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MORRISSEY - All Categories in OGSPI
MORRISSON o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-04-07 published
HORTON,
Nelly (née
VAN
DER
TOORN)
Peacefully, in the loving arms of her husband, after a heroic
four year battle with cancer, on Saturday, April 5, 2008 at Parkwood
Hospital, Nelly
HORTON (née
VAN
DER
TOORN) passed away in her
59th year. Loving wife and best friend of Rick for 42 years.
Loving mother of Laura
PLANK and her husband Rob, Tammy
HORTON
and Dane ARN. Cherished Nana of Sydney. Will be greatly missed
by Baylee, Belle and Mr. Magoo. Nelly will be sadly missed by
many family and Friends both in Canada and Holland. Predeceased
by her loving mother Joan
VAN
DER
TOORN (2006.) Friends will
be received at Forest Lawn Memorial Chapel, 1997 Dundas Street
East (at Wavell), for visitation on Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. Funeral
Service will be held in the chapel on Thursday, April 10, 2008
at 1 p.m. (with visitation one hour prior). Interment to follow
at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. In memory, donations to the
London Regional Cancer Program would be greatly appreciated.
A special thank you from the family to Doctor Mark
VINCENT,
Connie
MORRISSON and Carol
WATSON for their care and compassion.
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MORRISSON - All Categories in OGSPI
MORROW o@ca.on.grey_county.hanover.the_post 2008-02-01 published
Pillar of community Bud
MORROW dies at 92
By Donna DURIC,
Friday,
February 01, 2008
"Bud" MORROW made Friends wherever he went. His life was marked
by honesty, fairness and active involvement in his community.
Right up until the day he died, he enjoyed life, Friends and
family.
Alred
Frederick "
Bud"
MORROW died on January 26 at Hanover and
District Hospital. He was 93.
More than 300 people came to his visitation on Monday. "I just
thought that was a testament to how respected and how well-liked
he was in this community," said his granddaughter, Christie.
"He was a pillar of the community."
Mr. MORROW, born in 1915 in Aneroid, Saskatchewan., spent his
early years as the second eldest of seven siblings moving around
throughout the prairies.
He hunted for supper on the way home from school until he quit
at 15 to help out the family. The Depression had hit and times
were tough. Mr.
MORROW became a sort of jack-of-all-trades as
he worked a variety of jobs - everything from butcher to hunter.
"He's our own version of Forest Gump," said Christie.
"He's seen it all and been through it all."
In 1939, after the Second World War broke out, Mr.
MORROW joined
the air force, based in Calgary.
He couldn't pilot an aircraft, though, because he was colour
blind, so he worked on the ground, doing repairs.
It was while he was repairing a Mosquito Bomber that he first
learned of Hanover. The town's name was imprinted on a wing he
was repairing, along with the names of the women working at the
factory based here that made the wings.
He would receive other serendipitous callings to Hanover later
on.
He started his family in 1943 in Calgary after marrying the late
Ruth MARSHALL, whose parents were originally of Allan Park, just
outside Hanover.
His in-laws had planned to come back and retire here. His first
son Doug was born, and Mr.
MORROW headed east to Toronto to get
discharged from the air force.
It was during that time he and Ruth decided to visit her parents
here in Hanover. He sent her and the baby on their way with one
train ticket and to save money, decided he would hitch hike here
and meet up with them.
A couple who spotted him in uniform in Bolton, Ontario just happened
to be heading to Hanover and offered him a ride.
What was supposed to be a visit turned into a permanent move.
He settled here and twins Al and Hildred were born. Today, Al
writes a bi-weekly column for The Post on the history of Hanover
and the surrounding area.
Mr. MORROW started a hardware business in downtown Hanover, at
the corner of 10th Street and 12th Avenue.
The building is still called The Morrow Centre today, even though
it's been more than 10 years since he sold the building.
He did home renovations, sold lumber and mixed paint for customers.
"People would drive from all over to get him to mix their paint,"
says Christie, noting the irony of that talent considering he
was colour-blind.
He began to join many committees and organizations while building
his successful business.
"Grandpa's philosophy was, 'if you live in the community and
earn your living in there, you give back to the community."
He was a member and one-time president of the Rotary Club for
62 years.
He served on the planning board for the town and helped shape
the layout of the town as it is today. He was chair of the high
school board, involved with the Friends of the Hanover Library
and an active member of Grace United Church, which he still attended
until his death whenever he felt well enough, said Al.
And he always carried a package of smarties to give to the little
ones. He was even buried with a package of smarties, said Al.
A man who spent his life moving around all over the continent
ended up in Hanover and his family believes he was always meant
to come here.
"We'll miss him. It's going to be a huge void in the fun department."
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MORROW o@ca.on.grey_county.owen_sound.the_sun_times 2008-03-28 published
BROWN,
Joan
Marie
(PARKER)
At Grey Bruce Health Services, Markdale, on Wednesday, March 26,
2008. Joan Marie
BROWN
(PARKER) of Markdale, formerly of Guelph
in her 79th year. Beloved wife of the late Ivan
BROWN. Dear mother
of Peter BROWN
(Lesley
SNEDDON) of Carleton Place, Terry
BRODIE
(Ray LEWIS) of Markdale, Rebekah
THEODORE of Guelph and Virginia
STEFFLER
(Glenn) of Markham. Grandmother of Matthew, Heather
and Evan BRODIE, Madeleine and Abraham
THEODORE, Isobel
BAKER-
BROWN,
Emerson and Benjamin
STEFFLER.
Sister of Doreen
MORROW, Barbara
MORROW,
David
PARKER and Walter
PARKER. Predeceased by brother
Roland. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday March 29th
at the May Funeral Home, Markdale, at 2: 00 p.m. Spring interment
in Markdale Cemetery. If desired, donations to the Centre Grey
Health Services Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society would
be appreciated.
