Command, Berlin
Airlift, reconnaissance flights to the Near and Far East were
his terms of reference. It was in England that he was given his
nickname "Benny" which stayed with him for life. On returning
to Canada with Vicky, his war bride, he joined Maritime Central
Airways in Moncton, then Bradley Air Services and Spartan Airways
in Ottawa. He spent years doing aerial surveying of the Canadian
North and of parts of South and Central America. Later, with
the Ministry of Transport, he began and ran the Cabin Safety
Department for commercial airlines.
Benny had heart problems for half his life, stemming from a bout
of rheumatic fever during his training days with the Royal Canadian
Air Force. But even as his strength waned, he was as humourous,
cynical and curmudgeonly as ever.
He was predeceased by Vicky in 1991 and is survived by his daughters
Verna (husband, Tom
HOWARD) and Dawn (husband, Michael
LUCAS)
and by Daisy, Benny and Hamish, his grand-dogs and by Ellie,
the "damn cat".
A private burial is planned.
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LUCAS o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-10-12 published
KELLEHER,
Diane (née
BUGA)
University of Connecticutt, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi.
Peacefully after a short illness on Thursday October 11, 2007.
Born June 26, 1951 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Predeceased
by her parents Michael and Irene
BUGA. Survived by her loving
husband Tim. Dear cousin to Gloria
LUCAS
(Washington, D.C.) and
Marlene CARLSON
(New
Jersey.)
She will be remembered by her brother-in-law
Robert KELLEHER, sister-in-law Ann
GILBERT and her husband Peter
and all of her nieces and nephews. Family and Friends may call
on Sunday, October 14th from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the R.S. Kane
Funeral Home (6150 Yonge Street, at Goulding south of Steeles).
Service in the Chapel on Monday at 11 a.m. Cremation to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society
would be greatly appreciated.
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LUCAS o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-11-19 published
WALKER,
Margaret (née
BROWN)
Peacefully at Hospice Niagara on Friday, November 16, 2007 at
the age of 92. Margaret was born August 26, 1915 in Glasgow,
Scotland to Peter and Marion
BROWN.
Predeceased by her husband
Peter (1948.) Beloved mother of Margaret Elizabeth
FAIRMAN.
Dearest
grandmother of Fraser (Kimberley) of Yellowknife and Patricia
FAIRMAN of St. Catharines. Loving great-grandmother of Max and
Stella.
She will be missed by her niece Shelia Marie
LUCAS and
her great niece Christina
GRAMIER, nephews Bradley and Darryll
LUCAS, her family back home in Scotland. Margaret was a proud
member of Knox Presbyterian Church and a retired employee with
over 35 years of service with the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto.
As per Margaret's request cremation has taken place. A Celebration
of her life will be held at the Downtown Chapel of Butler Funeral
Home, 33 Duke Street at James (behind the Court House), 905-684-2334,
on Saturday, November 24, 2007 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers,
donations to Hospice Niagara would be appreciated by the family.
Condolences at www.butler-duke.ca. Margaret will be remembered
for her elegance and grace.
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LUCAS o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-12-01 published
LUCAS,
John "
Jack"
William
Passed away peacefully at Elim Springs on Sunday, November 25.
He and his wife, Audrey, moved there just over a year ago. When
Audrey passed away last year they had been married for 58 years.
It was apparent to all that Jack missed her very much.
The son of a builder, Jack loved to work with his hands. His
many projects ranged from building his own garage to the boat
in which he and Audrey explored Lake Ontario. His designing and
building skills were not limited to his beloved house where they
lived almost all of their married lives. After serving in the
Second World War, Jack worked as a draughtsman for several decades
at Massey Ferguson. He was also invaluable at First Church of
Christ, Scientist, Toronto. Jack will be fondly remembered by
his church family as a gentle, thoughtful, and ever- helpful
friend. A remark still heard at his church. "Oh that's something
that Jack LUCAS made."
