PANCER
PANDYA
PANET
PANNOZZI
PANNU
PANOS
PANTZIRIS
PANCER o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-06-12 published
PANCER,
Kayla (née
CANTOR)
On Monday, June 11, 2007, at North York General Hospital. Beloved
wife of Ron, dear mother of Marlene and Howard, cherished grandmother
of Cole and Liam, devoted sister and sister-in-law to Pearl and
Edward ARONOFF,
David and Hilary
CANTOR, and Tamar and Stan
GORDON.
Caring mother-in-law to Jane. She will be greatly missed by family
and Friends. A funeral service will be held at Steeles Memorial
Chapel on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at 1 p.m. at 350 Steeles Avenue
West. Shiva at 3181 Bayview Avenue, suite 605, from Wednesday
through Sunday after 1 p.m. Donations may be made to cancer research.
P... Names PA... Names PAN... Names Welcome Home
PANCER o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-08-27 published
WILKS,
Bessie "
Barbara"
On Saturday, August 25, 2007 at Baycrest Hospital, in her 99th
year. Daughter of the late Gavreil Eli and Matle. Beloved wife
of the late Hillel
WILKS. Dear mother and mother-in-law of Sylvia
and Irving
WORTSMAN,
Marlene and David
SEFTON. Loving grandmother
of Sandy and Stephen
LEIBOW,
Jeffrey and Leigh
WORTSMAN, Carol
and Peter BROWN,
Andrew and Eunhee
SEFTON, Daniel and Shelley
SEFTON.
Very proud great-grandmother of Laura and Amanda
LEIBOW
Jamie, Sam and Sophie
WORTSMAN;
Wesley,
Stephanie,
Russell and
Samantha BROWN;
Zev
SEFTON; Sabrina and Max
SEFTON. Survived
by her caring brother and sister-in-law Irving and Min
HANEFORD.
Devoted sister and sister-in-law of the late Sarah and Abraham
ROTENBERG,
Rose and Abe
GREEN, Mary and Joe
PANCER, and Leo and
Edythe HANIFORD.
With gratitude to Josie and Fanny for the wonderful
care given to Bessie. Services were held at Benjamin's Park Memorial
Chapel on Sunday, August 26th. Interment, Beth Sholom Synagogue
section of Mt. Sinai Memorial Park. Shiva, 73 Ridelle Avenue.
Memorial donations to the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation
416-499-1417, or to a charity of your choice.
P... Names PA... Names PAN... Names Welcome Home
PANCER - All Categories in OGSPI
PANDYA o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-10-17 published
ZAHRAI,
Fariba, R.N., B.Sc.N.
I was a fish swimming in the sea of life watching sunrises and
sundowns. Now, I swim in the everlasting ocean where there is
no end in sight, but peace.
Peacefully on Thursday, October 11, 2007 at 10: 31 p.m. in hospital
surrounded by the love and support of family after a determined
and unselfish battle against ovarian cancer. Fariba is survived
by her devoted and loving husband, Jodie
PARMAR, their three
cherished and loving sons, Nolan (5), Liam (6), and Nevin (13),
her loving son, Nader (19), her loving daughter, Laila (24),
her loving parents, Doctor Amir Hassan
ZAHRAI and Farideh
AGHAYAN,
and her two wonderful and loving brothers, Beau and Doctor Ali
ZAHRAI.
Fariba was born in Tehran on February 27, 1961 and was raised
there and
in London, England. She completed high school at The
Hun School of Princeton -- an independent college preparatory
school located in Princeton, New Jersey. Fariba graduated from
the University of Toronto, Faculty of Nursing, Bachelor of Science
in Nursing (Dean's Honour List) and from George Brown College,
Diploma Nursing (Dean's Honour List). Fariba was a member of
Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. During
her nursing career, Fariba worked at Toronto Public Health in
the 277 Victoria Street and 1115 Queen Street West offices, and
at Mount Sinai Hospital in the High-Risk Ante Partum Unit. She
made a positive difference in the lives of her patients/clients
and colleagues. The family wishes to express its sincere appreciation
to the compassionate and caring staff at each of Saint Michael's
Hospital, Toronto General Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital,
and Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. In particular, the
family is grateful for the care provided by Doctors Rashida
HAQ,
Barry ROSEN, Anthony
FYLE,
Amit
OZA, Leslie
LEVIN, Ted
AXLER,
Helen PYLE,
Sudhir
PANDYA, and Linda
McLEAN. In addition, the
family wishes to recognize the kind assistance of Adiba, Mirella,
and Tessa at Saint Michael's Hospital; Mhari at Toronto General
Hospital; Heidi, Noela, Valerie, Linda, and Josie at Princess
Margaret Hospital; Yolanda, Carol, Amanda, Julie, Jean, Jennifer,
and Manuel at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital; Jadwiga at
Comcare; Laura at Acclaim, Alison at Community Care Access Centre
Halton, and Ron Marcinkoski at Market Drugs Medical in Edmonton.