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MORROW o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-04-18 published
WHITELAW,
Jean
F.
After a courageous battle at Victoria Hospital on April 16th,
2008, Miss Jean F.
WHITELAW of London in her 89th year. Loving
daughter of the late Archie and Jeanie
WHITELAW. Dear sister
of the late Emily
BUCHANAN and the late Charles
WHITELAW.
She
will be sadly missed by nieces Barbara
MORROW of Brantford and
Chris WHITELAW of London, and nephew Brian
WHITELAW of Australia.
Great aunt of David
WHITE/WHYTE (Carole), Andrea (Keith
BRADSHAW),
Amy CORCORAN (Martin
GRAHAM), Daizy
LUX (Jonathan
NAF) and Melissa
CORCORAN. In keeping with Jean's wishes, cremation has taken
place and a memorial service to celebrate her life will be held
in the Lloyd R. Needham Funeral Chapel (520 Dundas Street, London)
on Friday, April 18th, 2008 at 1: 00 p.m. with visitation for
one hour prior to service time. Inurnment at Woodland Cemetery.
In memory of Jean, contributions to the London Regional Cancer
Centre would be greatly appreciated.
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MORROW o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-04-21 published
BATTEN,
Ola▼
Jean▼
(JOHNS)
At her late residence on Sunday, April 20, 2008 Ola Jean
(JOHNS)
BATTEN of Exeter in her 84th year. Beloved wife of John
BATTEN.
Dear mother of Sharon and Dave
PASSMORE of R.R.#1 Woodham, Helen
and Ken KADEY of Huron Park, and Ralph and Cathy
BATTEN of Exeter.
Dear grandmother of Tom and Sue
PASSMORE and Jon
PASSMORE;
Zachary▼
KADEY;
Jason▼ and Jeremy
BATTEN and Tanya and Kenny
McNICHOL.
Dear great-grandmother of Brock and Haley. Dear sister and sister-in-law
of Bill JOHNS and Ruth
IRVINE, Irene
DUNN, Lillian Johns
HAILEY
all of Exeter, Dianne
WEBER of Wingham, Kay and Emerson
PENHALE
of Exeter, Joan and Jock
ANDREWS of Kitchener, and Barbara
MORROW
of Birr. Predeceased by a brother Emerson
JOHNS and brothers-in-law
Mervin DUNN,
Hans▼
GERSTENKORN and Bill
BATTEN. Friends may call
at the Haskett Funeral Home, 370 William Street, 1 west of Main,
Exeter on Monday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. where the funeral service will
be held on Tuesday, April 22 at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Judith
RITCHIE officiating. Interment Zion Cemetery. Donations to the
Canadian Cancer Society or Thames Road- Elimville United Church
would be appreciated by the family. Condolences may be forwarded
through www.haskettfh.com
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MORROW o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-04-22 published
BATTEN,
Ola▲
Jean▲
(JOHNS)
At her late residence on Sunday, April 20, 2008 Ola Jean
(JOHNS)
BATTEN of Exeter in her 84th year. Beloved wife of John
BATTEN.
Dear mother of Sharon and Dave
PASSMORE of R.R.#1 Woodham, Helen
and Ken KADEY of Huron Park, and Ralph and Cathy
BATTEN of Exeter.
Dear grandmother of Tom and Sue
PASSMORE and Jon
PASSMORE;
Zachary▲
KADEY;
Jason▲ and Jeremy
BATTEN and Tanya and Kenny
McNICHOL.
Dear great-grandmother of Brock and Hailey. Dear sister and sister-in-law
of Bill JOHNS and Ruth
IRVINE,
Irene
DUNN, Lillian
JOHNS all
of Exeter, Dianne
WEBER of Wingham, Kay and Emerson
PENHALE of
Exeter, Joan and Jock
ANDREWS of Kitchener, and Barbara
MORROW
of Birr. Predeceased by a brother Emerson
JOHNS and brothers-in-law
Mervin DUNN,
Hans▲
GERSTENKORN and Bill
BATTEN. Friends may call
at the Haskett Funeral Home, 370 William Street, 1 west of Main,
Exeter on Monday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. where the funeral service will
be held on Tuesday, April 22 at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Judith
RITCHIE officiating. Interment Zion Cemetery. Donations to the
Canadian Cancer Society or Thames Road-Elimville United Church
would be appreciated by the family. Condolences may be forwarded
through www.haskettfh.com
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MORROW o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-04-29 published
BOLGER,
Lorraine
In Thunder Bay on Saturday April 26, 2008. Lorraine
BOLGER of
Thunder Bay and formerly of Dutton in her 73rd year. Beloved
wife of the late Frank
BOLGER. Survived by her Stepchildren Marguerite
DOBBIN of Peterborough. Patrick
BOLGER of Toronto, Mary
COOPER
of Cremona, Alberta, Michael
BOLGER of Regina, Paul
BOLGER of
Washago, and step-grandchildren, Sisters and brothers, Irene
MORROW, Gerry
ALBENE, Bernice
DINER, Bernard
MORROW, Walter
MORROW,
all of Thunder Bay, Dolores
GORDON of Toronto and sister-in-law
Rita MORROW of Thunder Bay and several nieces and nephews. At
Lorraine's request there will be no funeral home visitation or
service. Donation to Caledonia Gardens II would be appreciated.
Arn Funeral Home, Dutton 519-762-2416.
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MORROW o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-05-04 published
RIEMER,
Martha
Peacefully at Horizon Place Retirement Home, London, on May 2,
2008, Martha
RIEMER in her 99th year. Predeceased by her loving
husband Otto
RIEMER, dear daughter Helga
RIEMER and Inge
MORROW.
She will be sadly missed by her loving son-in-law Armand
MORROW.