A service to celebrate the lives of Jack and Audrey
LUCAS will
be held at Elim Springs, on Thursday, December 6 at 8: 00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Elim Springs (3838 Bloor
St. W., Etobicoke, M9B 1L1).
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LUCE o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-12-05 published
DE CANDOLE,
Nancy (née
LUCE)
Nancy DE CANDOLE passed away peacefully in Qualicum Beach, British
Columbia on December 3, 2007. She was 96. She was the last member
of her generation and was predeceased by her husband Corry, brothers
Charles and Arthur and sisters Rachel
NASH and Kathleen
LUCE.
She is survived by her four children: daughters Janet
HOLT and
Clare BENNETT
(Keith) and sons James and Richard (Wendy,) Luce
and de Candole nephews and nieces in the U.S., England, New Zealand,
Kenya and Zimbabwe, nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren.
Nancy was born to Richard and Mary
LUCE on April 25, 1911 in
Derby, England. Her father was a medical doctor who during World
War I served as the Director of Medical Services of the Egyptian
Expeditionary Force and later became a Member of the British
Parliament. As a teenager Nancy attended Sandecotes School for
Girls where she excelled in music. In 1931 she attended the Royal
College of Music in London obtaining an A.R.M.C. in piano. While
in London she met her husband Corry and they were married on
January 30, 1933 in Bombay where Corry received his first posting
as a medical doctor with Royal Army Medical Corp. They returned
to England in the late 1930s and immigrated to Canada in 1951
where Corry took positions as a physiologist with the Department
of National Defence first at a research lab outside Medicine
Hat, Alberta then in Toronto. In 1965 they retired to acreage
outside Qualicum Beach where Nancy lived for over 40 years. Nancy
taught piano for nearly 70 years and was an inspiration to many
students. Many people were also touched by her Christian faith
and generous heart. In the 1950s she became an Associate with
the Sisters of Saint_John the Divine based in Toronto. In Qualicum
Beach she was a long-time member of Saint Mark's Church, founded
an inter-denominational meditation group and was active in local
peace and environment initiatives. She also served as pianist
for the Parksville Community Choir. In lieu of flowers please
make a donation to a charity of your choice. A memorial service
will take place on December 8 at Saint Mark's Anglican Church,
Qualicum Beach.
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LUCERO o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-08-21 published
ZUBATA,
Bernice (née
ABRAMSKY)
On Monday, August 20, 2007 in Toronto. Bernice
ZUBATA, loving
mother of Sharon
MIMRAN,
Adrienne and Brent
ZYLBERBERG, and Elaine
and Hershy
WEINBERG. Dear sister and sister-in-law of Mortimer
and Shirley
ABRAMSKY of Kingston, and Joseph and Betty-Rae
ABRAMSKY.
Devoted grandmother of Kaylee, Alexander, Mercedes, Jade, Aja,
Nechemiah and Shevy, Sonia and Avi, and Ruby. Devoted great-grandmother
of Miri, and Nochi. She will be deeply missed by her loving companion
and caregiver Annabelle
LUCERO and her nieces, nephews and cousins.
at Benjamin's Park Memorial Chapel, 2401 Steeles Avenue West
(three lights west of Dufferin), for service on Wednesday, August
22nd at 10: 00 a.m. Interment, Beth Israel Cemetery in Kingston,
Ontario at 2: 00 p.m. Shiva 240 Heath Street West, #1504, Toronto,
beginning Thursday evening. Memorial donations may be made to
Kohai Educational Centre, for learning disabled children, 41 Roehampton
Avenue, Toronto M4P 1P9, 416-489-3636.
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LUCIO o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2007-06-08 published
'An irrational act'
Top-ranking female officer, retired superintendent found in scene
of horror The service pistol used belonged to Kelly
JOHNSON,
a leader in fighting domestic violence.
By Randy RICHMOND and Kelly
PEDRO, Sun Media, Fri., June 8, 2007
Just before London police's "rising female star" and her ex-lover,
a retired officer, were killed in a murder-suicide, she made
a mysterious stop at the police station.