Interment took place at York Cemetery on Monday, October 15,
2007 in a private, family ceremony. A tribute to honour and celebrate
Fariba's life will be held at the Reception Centre, York Cemetery,
160 Beecroft Road (west of the North York Civic Centre), Toronto,
Ontario on Thursday, October 18, 2007 from 7 to 9 p.m. In lieu
of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the National Ovarian
Cancer Association, 101-145 Front Street East, Toronto, Ontario,
M5A 1E3 or 1-877-413-7970 in order to 'Turn Up the Volume!' on
ovarian cancer. You've done your best; it's time to rest.
P... Names PA... Names PAN... Names Welcome Home
PANDYA - All Categories in OGSPI
PANET o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-09-27 published
PANET,
Charles
Eric deLotbinière
(July 3, 1931-September 24, 2007)
son of deLotbinière Harewood
PANET and Edith Burpee
PANET (nee
CARRUTHERS) passed away peacefully on Monday, September 24, 2007,
surrounded by his family, after a short lung illness.
He is survived by his wife
Andrea
Rowley
PANET, his daughters
Deirdre Panet
FRANCIS (Derrick) and Margot Panet
WARD (Chris),
by his grand_son Jack
WARD, and step-grandchildren Alexandra and
Aaron FRANCIS.
Also his sister Elizabeth
FAIRBAIRN (David,) nieces
and nephew; Heather, John and Sarah, great-nieces and many cousins.
Charlie was a strong, and quiet man, always a gentleman. He was
a fine athlete who made fitness a priority in his life. In his
early years at Trinity College School, he was a gymnast and excelled
in many sports. He enjoyed outdoor activities including boating,
bicycling, roller-blading, tennis, skiing, and skating in his
adult life. Like his father, he was an excellent artist. He loved
music, good food and family gatherings.
Charlie followed in the footsteps of his father and family and
joined the Canadian Army (Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery).
Shortly after completion of officer training, he was posted to
the 3rd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery serving in Petawawa,
Korea, Debert (Nova Scotia). After his flying training, he was
posted to Shilo, Manitoba and then Hemer, Germany.
Upon return from Germany, Charlie spent time in Edmonton and
served on the Headquarters' staff of Western Command and the
Canadian Contingent in Cyprus. He was selected to attend the
Canadian Army Staff College in Kingston in 1965. Charlie was
posted as Staff Officer, Pan American Games at Headquarters Training
Command in Winnipeg. After a one year posting to Northern Army
Group in Germany, he returned to Valcartier, Québec as 2nd in
Command of 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron. Charlie retired
in 1979 from National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.
Charlie opened the Fish House in Kingston in 1980, which he enjoyed
as his second career. Following his time as a fish monger, he
wintered in Florida on his boat, and summered at Carruther's
Point in Kingston. In 1995, he moved to Wolfe Island, where he
very much enjoyed being part of the community.
He will be greatly missed by all of his family and many Friends.
The family will receive Friends at the Robert J. Reid and Sons
Funeral Home, 309 Johnson Street (at Barrie Street) Kingston,
on Friday, September 28 from 7-9 p.m.. Liturgy of the Word will
be celebrated at Saint Mary's Cathedral, 279 Johnson Street on
Saturday, September 29, 2007 at 1: 00 p.m. A reception to follow
for family and Friends at Robert J. Reid and Sons Funeral Home.
