ROVAN o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-06-08 published
GORLICK,
Alexander
Pharmacist, noble citizen, caring husband and father, horticulturist,
raconteur, bridge and tennis player, award recipient. Born August
26, 1922, in Toronto. Died April 5 of leukemia, aged 84.
By Wilfred
ROVAN,
Page L8
I met Alex when we were both 14 years of age. We grew up in the
same area of Toronto. I was impressed with his outgoing manner.
He had the gift of the gab and a good sense of humour; our Friendship
clicked immediately. With other Friends from the neighbourhood,
we had a group that developed a great comradeship. What is now
Trinity-Bellwoods park was our playground. We formed a Jaffa
Club under the auspices of Young Judea, where many world-wide
problems were discussed: Alex headed the debating team.
We lost Alex for a while when he discovered the Palais Royale
and Bert Niosi the band leader. He became a smooth dancer. It
was interesting, because he was tone deaf, but he knew how to
keep the beat.
Al graduated from Harbord Collegiate and began a pharmacy apprenticeship.
He enlisted in the army in 1943, and was discharged in 1946.
He enrolled in the college of pharmacy at the University of Toronto
and graduated in 1948.
In 1955, he found the love of his life, Sara
FORTINSKY, and they
were married. He admired his father-in-law who was a melamed
a teacher in the humanities, Judaism and Talmud. Al was so
impressed by him that he became observant. He bought a home with
a large yard and became enthralled with gardening. He put in
a green house and in winter, he nurtured seeds. Motorists would
often stop their cars to view Al's garden -- a thing of beauty.
Al was a true, loyal friend to his buddies. When one became confined
to a wheelchair, Al would almost force him to circulate -- taking
him to movies, the theatre, the symphony and anywhere his friend
had to go.
Al opened a large drugstore in Toronto at Sheppard and Jane,
where he would dispense fatherly advice to seniors on how to
use their medications. The older patients found a professional
they could talk to -- and his drugstore thrived.
Al retired in 2002 and about that time his wife, known as "Sorcy,"
was showing signs of Alzheimer's; in 2005 she was placed in Toronto's
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. He was at her side at 4: 30
every afternoon and was very attentive to her and to the other
patients.
Al was always involved in the community, especially in social
services, and was presented with many plaques and citations.
He loved his city and his country and wanted to give back his
energy and time. His mission was to improve seniors' health,
home and long-term care. In 2003, he received the Ontario Voluntary
Service Award, and the Volunteer of the Year Award from the city
of Toronto in 2003 and 2005.
In March, he called to tell me he had been diagnosed with "galloping
leukemia," the type that destroys the body quickly. We had lunch
the next day. His stoic comments were "I'm not afraid to die.
Life has been very good to me, and I'm ready to accept my fate."
Then he said, paraphrasing Ecclesiastes: "There is a time for
everything under the sun, a time for birth and a time for death."
I phoned April 3, his voice was strong and he was in good spirits.
That evening, he conducted a Passover seder and told his family
that this one was his best. That night he was rushed to the hospital,
where the "galloper" took his life away.
Alex leaves a marvellous legacy to his three children and seven
grandchildren: honesty, family love, optimism, devotion to Friends
and community, and a wonderful sense of humour.
It happened so fast I would have preferred the chance to say
goodbye, give him a big hug and maybe drink our last chugalug
together.
Wilfred ROVAN is a friend of Alexander
GORLICK
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ROVERS o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2007-01-08 published
RIORDAN,
Elizabeth
M. "
Betty"
Peacefully at the Kingsway Lodge, Saint Marys on Saturday, January 6,
2007. Elizabeth M. (Betty)
RIORDAN age 78 years, formerly of
Church Street South, Saint Marys. Beloved wife of the late William R.
(Bill) RIORDAN (1995.) Loving mother of Bill and Jane
RIORDAN
of Saint Marys, Robert
RIORDAN of Saint Marys, Debra and Jake
HEALY
of Wartburg, Janice and Mike
ROVERS and Rod and Charlotte
RIORDAN
all of Saint Marys. Proud and loving grandmother of Mary Jane
PALADICHUK
and Rob, Bill
RIORDAN, Cory
RIORDAN, Mike
RIORDAN, Elly
RIORDAN,
Megan TOEWS and Ed, Emily
REED, Chad
HEALY, Ryan
HEALY, Michelle
ROVERS, Rebecca
ROVERS, Scott
RIORDAN and MaryLou
RIORDAN and
8 great-grandchildren. Dear sister of Annie
GRANT of Stratford
and Pat, Helen and Ernest of Dover, England. Predeceased by a
daughter Jayne Elizabeth (1952,) a sister Kathleen
EELEY and
husband Dave and a brother-in-law Mike
GRANT.
Resting at the
L.A. Ball Funeral Chapel, 7 Water Street North, Saint Marys on
Monday 7-9 p.m. where the funeral service will be held on Tuesday,
January 9, 2007 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Pirie
MITCHELL officiating.
Cremation to follow. In her memory donations to the Canadian
Cancer society or Alzheimer Society would be appreciated as expressions
of sympathy.
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