Then,
Acting
Insp. Kelly
JOHNSON, the force's highest- ranking
female officer, jumped into a waiting van.
Minutes later, two gunshots were fired inside a van before it
crashed into a brick wall six blocks away from the station, outside
JOHNSON's apartment building at 7 Picton St.
Stunned neighbours found
JOHNSON, 40, dead, her face bloody,
her 9 mm Glock service pistol -- which she wasn't authorized
to have with her -- on her lap.
Beside her, the driver of the van and her ex-lover, retired superintendent
David LUCIO, 57, was slumped over with what witnesses: called
a bullet wound to the head.
Neighbours called 911 at 12: 01 a.m. yesterday and police arrived
within four minutes to discover the unthinkable: two of their
own were dead.
Even more unthinkable -- police and civilian sources and witness
accounts pointed yesterday to
JOHNSON -- a noted community leader
in fighting domestic violence -- as the one who shot
LUCIO.
A subdued police Chief Murray
FAULKNER stressed police won't
know who shot whom until after an autopsy scheduled for today.
"Nothing that happened last night makes any sense right yet,"
he told The Free Press. "There will be sources that say that
(JOHNSON was the shooter,) and I understand that."
"But we need to have proof, not just speculation, not just opinion,"
FAULKNER said.
Even after the autopsies, police may never know why the killings
occurred.
"Was there anything yesterday that would indicate there would
be a problem at midnight last night? Not a single thing. Was
there anything in her mood, anything? No, no,"
FAULKNER said.
FAULKNER said he didn't know why
JOHNSON, after leaving work
about 5 p.m., returned just before midnight.
"Did she come to get some workout clothes? Did she come to get
her service revolver? I don't know."
She wasn't authorized to take her gun home,
FAULKNER said.
An officer who saw
JOHNSON at the station noticed nothing amiss,
FAULKNER said.
The first civilians to find
JOHNSON and
LUCIO after the shooting
described a scene of quiet horror.
"I heard a gunshot, then I heard an engine revving and then a
crash," said Brian
KEARN, who was in the front lobby of his apartment
building near where the van crashed.
He and several other building residents ran outside.
"We tried to get in the van and help the victims but the doors
were locked," he said.
KEARN said he saw a female passenger, with a severe head wound
from a gunshot, sitting in the passenger side. A handgun rested
on her lap.
The male driver appeared to have a bullet wound to his right
temple, KEARN said.
"There was no movement. The people were obviously dead."
Other witnesses: described seeing the man with a bloody left arm
and blood down his back.
"It was awful, just gruesome" said one woman, a nearby resident.
"You could see blood on the airbags."
Another resident of the same building said he heard a bang and
watched from his second-floor window as the van rolled back after
hitting the wall.
When he got to the van, "they were lifeless."
Police on the scene grew instantly quiet once they opened the
van, KEARN said.
"There were quite subdued. They were quite quiet."
JOHNSON was an 18-year veteran of the force.
She's served for several years as the detective sergeant in charge
of the sexual assault and child abuse section and supervised
the force's domestic violence co-ordinator.
Five days ago, she was named acting inspector of the department's
professional standards branch.
Kelly "was a very bright, articulate community-minded officer&hellip
If there was a rising star, specifically female, she was it,"
FAULKNER said.
LUCIO retired as superintendent in 2004 after 35 years of service.
JOHNSON was a role model for many of the about 100 female officers,
FAULKNER said.
"LUCIO was a role model for many of the male officers,"
FAULKNER
said.
"When you see this happen to two people that you either very
much admire and emulate, it shakes your confidence."
Most of the force's 180 civilian employees took the news especially
hard, FAULKNER said.
"It's the tough cop that doesn't show emotion, but civilian staff
are not used to that."
A shaken police board chairperson, Ab
CHAHBAR, said it was a
sad day for the force.
"You can see it all over their faces," he said.