Donations in Charlie's memory to the Salvation Army or charity
of your choice would be appreciated by the family. Online Guestbook:
www.reidfuneralhome.com 613-548-7973
P... Names PA... Names PAN... Names Welcome Home
PANET - All Categories in OGSPI
PANNOZZI o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2007-01-10 published
Family wants answers in son's Mexico death
Friend claims Woodbridge man, 19, was beaten outside Acapulco
nightclub but police say he was hit-and-run victim
By Tracy HUFFMAN,
Crime
Reporter
Adam DEPRISCO had worked for months to save enough money to go
to Acapulco with a long-time friend -- his first vacation without
family.
But just three days after landing in Mexico for the two-week
stay, the 19-year-old Woodbridge man was killed.
Now his family is demanding to know what happened.
Mexican authorities say he was struck by a car after leaving
a nightclub on a busy road but the family believes he was beaten
after dancing with a local man's girlfriend. The one thing both
parties agree on is that
DEPRISCO -- who worked by day as a painter
with his uncle and by night clearing tables at a Woodbridge restaurant
was killed by someone who has not been apprehended.
Overwhelmed with grief,
DEPRISCO's mother Carm and father Benny,
have been staying with relatives, unable to return to a home
filled with pictures and memories of their son. With the help
of a large and close family, they have made dozens of phone calls
to Mexican and Canadian authorities, but still don't believe
their son's death is getting the attention it deserves.
"I want these guys found," said
DEPRISCO's older brother Tony
at his uncle's home yesterday. "It seems like everybody is trying
to cover up what happened."
"We have theories but no facts," said
DEPRISCO's uncle, Claudio
PANNOZZI.
"There's no clear indication as to what happened and it seems
like no one wants to help us find answers" said
DEPRISCO's aunt,
Lucy DEFILIPPIS-
PANNOZZI.
Mexican police told the Star yesterday they are investigating
what they believe was a hit-and-run accident early Sunday morning.
DEPRISCO died in a Mexican hospital at 9: 15 p.m. Monday. An aunt
and uncle made it to his bedside before he died and have been
dealing with Mexican police and hospital officials.
Initially the family believed he was hit by a car, but now believe
he was beaten, especially after speaking to
DEPRISCO's travelling
companion Marco
CALABRO and the relatives who flew to Mexico
hours after hearing he was in hospital.
"I want someone to find who did this to my son," said Carm
DEPRISCO,
sobbing uncontrollably. "I want someone to take charge. I lost
my son, I'm not going to let this go without being fought."
Carm DEPRISCO has been weeping since she received a phone call
from her son's friend around 5 a.m. Sunday.
According to family, Adam
DEPRISCO went to a nightclub with his
friend on Saturday night. He was dancing with a local woman when
a man, possibly her boyfriend, became upset.
A bouncer threw
DEPRISCO from the bar, the family believes. When
CALABRO went looking for him, he found his friend on the ground
outside the club, bleeding from his head, said Tony
DEPRISCO.
Police in Acapulco said
DEPRISCO's injuries were typical for
someone struck by a car. But the family believes he would have
suffered more than head injuries if hit by a car.
The investigation is continuing, said Victor Hernández, a spokesperson
for Acapulco police.
DEPRISCO was a good man who never had run-ins with the law and
loved to make others happy, his family said. After graduating
from high school he decided to take a year off, save some money
and take a two-week vacation to Mexico. He wanted to become a
tool and die maker and planned to begin an apprenticeship later
this year.
"He worked hard and never depended on anyone," said brother Tony.
"He had a big heart."
Through their frustration and hunt for answers, the
DEPRISCOs
said they want Canadians to be safe, perhaps even through a travel
ban to Mexico.
"We don't want people coming home from Mexico like Adam," said
PANNOZZI.
Calls to the Mexican Embassy in Ottawa were not returned.
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said a travel
advisory is in place that urges travellers to exercise "caution
and prudence" travelling in Mexico.
The department is aware of
DEPRISCO's death but there are no
plans to request that Canadians not travel to Mexico, said Rejean
Beaulieu, a spokesperson for the department.
"We are helping the family. We've been in touch with them to
see what kind of assistance they are looking for," he said.
But the family said they still don't have answers.