The Funeral Service will be held in the Needham Funeral Chapel
(520 Dundas Street, London) on Monday May 5th, 2008 at 1 p.m.
with visitation 1 hour prior to the service Rev. James R.
GAREY
officiating. Interment to follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer's Society would
be appreciated.
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MORROW o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-07-09 published
MORROW,
Reverend
Edwin
At Extendicare, Halton Hills on Monday, July 7th, 2008 Reverend
Edwin MORROW, formerly of London. Beloved husband of the late
Jessie (Roberts)
(HOLLOWAY)
MORROW and the late Cora E.
(HART)
MORROW. Dear father of Robert E.
MORROW and his wife
Jacqueline
of Georgetown. Also loved by his grandchildren Robert J.
MORROW
of Georgetown and Janet E.
MORROW and her husband James
GIGNAC
of Brantford and his great-grandchildren Adam and Pamela both
of Brantford. Dear step-father of Bill
HOLLOWAY and his wife
Linda of Brampton. Cremation has taken place. The family will
receive Friends one hour prior to a memorial service which will
be conducted in the chapel of the A. Millard George Funeral Home,
60 Ridout Street South, London on Friday, July 11th. at 1: 00 p.m.
Interment of cremated remains in Woodland Cemetery, London. As
an expression of sympathy memorial donations may be made to the
charity of your choice. Online condolences accepted at www.amgfh.com
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MORROW o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-07-19 published
PIMENTEL,
Jose
Carreiro
On Thursday, July 17, 2008, Jose Carreiro
PIMENTEL in his 63rd
year. Beloved husband of Maria Goreti
PIMENTEL.
Loving father
of David PIMENTEL and Anita
PIMENTEL. Dear brother of Eduarda
FIGUEIREDO (Horacio), Rosa
BRANDAO (Jose), Fatima
MONIZ (Humberto),
Jerdelina RAPOSO
(Jose) and Teresa
MORROW (Kris.)
Brother-in-law
of Joe PIMENTEL (Filomena), Agnes
FERGUSON (Jim), Margaret
WIGFIELD
(Ted,) Teresa
DEGRANDIS
(David) and Larry
SANDER (Connie.)
Visitors
will be received in the O'Neil Funeral Home, 350 William St.
on Sunday from 2: 00-4:00 and 7:00-9:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass
will be celebrated in Saint_Justin's Church, (855 Jalna Bvd. at
Ernest) on Monday at 11: 00 a.m. Interment Saint Peter's Cemetery.
Prayers Sunday afternoon at 2: 30 p.m. Online condolences at www.oneilfuneralhome.ca.
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MORROW o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2008-01-09 published
OSBORNE,
Hilary
On January 5th, 2008, after a long illness, bravely borne. Beloved
wife of Doug
ROBERTS.
Step-mother to Wendy and her husband Matthew.
Loving sister to the Stewarts - Tessa (Hong Kong), Rory (Portugal),
Hamish (Denmark) and Felicity (Ireland). Sadly missed by her
stepmothers, Vicky
OSBORNE and Joyce
MacCATHY-
MORROW.
Cousins
Richard BURGESS
(London) and John
EWART (Emirates) and sister-in-law
to Gayle of Mississauga, and Ted of Victoria and a host of Friends.
Thank you to the caregivers at Ian Anderson House (Hospice).
Hilary OSBORNE is resting at the funeral home of Skinner and Middlebrook
Ltd., 12 Lakeshore Road East (1 block west of Hurontario Street),
Mississauga, on Friday, January 11, 2008 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Ian Anderson House, P.O. Box 61034,
511 Maple Grove Drive, Oakville, Ontario L6J 7P5, would be appreciated.
Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality. - Emily
Dickinson
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MORROW o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2008-03-01 published
BALL,
Robert "
Bob"
Harvey
(January 1, 1929-February 28, 2008)
Bob died at home on Thursday morning, in the tender care of his
family. He was loved beyond telling by his wife and sweetheart
Janet (née
MORROW,) five grateful children, Timothy (d. 1984,)
David, Anna
GARDNER
(John
BROCKE,) Doug, and Nathan (Paula
KILCOYNE,)
as well as 15 beautiful grandchildren, two newly born great-grandchildren,
and the hundreds of people whose lives he touched. Born and raised
in Regina, Bob will be profoundly missed by his older siblings
from Saskatchewan and their extended families; Margaret
BLOMMAERT,
Jim BALL and Fran
APPERLY.
Graduating from Scott Collegiate with
Honours, Bob began an agricultural degree at University of Saskatoon
before he followed a deeper call to sow seeds of the spirit and
till soil in the lives of people. After marrying Janet in 1952
he worked the gold mines in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
and as a Fuller Brush Salesman to put himself through seminary
at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario with two infants.
As a Home Missions pastor with the Canadian Baptist Union, Bob
grew and nurtured young churches in the small towns of Kitimat
and Richmond, British Columbia, and Jasper, Alberta. His innovative
programming with young adults in the national park stood him
in good stead during his term on the pastoral team at First Baptist
Church, Calgary from 1971-1976 where he established the Burning
Bush Coffee House ministry for youth. Inspired in part by staying
as a family in a chalet at L'Abri in Switzerland in 1969, Bob
began dreaming and envisioning along with Janet, about creating
a hospitality based ecumenical renewal centre. King's Fold Retreat
Centre, located in the foothills of the Rockies celebrates its
30th anniversary this year and continues to be place of beauty,
peace and deep inspiration for people from all walks of life.
Bob was a master stained glass artist, a visionary, an entrepreneur,
a dreamer, a romantic, a barista, and a lover of life par excellence.
He will be celebrated at Central United Church, Calgary on Monday,
March 3 at 11: 00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made
to King's Fold Retreat Centre, L'Arche Canada Foundation or the
Henri Nouwen Society.