FAULKNER confirmed
JOHNSON and
LUCIO had had a relationship,
but didn't say how close they were.
The two were ex-lovers, several sources told The Free Press.
JOHNSON had been married for several years to a fellow London
officer, Steve
PEARSON, but they separated.
LUCIO was also separated from his wife.
It wasn't clear if
LUCIO and
JOHNSON still had a relationship.
The deaths stunned not only the 720 members of the force, but
hundreds more in community groups where the two high-profile
officers volunteered.
"It's just a great personal tragedy for both families, Friends
and loved ones and anyone who worked with either one of them,"
said Megan
WALKER, head of the London Abused Women's Centre.
"He was a very, very close friend of mine… He loved being a cop,"
said Dave SCATCHERD, owner of the Oakwood resort in Grand Bend.
Police called Ontario's Special Investigations Unit, which probes
civilian deaths and injuries from police actions, but the agency
left the case to London police because the "subject officer"
was dead, FAULKNER said.
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LUCIO o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2007-06-08 published
'A terrible tragedy'
She was London police's highest-ranking female officer, respected
and moving up quickly; he was a tough, compassionate cop retired
after 35 years. Their deaths have stunned a city.
By Jane SIMS,
Sun
Media,
Fri.,
June 8, 2007
Kelly JOHNSON broke through the glass ceiling of the London police
department and had become a role model for the women on the force.
About to take over the helm of the professional standards branch
as an inspector, the force's highest-ranking woman, she was viewed
as a potential future chief.
She was born with policing in her blood. She was the only child
of Merv JOHNSON, who retired as London's deputy chief.
She started with the police force 18 years ago, travelling up
the ranks in traffic and criminal investigations.
Along the way, the 40-year-old
JOHNSON earned the respect and
admiration of many in the anti-violence community.
Yesterday, those who knew her as a friend, officer and anti-violence
advocate reacted with shock and sadness to her violent death.
"It's sad. It's terrible," said retired superintendent Don
ANDREWS,
who was JOHNSON's father's partner on the break- and-enter squad
years ago.
ANDREWS knew
JOHNSON from her childhood and attended her wedding
to London police Insp. Steve
PEARSON about a decade ago.
PEARSON retired from the force last Friday. The couple was estranged.
JOHNSON was set to fill the post left by
PEARSON.
She'd earned
it.
ANDREWS, admittedly never a strong supporter of women in policing,
said: "She was one of the ones I thought was a good one."
Most recently, she headed up the force's sexual assault and child
abuse section, an area that includes domestic violence investigations.
She was a respected member of the London Co-ordinating Committee
to End Women Abuse.
"What she brought was the understanding of a criminal justice
perspective and an openness and a willingness to understand from
a community perspective as well," said Barb
MacQUARRIE, community
director of the Centre of Violence Against Women and Children.
She seemed open to anything. She'd recently attended a forum
on the sex trade, an area police have struggled to deal with,
MacQUARRIE said.
"This is a terrible loss in our community. It is going to have
a big impact on many people that
(LUCIO and
JOHNSON) worked with,"
she said.
Middlesex
Crown attorney Geoff
BEASLEY said
JOHNSON will be "sorely
missed" by colleagues in the justice system.
"She was highly respected for her skills as a police officer
and for the professionalism and compassion she brought to the
investigations she conducted," he said.
One of
JOHNSON's most challenging cases in recent years was that
of Edith SANDERS, an octogenarian child abuser who tortured her
biological daughter and an adopted daughter and held another
woman in virtual slavery for decades.
Megan WALKER, executive director of the London Abused Women's
Centre, served with
JOHNSON on anti-violence committees and spoke
of her "valuable contribution."
Yesterday, she recalled a recent conversation the two had on
a protest march downtown. It was cold that morning, and
JOHNSON
wasn't dressed for the chill.
Nevertheless, "we had a lovely early-morning chat in this protest
march… a wonderful warm talk.
"I am just overcome with sorrow for those who will be impacted
by the loss," she said.