DEPRISCO's body is expected to arrive in Canada today or tomorrow.
Funeral arrangements have not been confirmed.
P... Names PA... Names PAN... Names Welcome Home
PANNOZZI - All Categories in OGSPI
PANNU o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2007-09-12 published
Crash kills London mother, daughter
Their car hit a median on Highway 401 and was struck by a transport
truck.
By Randy RICHMOND, Sun Media, Wed., September 12, 2007
Grim scene: The driver of this transport truck died yesterday
morning when he rear-ended a tractor trailer on Highway 401 near
Colonel Talbot Road that had slowed for a police roadblock to
divert traffic around an earlier fatal accident. (Derek
RUTTAN
Sun Media)
A London mother and daughter dedicated to helping victims of
self abuse were killed yesterday in a Highway 401 crash that
led to the death of a third driver hours later.
B.J. THOM, 52, also known as Elizabeth, and her daughter, Ashley
GARROD, 22, were killed after their car hit the median in the
east lanes of Highway 401 between Colonel Talbot Road and Wellington
Road, spun out of control and was hit by a transport truck during
heavy rain about 4 a.m., police said.
The driver of the tractor-trailer faces several charges, including
leaving the scene of an accident causing death.
A second crash occurred just before 11 a.m. at the roadblock
where police were diverting traffic from Highway 401 to Colonel
Talbot Road.
A transport truck slowed down at the roadblock and a second truck
slammed into it, killing the driver of the second truck.
Killed in the second crash was Timothy
McDERMOTT, 50, of South
Woodslee, Essex County.
The three deaths bring to nine the total killed on area roads
the last 11 days and the carnage is exasperating police, said
Const. Doug
GRAHAM of Middlesex Ontario Provincial Police.
"Every accident on Highway 401 and 402 in the past few days was
preventable. We are very concerned about all these deaths," he
said.
Some drivers aren't getting the message to slow down in bad weather
or at night, to leave room between vehicles and to wear seatbelts,
GRAHAM said.
"That is is what is so disturbing."
Friends of
THOM and
GARROD expressed horror yesterday at the
news the pair had died.
THOM and
GARROD ran Self Abuse Finally Ends in Canada, a London-based
group that helps people who hurt themselves.
THOM had successfully fought self abuse, said Trix
VAN
EGMOND,
mental health public educator with the Canadian Mental Health
Association of London- Middlesex.
"She gave help back and she did it in a personalized way. She
was very funny and irreverent, I think, from going to hell and
back herself."
GARROD was driving the car when the crash occurred, Ontario Provincial
Police said.
Police learned of the accident from a motorist who noticed headlights
from a vehicle in the south ditch along the east lanes.
Officers arrived to find the two women dead and the car "extensively
damaged," GRAHAM said.
They also found a headlight at the scene.
"From the impact and from the evidence left at the scene we were
able to determine it was a tractor-trailer we were looking for,"
GRAHAM said.
It appears the car hit the median and spun enough that the truck
hit the passenger side,
GRAHAM said.
Police searched area truck stops for a damaged tractor- trailer
missing a headlight. They found a truck parked at the back of
the Flying J truck stop south off Highway 401 near Highbury Avenue
about two hours later,
GRAHAM said.
The driver was inside the truck, he added, and at first refused
to leave the cab, .
"He made no effort to contact police or return to the scene,"
GRAHAM said.
Stefan FOGIEL, 61, of Acton, has been charged with two counts
of failing to remain at the scene of an accident causing death,
resisting arrest, failing to maintain log books and failing to
have a pre-trip inspection, Ontario Provincial Police said.
FOGIEL made a brief court appearance before Justice of the Peace
Patricia HODGINS yesterday.
White-haired with glasses and wearing a white T-shirt with a
Bass
Beer logo,
FOGIEL told
HODGINS he wanted a Polish interpreter
for his court appearances.
Assistant
Crown attorney Brian
WHITE/WHYTE ordered
FOGIEL be kept in
custody. He is to make a video court appearance today.
The second crash yesterday occurred only minutes after police
had removed the London women's crumpled blue car from the scene
of the first incident.
"The lead transport truck was slowing down. The one behind slammed
into it. It was quite an impact,"
GRAHAM said.