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MORROW o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2008-04-29 published
MORROW,
Mary
Ellen (née
LEASON)
(November 24, 1926-April 27, 2008)
Mary Ellen
MORROW (née
LEASON) of Calgary, beloved wife of the
late Bill MORROW, passed away on Sunday, April 27, 2008 at the
age of 81 years. Mary was born in Cardston, Alberta on November 24,
1926. She was a member of the Kinettes and was also on the Board
of Directors for SAIT Polytechnic. She showed special interest
and spent may years working with the Progressive Conservative
Party. Mary loved gardening, golfing, and her biggest passion,
her grandchildren. Mary is survived by her loving family, her
children, Caron (Jeff)
PATCHELL of Oakville, Ontario, Craig (Lorna)
MORROW of Calgary, Alberta; six grandchildren, Meghan, Braeden,
Breanne, Brittany, Kristen, and Sean; and two special dogs, Fresko
and Missilu. She is also survived by her sister, Hallie (Rob)
LOGAN of Florida. Mary was predeceased by her husband Bill
MORROW.
Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at McInnis and Holloway'S
Park Memorial Chapel (5008 Elbow Drive S.W.) on Wednesday, April 30,
2008 from 6: 00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A Celebration of Mary's Life
will be held at McInnis and Holloway's 'Park Memorial Chapel' on
Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 10: 30 a.m. Graveside Service to follow
at Queen's Park Cemetery. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com.
If Friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly
to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 200, 119 - 14th Street
N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1Z6 Telephone: (403) 264-5549, www.heartandstroke.ca.
In living memory of Mary
MORROW, a tree will be planted at Fish
Creek Provincial Park by McInnis and Holloway Funeral Homes Park
Memorial Chapel, 5008 Elbow Drive S.W. Telephone: (403) 243-8200.
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MORROW o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2008-05-07 published
ALBANESE,
Philip
Carman
Husband, father, grandfather, provider, teacher, knowledge seeker.
Born November 12, 1924, in Port Arthur, Ontario Died December 5,
2007, in Thunder Bay of complications following a stroke, aged
By Monica STOROZUK,
Page L8
Philip was an ordinary man who believed in living responsibly
and simply. His life was dedicated to the enjoyment of family
and Friends and to the pursuit of knowledge.
He was born in Port Arthur, now Thunder Bay, to an Italian immigrant
family. Until the age of 5 he spoke only Italian. He was a reserved
child but enjoyed school and playing outdoors with Friends.
At 18, he joined the army with his twin brother, Rino. Together
they served for three years overseas during the Second World
War. The experience had a positive and lasting effect on Philip.
Sixty years later, he declined to apply for veterans' assistance,
saying, "Why should they pay me? I should pay them for all they
did for me."
When the war was over, Philip attended university and became
a high-school teacher. He met and married Geraldine
MORROW, proposing
to her on Valentine's Day. They soon began a family; within a
dozen years they had seven children.
Philip was sensitive to beauty in its many forms. Although his
sensibilities relaxed over the years, he never surrendered a
deep sense of propriety.
His vast knowledge, acquired through extensive reading, stretched
from history and geography to politics, world affairs, art, architecture
and music. His appetite for learning never diminished. At 80,
when asked about a book he was reading, he replied with great
enthusiasm, "Quantum physics. I always wanted to know about quantum
physics."
His quest for knowledge was aided by his lack of interest in
perfection. In many ways he was an anti-perfectionist. The front
steps need repair? They can wait. The shirt needs pressing? No
big deal. Time was precious and shouldn't be wasted on the mundane.
Philip knew the value of simple pleasures. In the 1960s, he purchased
a piece of property in the country and spent many hours there.
In his retirement, he and Geri built a small cabin out of recycled
wood and used nails. Someone called it the Bothy, a Scottish
word for a simple shelter, and the name stuck. Philip spent a
lot of time at the Bothy, gardening, puttering and reading.
In the hours before his death he stayed engaged in the conversation
around him, as he had done all his life. As family members quietly
talked about a trip to Italy and tried to recall the name of
a town near Verona, he excitedly blurted out the name, surprising
everyone.
In a fitting tribute to his legacy, Philip was buried with simple
tokens of remembrance: the key to the Bothy, a package of tomato
seeds, a copy of Vanity Fair, a few coins representing thrift,
and loving notes from his grandchildren.
Monica STOROZUK is Philip's daughter.
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MORROW o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2008-06-06 published
CAMPBELL,
Mona
Louise (née
MORROW) (1919-2008)
It is with great sadness, but with a deep sense of appreciation
for an extremely full life, that Mona's children John
BAND,
Sarah▼
BAND, and Vicki
MacRAE, announce her death, at her home in Aiken,
South Carolina.
The daughter of the late F.K. and Edna L.
MORROW,
Mona was predeceased
by her beloved husband Lt. Col. K.L.
CAMPBELL.
Fondly remembered by John's wife
Teri,
Vicki's husband Rick
CLARKE,
grandchildren, Ashlynn (Dave)
LOW/LOWE/LOUGH,
Courtney
BAND, Matthew
BAND,
Zoe BAND, great-granddaughter Madyn, and her most loyal Friends
Rufus and Roxie.
In Mona's memory, the family asks that you plant a tree, adopt
a dog, or make a generous donation to your favourite charity.
A family service has taken place.
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MORROW o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2008-06-28 published
'Aggressive and very entrepreneurial,' she ranked among Canada's
top Chief Executive Officers
The head of Dover Industries took her company from annual revenues
of $10-million to $228-million. She thought nothing of phoning
federal finance ministers late at night to give them a piece
of her mind
By Ron CSILLAG,
Special to The Globe and Mail, Page S12
Toronto -- Mona
CAMPBELL was 33 years old when her father died
and left behind some companies that milled flour and made ice-cream
cones. She'd been the major shareholder in the businesses, and
stepped into the top executive slot two years later, in 1954,
at a time when women in corporate leadership were unheard of.