"We talk all the time about domestic violence and getting involved,"
WALKER said. "Truly, we really don't know what goes on in the
lives of people, do we?"
JOHNSON also faced personal tragedy. Her mother, Donna, died
of cancer late in 2005. She had been seriously hurt before that,
struck by a vehicle.
"She was ill in one way or another for quite some period of time,
but when Donna did pass away, Kelly and Merv joined together
and faced it in a strong fashion," said former London deputy
police chief Elgin
AUSTEN.
Her parents were proud of how quickly
JOHNSON moved up the police
ranks, he added.
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LUCIO o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-06-08 published
London police probe death of two officers
Canadian Press
London, Ontario -- Two police colleagues involved in a murder-suicide
that saw them pulled from a crashed van with fatal gunshot wounds
had a relationship, police said yesterday.
Authorities identified the victims as Acting Inspector Kelly
JOHNSON, 40, and retired superintendent David
LUCIO, 57.
Police
Chief
Murray
FAULKNER said the two had a relationship,
although the exact nature of it was not immediately known.
Both were shot before the vehicle they were travelling in crashed
into Ms. JOHNSON's apartment building.
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LUCKASAVITCH o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-08-03 published
Friends mourn a man who was cheerful, selfless
Constable Rob
PLUNKETT is York Regional Police's first fatality
in the line of duty in more than two decades
By Timothy
APPLEBY and Alan
CAIRNS and Tim
SHUFELT,
Page A8
On the chilly February day nine years ago, when 78-year-old Katherine
TOPPI's car skidded across a frozen lake and then plunged through
the ice close to the retirement home in Markham where she lived,
her prospects could scarcely have been more dire.
Ms. TOPPI had suffered a stroke and lost control of her vehicle,
which now was submerged in a couple of metres of bone-numbing
water.
Fortunately for her, a couple of uniformed guardian angels were
on hand.
One was York Regional Police Constable Brent
LUCKASAVITCH; the
other his partner, Constable Rob
PLUNKETT.
Together the policemen carried an inflatable boat out across
the ice and paddled it out to the stricken car, the windshield
of which Constable
PLUNKETT smashed with his baton. They then
scooped the shivering Ms.
TOPPI to safety.
A cheerful, gregarious father of three and a star athlete who
ran triathlons and excelled at half a dozen other strength-testing
sports, Constable
PLUNKETT won a bravery award for the rescue
and would likely have said it was all in a day's work.
But the volunteer work he did, over and above a 22-year police
career cut short early yesterday morning, set him apart.
And his particular passion was in working with mentally handicapped
athletes.
"He had a tremendous impact; he's been a great inspiration for
everyone who knew him. This is a huge loss," said Deborah
BRIGHT,
president and Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics Canada.
"He was just one of these good people you don't meet very often
in your life."
When York Regional Police played host to the Ontario Special
Olympics in 2000, Constable
PLUNKETT chaired the bidding team,
raising close to $1-million for the roughly 800 participants,
drawn from almost 100 countries. Five events took centre stage:
floor hockey, five- and 10-pin bowling, swimming and powerlifting.
As well, he was for many years instrumental in organizing the
annual Law Enforcement Torch Run, since 1987 the favoured charity
of Ontario's police.
"Rob was one of our top fundraisers for more than 15 years,"
Special
Olympics
Ontario president Glen
MacDONELL said.
"He really believed in what the Special Olympics did for people
with intellectual disabilities and he was really engaged in the
community. It was in his nature to be that way and he was well
thought of right around the world. He was recognized locally,
provincially, nationally and internationally because he was one
of the best."
Why did he do it? It was not because he had any vested interest.
None of his three children - two sons aged 16 and 14 and an 18-year-old
daughter - bore any of the handicaps shared by the people whose
cause he championed.
"He didn't do this for any obvious reasons - he was just a great
man, he loved doing things for other people," said Constable
Alan RICHARDSON of the Timmins Police Service, the National Torch
Run co-ordinator.