The driver of the first transport, Harpreet
PANNU, 29, of Brampton,
suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
There was no reason for the collision,
GRAHAM said.
P... Names PA... Names PAN... Names Welcome Home
PANNU o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-09-12 published
Three die in separate but related crashes on the 401
By Unnati GANDHI,
Page A7
Three people are dead, including a mother and daughter, after
a horrific chain of events unfolded on a small strip of Canada's
busiest highway yesterday.
The accidents involved four vehicles - including three trucks
- in two separate but related crashes.
It all began about 4 a.m. Fanshawe College student Ashley
GARROD,
22, was driving eastbound on the 401 near London, Ontario, with
her mother, Elizabeth
THOM, when a tractor-trailer struck them
from behind, police said. Their small car was sent skidding across
the highway before coming to a stop in the ditch on the south
side.
Ontario
Provincial
Police Sergeant Dave
REKTOR said police received
a 911 call about headlights seen shining out of the ditch.
When emergency crews arrived, they found Ms.
GARROD and her 52-year-old
mother dead inside the car. The truck that had hit them was nowhere
to be found, Sgt.
REKTOR said.
After issuing a public alert, police found a truck with extensive
damage to its front at a Flying J truck stop a few kilometres
away.
Its 61-year-old driver, Stefan
FOGIEL, of Acton, has been charged
with two counts of failing to remain at the scene of an accident
causing death, resisting arrest, failing to maintain log books,
and failing to have a pre-trip inspection.
The highway was closed for several hours as investigators reconstructed
the collision.
Then, just before 11 a.m., a transport truck slowing down as
it approached the roadblock at the collision site was struck
from behind by another truck. The driver of the second truck,
Timothy McDERMOTT, 50, died on impact. The driver of the first
truck, Harpreet
PANNU, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
No charges are expected to be laid.
"It would appear the driver was not paying attention," Sgt.
REKTOR
said. "The at-fault driver was the victim as well."
The officer said the collisions were that much more tragic because
both could have been prevented with more careful driving.
P... Names PA... Names PAN... Names Welcome Home
PANNU - All Categories in OGSPI
PANOS o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-11-21 published
PANOS,
Louis
Passed away peacefully in Toronto Monday, November 19, 2007 at
age 81. Beloved husband of the late Pat. Loving father of Tony,
and Larry and his wife Janita. Dear Papou of Lewis and Henry.
Dear brother of Alexandra and brother-in-law of Stavroula
JANETOS,
Georgina MELIDONIOTIS and Elevtheria
PAVLOUNIS.
The family will
receive Friends at the Humphrey Funeral Home - A.W. Miles Chapel,
1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Eglinton Avenue East), from 2-4 and
7-9 p.m. on Thursday, November 22nd. Funeral Liturgy will by
held on Friday, November 23rd at 10: 00 a.m. in the Prophet Elias
Greek Orthodox Church, 1785 Matheson Boulevard East, Mississauga.
Interment to follow at Saint_John's Dixie Cemetery. For those who
wish, donations may be made to the Hellenic Home for the Aged.
Condolences and memories may be forwarded through
www.humphreymiles.com
P... Names PA... Names PAN... Names Welcome Home
PANOS - All Categories in OGSPI
PANTZIRIS o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-10-12 published
PANTZIRIS,
Panayotis "
Takis"
(January 4, 1929-October 10, 2007)
It is with great sadness that the Pantziris family announces
the passing of their dear father at the age of 78 on October 10,
2007 at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, after a courageous
battle with leukemia. He was loving, generous, and fully supporting
to his family, to his Friends, to his faith and church and to
his adopted country of Canada. He had great love and endless
dedication for his wife, children and family, derived great joy
from his grandchildren, possessed immeasurable enthusiasm for
his business, and his love for life and his drive for excellence
will continue to inspire many. Takis was born in Alexandria,
Egypt, studied Engineering in France and spent his remarkable
career building textile plants worldwide and pioneering new textile
processes. He was passionate about his work, and was recognized
and respected as a genius in his field of yarn manufacturing.
Takis is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Aglaia (neé
MOULLAS,) his children Spiros
PANTZIRIS and daughter Ellen
BOWLIN,
and their spouses Julie
PANTZIRIS and Brent
BOWLIN.