Her own father, the wealthy industrialist Frederick
MORROW, "didn't
think women should be doing this sort of thing," Mrs.
CAMPBELL
recalled in a 1986 interview. "To begin with, it was sort of
a question mark, which makes you want to do that much better.
I had no formal training. I had done a lot of work for voluntary
organizations, dealing with budgets, scrounging for money. It's
really the same thing in a small way."
Either she was being coy or very humble. When she took over,
the company had annual revenues of $10-million. Last year, Burlington,
Ontario-based Dover Industries Ltd. had revenues of $228-million
and employed 475 people.
Described as "Canada's first conglomerate," with interests in
paper products, flour milling and straw manufacturing, as well
as the ice-cream-cone business, Dover Industries is today one
of the largest Canadian-owned flour-milling companies in operation.
Mrs. CAMPBELL served as the company's president, chief executive
officer and, until her death, as board chairwoman. In 1976, she
became the first woman elected to the board of Toronto-Dominion
Bank.
Her success belied a view about women in the corporate world
that today could be charitably described as quaint. In a 1980
interview with the Financial Times, Mrs.
CAMPBELL declared that
single women couldn't be depended on in business "because suddenly
romance hits and they marry and maybe their husband moves, so
they move." Married women, meantime, are inflexible and may interrupt
their careers to have children.
Besides, few women crave the power that comes with the position,
she believed. "The majority of women are not interested."
A lot of them feel they just don't need the extra hassle, she
told The Globe and Mail the year before. "They are willing to
do a great job but I don't know how many more want the added
responsibility of representing shareholders." She did not foresee
other women serving on her company's board. "One's enough."
She chafed at being called an industrialist. "This is just a
job," she said in 1968. "It's not that difficult."
Mrs. CAMPBELL travelled the world and gave away millions of dollars
to the arts, notably to the Royal Ontario Museum, where there's
a curatorship in her name, and the National Ballet School in
Toronto since its inception in 1959. "She knew every student
by name," said the National Ballet School's artistic director
and co-Chief Executive Officer, Mavis
STAINES, who added that
Mrs. CAMPBELL often took students to her sprawling Mohill Farm
in Puslinch, Ontario, for weekends spent frolicking with her
beloved dogs and horses. Ballet, Mrs.
CAMPBELL once declared,
"is the love of my life."
She was named to the Order of Canada in 1996. In 2001, the Association
of Fundraising Professionals honoured her as its outstanding
philanthropist of the Year.
She was an only child born into privilege. Her father was a financier
who founded the Essa Securities Company, sat on the boards of
15 corporations and amassed a large fortune. He started Dover
Industries in 1940 by acquiring and merging three companies -
a flour mill, a grain dealer and Robinson Cone, which made ice-cream
cones, straws and packaging materials in Hamilton.
A devout Catholic who scandalously married the daughter of a
Baptist minister, Mr.
MORROW donated a large tract of land in
Toronto's north to the Sisters of Saint_Joseph. Morrow Park opened
in 1960 and today has an infirmary, residences, a girls' school,
and a retreat where Pope John Paul stayed during his 2002 visit
to Toronto for World Youth Day.
Mrs. CAMPBELL's first marriage was in 1940 to John
BAND, a dashing
navy officer who hunted U-boats during the Second World War and
became an insurance executive and collector of Canadian art.
They cut glamorous figures in society and had three children
before going through an acrimonious divorce in 1955.
In 1960, she married Jim
BINNIE, father of Ian
BINNIE, a justice
on Canada's Supreme Court. That, too, ended in divorce. Finally,
in 1967, she married Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth
CAMPBELL, a career
army man who once authored a scathing report from the Korean
front that described the venerable Lee-Enfield.303 rifle as "almost
useless." He operated a farm near Guelph that raised cattle and
thoroughbreds, and died in 1990.
Mrs. CAMPBELL often said she liked people. Her daughter, Sarah
BAND, is more specific: "She loved men."
She loved animals, too, and their welfare was a top priority.
Mrs. CAMPBELL was a leading supporter of the Ontario Humane Society
and was awarded naming rights to an animal adoption centre in
Newmarket, Ontario - Mohill Village. She also endowed the Col.
K.L. Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, which promotes
the welfare of animals through research and education, and the
Col. K.L. Campbell Graduate Travel Grant in Equine Studies, both
at the University of Guelph.
She was formal and had an old-world elegance, but lean, angular
features that bespoke a stern countenance. According to her friend
Brenda Nightingale, however, "she was the most generous person
you ever met." Her daughter noted Mrs.
CAMPBELL's fastidious
concern with her appearance: "Every thread on her had to be perfect."
Highly political and a staunch Conservative, she thought nothing
of phoning Michael Wilson, finance minister under Brian Mulroney,
late at night to give him a piece of her mind, Ms. Nightingale
recalled with a laugh.
In business, she was "very aggressive and very entrepreneurial,"
noted Dover Industries' current president and Chief Executive
Officer Howard
ROWLEY. "
She was very willing to reinvest money
back into the company. That's why we've been able to grow at
the rate we have."
Her board approved a plan in 1968 to erect a $2-million flour
mill in Halifax - the first modern flour mill in Nova Scotia
- but rebuffed her move to enter the flour market in Montreal.
"A new flour mill in Montreal 10 years ago would been a howling
success," she insisted at the time.
She oversaw the company's five subsidiaries: Robinson Cone, Cherry
Taylor Flour Mills, Howell Litho and Cartons, Taylor Grain Ltd.
and Dover Mills Ltd. of Halifax. A firm believer in acquisitions,
the company under her hand bought a paper-box concern in 1956
the Howell Lithographic Company in 1960; Bondware, a paper cup
and container firm in 1981; and another flour mill in 2003. The
packaging business was sold in 2005.