"He had no connection with the Special Olympics other than that
he was a police officer and that's our charity of choice. He
was just a great family man who loved sports. Everybody he touched
and talked to and got to know held him close to their hearts."
Constable PLUNKETT spent several years with the York Regional
Police tactical squad, one of the more hazardous police duties,
before switching to undercover surveillance work.
"As a police officer you'd think that might be a safer job,"
Constable RICHARDSON said. "But you know, there is no safe job
as a police officer."
In Constable
PLUNKETT's small hometown of Midhurst, just north
of Barrie, residents were reeling yesterday after learning their
neighbour and friend was the fallen policeman they had heard
about in news reports. One family friend broke into tears.
"He was a really lovely man, with a really strong family," she
said, asking not to be named, before running to the
PLUNKETT
home. Constable
PLUNKETT's widow, a school teacher, was "devastated,"
the woman said.
The PLUNKETT family sat on the front porch of their grey-brick
house on what is normally a quiet street. Cars lined the tree-filled
front yard as Friends and family gathered to offer support.
A spokesman for the family said they were too distraught to speak
about their loss. A friend of the
PLUNKETTs' youngest son said
he went over to the family's house after hearing the news.
"He's upset, but it hasn't really sunk in," said 14-year-old
Brian HUGHES. "No one wants to believe it's true."
By every account, the veteran officer was a well-liked, if private,
neighbour.
Roland DEMPSTER, a 30-year community resident, was aware that
Constable PLUNKETT was a policeman but only knew him well enough
to wave from his yard.
Mr. DEMPSTER shook his head at what he said was a senseless crime.
"For an airbag? Does that make any sense to you?" he said. "It's
sad our society's going that way."
The PLUNKETTs' oldest child, Amanda, is preparing to go to university
in the fall, said Kay
RADMAN, a co-worker at the nearby Sears
department store.
"She's a wonderful girl; we just love her," she said of Amanda,
who attended Ms.
RADMAN's 50th birthday party last weekend.
In yesterday's wilting heat, flags at all city facilities in
the City of Vaughan flew at half mast, as they did at Toronto
police stations, to honour the slain officer. They will remain
that way until Constable
PLUNKETT's funeral.
"Our heartfelt sympathies and prayers are with his family," Vaughan
Mayor Linda
JACKSON said in a statement. "The full meaning of
the police motto, 'To serve and protect,' is brought home to
all of us today by today's tragic event."
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LUCKOCK o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-07-28 published
LUCKOCK,
Cawthorne
Clifford "
Cort" (1914-2007)
Passed on peacefully in his 94th year, July 26, 2007 at Bloomington
Cove Nursing Home, Stouffville, Ontario Beloved husband of Virginia
(LEROY.)
Loving father of Cameron of Vernon, British Columbia,
Douglas
(Barb) of Bradford, Ontario and Gloria
WIGG
(Gerry) of
Wilberforce, Ontario. Dear grandfather of 7 and great-grandfather
of 16. Cort began his life's career in the printing ink business.
Originally an ink chemist and later combining his technical skills
with his natural sales ability to become the top salesman with
Sinclair Valentine Printing Inks. His interest in the graphics
industry was only exceeded by his love of Jazz. He spent many
hours listening to radio and records. He attended many concerts
and clubs where he generously entertained clients and family.
His all time favourite was Louis Armstrong having personally
met with Louis many times. It was fitting that he passed listening
to his favourite. Hopefully Louis is playing for him now. Cort
was a lifelong member in the Masonic Lodge supporting and attending
meetings. Bloomington Cove's staff, for the past five years,
provided special care and attention to his needs. The family
wishes to thank the entire staff and in particular Doctor Sampson,
Dr. Brodie and Nurse Rhonda. A private family memorial service
will take place at a later date.
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LUCY o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-06-18 published
TRUCKEL,
Linda and
DILLON,
LUCY
June 2006
My dear friend and mother, you are always in my thoughts. I so
miss the both of you. Suzie
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