Especially
dear to him were his five grandchildren, Panayotis (Taki), Alexander,
Jack, Nicholas, and Aglaia (Lia). He will also be missed by his
sister Stella and brother-in-law Paul
BOUCHEROT, his sister-in-law
Helen MOULLAS and his dear nieces and nephew, his cousins, and
his many Friends. The family also wishes to express its thanks
to Mrs. Nympha Verder and Mrs. Ruth Agbanay and to the doctors
and nurses of Princess Margaret Hospital for the care and dedication
they bestowed upon our father. Family and Friends will be received
at the Ogden Funeral Home, 4164 Sheppard Avenue East (at Midland),
Scarborough, on Friday, October 12, from 6: 00 p.m-9:00 p.m. Services
will be held at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 3840 Finch
Avenue East, Scarborough, on Saturday, October 13, at 10: 00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation
are appreciated. His love and faith will be with us always.
P... Names PA... Names PAN... Names Welcome Home
PANTZIRIS o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-12-06 published
Engineer was among the first textile makers to go green and recycle
Founder of Spintex was on his way to becoming a naval engineer
when he took the advice of a stranger on a train and took up
the manufacture of fabrics. Today, he is regarded as a genius
By Noreen SHANAHAN,
Special to The Globe and Mail, Page S7
Toronto -- Panayotis
PANTZIRIS was a "green" textiles manufacturer
long before most of his contemporaries had even thought of the
concept. The founder of Spintex Yarns in Toronto, he was the
first in the industry to salvage scraps from the floors of cutting
rooms and recycle them into quality yarn. Considered something
of a genius, he was recognized as one of the world's experts
in yarn spinning and fabric development.
"What we're hearing today, from people like Al Gore, my father
recognized in 1990," said his son, Spiros, Chief Executive Officer
of Spintex. "He always believed that, even though people were
buying the yarn from us for many reasons, he knew that one day
they would buy it because of its environmental value."
It all started in 1950 because of a chance meeting with a stranger.
Just like the Dustin Hoffman character in the movie The Graduate
who was told that "the future is in plastics," he was told his
future was in fabrics.
Panayotis (Takis)
PANTZIRIS was born in Alexandria, Egypt, a
few years after the country gained its independence from Britain.
His father, Spiros, worked as a headwaiter at the British Officers
Club and often took home extra rations for his wife and two children
in the heart of the Greek expatriate community. By all accounts,
young Takis was more interested in hefty portions of food, or
in playing sports, than he was in anything having to do with
fabrics. A child with a large capacity for curiosity, he also
attached himself to all kinds of hobbies or buried himself behind
a book.
He graduated from a Greek high school in Alexandria at a time
when the Second World War was raging not far away. He remembered
watching the streets fill up with soldiers from Britain, New
Zealand, Australia and India who were assembling to defend the
city. At this time, the Germans stood poised at the Egyptian
border with Libya, with Alexandria, Cairo and the Suez Canal
as their next targets. As it turned out, Erwin Rommel never set
foot in Alexandria; the Germans were turned back at the Second
Battle of El Alamein in late 1942.
It was a challenging time to be a teenager, but Mr.
PANTZIRIS
graduated with high grades and fluency in Arabic, Greek, French,
English, Italian and Spanish. His father told him to get an education
abroad. At 21, he left Alexandria for France to study naval engineering
in Marseilles. It was on a train crossing France that he met
a fellow passenger who urged him to go into textiles. Until that
moment, it is likely the thought had never crossed his mind.
But, perhaps because Egypt was a giant in the cotton industry,
he fully understood the wisdom of the man's advice. Instead of
leaving the train in Marseilles, he continued north to Mulhouse,
close to the Swiss and German borders, and entered an apprenticeship
in a machine shop that held contracts with textile factories.
For a year, he learned mechanical skills on the shop floor, then
decided it would be a good idea to attend the École nationale
supérieure des industries textiles de Mulhouse and get an education
as a textile mechanical engineer.