Dover Industries was touted as Canada's first diversified company
but was not as diverse as it appeared. The ice-cream cones came
from Cherry Taylor flour and were packed in Howell cartons. Dover
Mills ground the flour from Taylor Grain and shipped them in
packages that were lithographed in-house.
Still, it was a multi-faceted operation and "she could walk out
into the different plants, and she knew most of the people by
name," Mr.
ROWLEY said. "Truck drivers would phone her from their
trucks and talk to her about whatever was on their minds. It
could be work-related or just to say hello. And she'd take the
call."
Mrs. CAMPBELL treated the company as her inheritance. "I thought
I'd have a go at running it," she said in 1968. "My father told
me that I would be all right as long as I had a good lawyer,
a good accountant and a good banker. We've got them and we've
never looked back."
But in case anyone doubted who was in charge, she had this to
say in 1980: "When we go out to buy out a company, I'm the one
that does the deal." She died the day of her company's annual
meeting.
Mona Louise
CAMPBELL was born February 3, 1919, in Toronto. She
died May 29, 2008, of natural causes in Aiken, South Carolina,
where she had lived for several years and where her favourite
activity was a Tuesday-night needlepoint group called Stitch
and Bitch. She was 89. She leaves her children John
BAND,
Sarah▲
BAND and Vicki
McRAE, four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
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MORSE o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-02-17 published
PARTLO,
Debra
Surrounded by her loving family after a brave battle with her
illness, Debra
PARTLO passed away peacefully, at the Tillsonburg
District Memorial Hospital on Saturday, February 16, 2008, in
her 55th year. Predeceased by her loving husband Max
PARTLO (2003,)
and mother Dorothy
LAMB (1982.) Wonderful mother and mentor to
her children Shannon
SCHNEKENBURGER and Roy of Aylmer, Derek
PARTLO and his wife
Jody of Tillsonburg and Courtney
MORSE and
her husband Andrew of Straffordville. Proud "Nana" of Maxx and
Hilton SCHNEKENBURGER and Landon, Logan and McKenna
PARTLO.
Loving
daughter of Sam
LAMB and his friend MaryAnne
VANGEERTRUYDE of
Tillsonburg. Dear sister of Terry
LAMB and his wife
Pat;
Dan
LAMB;
Kelly
SPRINGER and her husband Dale all of Tillsonburg.
Sister-in-law of Art
PARTLO and his wife Marion, Barb
GULL and
the late David, Sharon
COULTER and her husband Bob, David
PARTLO
and his partner Sharon
DEPAUW.
Also survived by several nieces
and nephews. Predeceased by her mother-in-law Helen
PARTLO (2002.)
Deb will be forever remembered as a devoted mother who taught
strong and independent values to her family. She was an original
member of the Sockette baseball team, where she enjoyed some
of the best years of her life. Deb will be deeply missed by all
of her Friends. Family and Friends will be received at Ostrander's
Funeral Home, Tillsonburg, (519) 842-5221, on Sunday, February 17,
2008 from 7: 00-9:00 p.m. and
on Monday, February 18, 2008 from
2: 00-4:00 and 7:00-9:00 p.m. Funeral Service for Debra will be
held at Saint Paul's United Church, Tillsonburg on Tuesday, February 19,
2008 at 1: 00 p.m. with Rev. Glenn
BAKER and Rev. Tom
HISCOCK
officiating. Interment in the Tillsonburg Cemetery. Memorial
donations to the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Saint Paul's
United Church Memorial Fund or the Tillsonburg Hospital would
be appreciated by the family. Personal condolences may be sent
to www.ostrandersfuneralhome.com
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MORSE o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-06-09 published
McGLEISH,
Vivian
Eleanor
(NICHOL)
Passed away peacefully on Friday, June 6, 2008 at Peterborough
Regional Health Care Centre in her 83rd year after a courageous
battle with cancer. Beloved wife of James
McGLEISH of 62 years.
Cherished mother of William (Kelley) of Buckhorn, Kevin (Arlene)
of Winnipeg, David (Denise) of Prince George, Linda (Fred)
STABLER
of Cornwall. Dearest grandmother of Corri, James, Kimberly (Claude)
and Ryan (Vanessa.) Dear great-grandmother of Emma
STABLER.
Sister-in-law
of Ken McGLEISH
(Dorothy) and Marion
MORSE. Predeceased by her
parents Ellen and David, sisters Kay
WRIGHT and Lenore
PELLOW.
At the request of Vivian, there will be no service. Cremation
arrangements have been entrusted to Trent Cremation Services.
In memory of Vivian, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society
would be appreciated and can be made through Little Lake Cemetery
at 1-800-672-9652.
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MORSS o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-06-30 published
MORSS,
Maida▼
Peacefully in her sleep at Kensington Village Nursing Home on
June▼ 27, 2008. Maida
MORSS in her 97th year. Loving mother of
Gordon (Margaret)
STEWARD/STEWART/STUART.
Proud▼ grandmother of Scott (Nancy,)
Brian (Charlene), and Paul. Great-grandmother of Max, Morgan,
Kyle, Blaine, and great great-grandchild Elizabeth. A Memorial
Service to be held at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Memorial Funeral
Home, 1559 Fanshawe Park East, London (East of Highbury) 519-452-3770.
Visitors will be received one hour prior to the service. Interment
of Maida's urn to follow at Siloam Cemetery. A reception to be
held at the Funeral Home. Should Friends so desire, donations
may be made to Kensington Village.
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MORSS o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-07-02 published
MORSS,
Maida▲
Peacefully in her sleep at Kensington Village Nursing Home on
June▲ 27, 2008. Maida
MORSS in her 97th year. Loving mother of
Gordon (Margaret)
STEWARD/STEWART/STUART.
Proud▲ grandmother of Scott (Nancy,)
Brian (Charlene), and Paul. Great-grandmother of Max, Morgan,
Kyle, Blaine, and great great-grandchild Elizabeth. A Memorial
Service to be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday July 3rd, 2008 in the
chapel of Memorial Funeral Home, 1559 Fanshawe Park East, London
(East of Highbury) 519-452-3770. Visitors will be received one
hour prior to the service. Interment of Maida's urn to follow
at Siloam Cemetery. A reception to be held at the Funeral Home.
Should Friends so desire, donations may be made to Kensington
Village.
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MORTELE o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2008-04-02 published
LA RUE,
Gary
Wilson
Suddenly on Saturday, March 29, 2008 in London at the age of
56 Gary leaves behind his Loving Wife of 23 yrs Rosemary, daughters
Lisa LA RUE,
Elizabeth
(Rob)
MORTELE of Blenheim and Jill (Duane)
ADDY of Chatham, his son and buddy Todd (Chantal)
FOSTER of London and
other daughter Samantha (Dave)
GODARD of Winnipeg. Grand-daughters
Alyssa and Kirsten LA
RUE,
Faith and Paige
MORTELE, Stephanie
GODARD.
Grandsons Ty
FOSTER and Jake
ADDY and surrogate daughter Denise
KELLY and grand-daughter Madison. He also leaves to mourn, his
sisters Barbara
McINTYRE, Jacquie
GILES, Gail (Bill)
MILLER,
his brother Richard and special sister-in-law Linda LA
RUE and
step-brother Doug
BELL, all of the Chatham area. He will be sadly
missed by his father-in-law George
GROINUS of Winnipeg, brother-in-law
Ed (Iris) GROINUS,
Lorette,
Manitoba, sisters-in-law Liz (Lado)
CHONGVA and Clara (Frank)
CHONGVA of Dugald, Manitoba, Marie (Gene)
MUDRY of Edmonton, Alberta, Grace
PAGE
(Henry
BON) of Winnipeg,
as well as many nieces and nephews and his many close Friends
and golfing buddies. Words Gary lived by were "Live life to the
fullest, you only live once!" He was especially proud of his
Children and Grandchildren. He was predeceased by his father Adrian
LARUE, his loving mother Grace
(WILSON)
BELL and step-father
James T. BELL.
Born in Chatham, and previously a resident of
Sarnia, Mississauga and Cambridge. Donations may be made to The
Heart and Stroke Foundation, The Diabetes Association or The Lung
Association. Cremation has taken place with D.J. Robb Funeral
Home in Sarnia. A memorial service will be held in London at
The Community of Christ Church, 1550 Brydges Street, London, Ontario
on Friday April 4th, 2008 at 11 a.m.
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MORTENSEN o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2008-07-07 published
SOUTHAM,
Gordon
Hamilton▼
Hamilton SOUTHAM died peacefully at home on Tuesday July 1st
at the age of 91. He was born in Ottawa on December 19th, 1916,
the youngest child of Wilson Mills
SOUTHAM and Henrietta Alberta
CARGILL.
After graduating from the University of Toronto with
a degree in history in 1939, he abandoned his graduate studies
at Christ Church College, Oxford in order to join the war effort
and enrolled in the British Army as an officer cadet in the Royal
Artillery winning his commission in 1940. That same year, when
the Canadian Army reached Britain, he transferred to the Canadian
11th Army Field Regiment, 40th Battalion of Hamilton (in which
his uncle and namesake, Gordon Hamilton, had served until he
was killed in action at the battle of the Somme in 1916). In
1943, responding to an urgent call for replacements at the front,
he volunteered to join the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in
Italy. He saw action at the battle of Ortona as well as the final
battle of Monte Cassino and was mentioned in dispatches.
After the war he worked at the Times of London and the Ottawa
Citizen before joining the Department of External Affairs in
1948. He was posted to Sweden from 1949 to 1953, and in 1959,
was posted to Poland, where he served first as chargé d'affaires
and later as ambassador. On his return to Ottawa in 1962 he was
appointed head of the information division of External Affairs.
In 1963 he assumed the leadership of the National Capital Arts
Alliance, a grouping of some 60 arts organizations in Ottawa
pressing for the building of a national performing arts centre.
A feasibility study was commissioned and the Pearson government
was persuaded to adopt the project in celebration of Canada's
centennial. He was appointed co-ordinator of the National Arts
Centre, in February, 1964 with the task of overseeing the construction
and planning the programmes and activities of the new institution.
After the National Arts Centre's opening, in 1969, he served
two terms as director-general before stepping down in 1977.
Of particular note among his many activities since his retirement
from the National Arts Centre are his founding and presidency
of the Canadian Mediterranean Institute from 1980 to 1986 and
a variety of initiatives aimed at raising public consciousness
of the importance of the military in Canadian history. He was
a founder of the Battle of Normandy Foundation, 1992, one of
the main initiators of the new War Museum, inaugurated in 2005 and
the founder and president of the Valiants Foundation, responsible
for the erection of the Valiants Memorial on Confederation square,
in Ottawa, inaugurated by Governor-General Michaëlle Jean in
He married Jacqueline
LAMBERT-
DAVID in 1940 and they had four
children, Peter, Abdul, Jennifer and Michael. In 1969, he married
Gro MORTENSEN, and they had two children, Henrietta and Gordon.
In 1981 he married Marion
TANTOT, mother of Frederic, Manon and
Virginie. He shared with Marion his retirement years in Grignan,
France, and Ottawa. Marion died in 2005. He will be sadly missed
by Gro Mortensen
SOUTHAM, his children, his ten grandchildren,
and his extended family and Friends. A private family funeral
was held on Friday and a memorial service will be held at St. Bartholomew's
Anglican Church 125 Mackay Street, Ottawa, on Sunday July 20th
at 1 p.m.