After graduating, he returned to Egypt and, 18 months later,
became general manager of a large textile mill that employed
more than 3,000 workers. Later, he set up a second mill for the
same owner. In the end, he built and operated four plants in
Egypt: two yarn-spinning ones, a fabric and yarn dye house and
a knitting one.
By the mid-1950s, Egypt was in crisis. In 1952, a group of army
officers that included Gamal Abdel Nasser had seized power and
begun nationalizing industries. In 1956, Nasser became president
and took over the Suez Canal. Britain, France and Israel allied
themselves to regain control and attacked Egypt, but Soviet and
U.S. pressure forced the withdrawal of forces - all of which
caused Mr.
PANTZIRIS to think seriously about going abroad again.
Not long after, he met an attractive young woman named Aglaia
and fell in love. They married in 1957. Together, they believed
opportunities would be greater elsewhere. Mr.
PANTZIRIS spent
a few years working on contracts in Sudan, Germany and Greece.
In 1963, he was hired to build and operate a yarn-spinning plant
in Saint-Placide, Quebec By then, he had children, so he took
his family with him. They liked what they saw and, a few years
later, moved to Toronto, where he took over the running of Canadian
Worsted, the largest long-staple yarn-spinning plant in the country.
Along the way, he attended industry fairs in Milan, Paris and
Hanover to pick up the latest techniques and developments in
the business.
All things considered, Mr.
PANTZIRIS was probably the smartest
textile producer in North America, said clothing manufacturer
Len ZWEIG, who likes to tell a story about once sharing an airplane
ride with him. "One day I was in Montreal, rushing to get my
plane. The stewardess took me to my seat and he was in it. He
told me, 'I've got some new type of yarn and I'm opening up my
own factory.' So I kicked the guy out of the next seat because
I knew that, with this guy, I could make money." They became
close Friends, said Mr.
ZWEIG, who produced London Fog sweaters
in Toronto.
In 1972, Mr.
PANTZIRIS left Canadian Worsted and built Spintex
Yarns. At last, he had his own plant and could fully develop
his ideas. At the forefront was a new technique to recycle yarn.
At first, many people in the industry laughed at the idea of
making new clothing and textiles from old, said Spiros
PANTZIRIS.
"It has turned 180 degrees from a negative to a positive selling
point," he told the National Post. "He said there was a great
business in these scraps of cotton left on cutting-room floors.
We talked about the impact on not just the process of spinning
but on the environment, as well."
As for his recycled yarn, Mr.
ZWEIG said it's not the best yarn
in the world but it sure saves a lot of waste. "It goes into
a machine in rags and gets ripped apart. It gets put into another
machine and, lo and behold, it comes out in a big bale that looks
like cotton batting, almost. They put the bale into another machine
and it comes out spun as yarn, wind it right on the cones and
it's USAble for knitting machines or looms, ready to be shipped
out to customers."
Among the customers are Wal-Mart, Nike, Patagonia, Columbia,
the Gap and Eddy Bauer.
"I'm dealing with companies now that I never would have dreamed
of dealing with," Spiros
PANTZIRIS told The Textile Journal in
April. "They're coming to [Spintex] because they are selling
to the 18-to-24 age group - a group that is, by nature, more
interested in the environment."
And the recycling doesn't end there. Fibres too short to be respun
are sold to felt makers to be turned into mattress pads; cotton
dust created by the spinning process is collected, pressed into
a puck-like shapes and given away to local farmers for use as
a feed additive or as fertilizer. And there is more to come.
In the United States alone, many thousands of metric tons of
cotton "table waste" produced by cut-and-sew facilities currently
end up in landfills that could be recycled.
For Panayotis
PANTZIRIS, it was proof that the textile industry
could be environmentally friendly. "He always understood the
value of the environment, [and] the value of protecting the environment,"
said his son. "The fact that he could translate it into a business
was something he cherished."
Panayotis PANTZIRIS was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on January 4,
1929. He died of leukemia in Toronto on October 10, 2007. He
was 78. He is survived by his wife, Aglaia, his son Spiros and
daughter Ellen
BOWLIN. He also leaves his sister Stella
BOUCHEROT
and grandchildren Taki, Jack, Alexander, Nicholas and Aglaia.
P... Names PA... Names PAN... Names Welcome Home
PANTZIRIS - All Categories in OGSPI