If desired, donations can be made in his memory to the National
Youth and Education Trust at the National Arts Center P.O. Box 1534,
Stn B, Ottawa Ontario K1P 5W1.
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MORTENSON o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2008-07-03 published
Champion of culture in Canada 'epitomized the values of the NAC'
Third-generation member of famous newspaper family grew up in
a lifestyle of privilege and chose the diplomatic corps over
journalism. Later, he helped launch the National Arts Centre
and the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa
By Sandra MARTIN,
Page S9
Passionate, romantic, a lover of culture, the high arts and beautiful
women, Hamilton
SOUTHAM was in many ways an 18th-century gentleman,
given to quoting poetry, rereading the classic works of literature
and history, attending opera, ballet and theatrical performances,
and collecting paintings by modern masters. Until the end of
his days, he expressed his faith in the ultimate meaning of life
by quoting these lines from Milton's Samson Agonistes: "All is
best, though we oft doubt, /What th' unsearchable dispose/Of
highest wisdom brings about, / and ever best found in the close."/
Born into the third generation of the Southam newspaper dynasty,
he grew up in a gilded world of wealth and privilege, in which
winters were spent in Florida and summers in Europe and the family
enclave at Big Rideau Lake near Ottawa. Fighting for his country
for six years in the Second World War stiffened the public-service
component of his complicated character. After working in journalism,
he turned his back on the family business and opted for diplomacy
in its Pearsonian heyday, serving as ambassador to Poland, among
other postings. But it was his lengthy tenure in the trenches
of the cultural, linguistic and nationalistic battlefields that
forged his legacy as the builder and founding general director
of the National Arts Centre, a visionary fundraiser and force
behind the Canadian War Museum, the Canadian Battle of Normandy
Foundation and the Valiants Memorial and an active contributor
to many other cultural institutions.
How fitting that such a Canadian giant should die on Canada Day,
said Peter Herrndorf, president of the National Arts Centre,
describing Mr.
SOUTHAM as a man of exquisite taste with a single-minded
devotion to the arts and an incredible capacity for Friendship.
"He had been for many years, well before I came here, one of
my heroes and he stayed a hero though my professional life. Never
did I imagine that I would not only build on Hamilton's legacy
at the National Arts Centre, but also become his friend," said
Mr. Herrndorf. "He became like a second dad to me, both in personal
terms and very much in professional terms - and in typical dad
terms, he was both wonderful in his support and tough when I
wasn't living up to what he expected. It's a big loss because
he epitomized the values of the National Arts Centre."
Gordon Hamilton
SOUTHAM was born in December, 1916, and named
after an uncle who had been killed two months earlier at the
Battle of the Somme. His family called him Hamilton because he
had an older cousin, Gordon, who lived next door, in what amounted
to a family enclave in the elite Rockliffe Park area of Ottawa.
His parents' house, called Lindenelm, later became the Spanish
embassy.
Hamilton's▲ father, Wilson
SOUTHAM, the oldest of six sons of
William SOUTHAM (1843-1932,) the proprietor of The Hamilton Spectator
and founder of the Southam newspaper empire, was the publisher
of the Ottawa Citizen. Hamilton's mother, Henrietta
CARGILL,
was the daughter of Conservative politician Henry
CARGILL, who
died after collapsing on the floor of the House of Commons.
The youngest of his parents' six children, Hamilton went to Elmwood
School and then Ashbury College, the private boy's school in
Ottawa. In those days, French was taught as though it were a
dead language, so it was years before he became bilingual. But
the school did nurture his love for Latin, the classics, and
poetry, which he delighted in declaiming until the end of his
life. He also played Gratiano in The Merchant of Venice, "lightly
with exactly the right touch of flippancy," according to drama
critic Ted Devlin.
After doing summer-school classes at Glebe and Lisgar Collegiates,
he entered Trinity College at the University of Toronto in 1934.
He graduated with a degree in history in 1939, having taken a
year out, halfway through, recovering from a serious car crash
that left him with a crooked smile - a rugged distinction in
a classically handsome face. After U of T, he sailed to England
intending to do a master's degree in modern history at Christ
Church College, Oxford. Almost as soon as he arrived, Britain
declared war on Germany and he enlisted in the British Army as
an officer cadet in the Royal Artillery.
Simultaneously, he renewed his Friendship with Jacqueline
LAMBERT-
DAVID,
the daughter of a sculptor from a land-owning French family.
They had met in Canada that summer through family Friends. When
the hostilities commenced, she managed to make her way back to
London by ship from New York because the United States was still
neutral. They married in London on April 15, 1940, while he was
in training. (They eventually had four children and were divorced
in the late 1960s; she died in 1998.) A month after the wedding,
he received his commission as a lieutenant.
Meanwhile, the 40th battery of the Canadian Field Artillery (in
which his uncle and namesake, Gordon
SOUTHAM, had served) had
mobilized for active service under Frank Keen, assistant editor
of the Hamilton Spectator, as the 11th Army Field Regiment, 40th
Battalion of Hamilton. As soon as the battalion arrived in England,
Lt. SOUTHAM applied for a transfer from the British Army so that
he could serve with the Canadian Forces. By the autumn of 1943,
the 1st Canadian Infantry Division, which was heavily engaged
in Italy, urgently needed replacements. He volunteered to join
the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. He fought in the battle of
Ortona in December, 1943, and the final battle of Monte Cassino
from April to May, 1944, and was part of the advance of the Canadian
Army up through Italy and later from Marseilles northward in
France. He was mentioned in dispatches for "gallant and distinguished
services" and demobilized with the rank of captain.
After the war, he worked briefly for The Times of London before
returning to Canada and an uneasy job as an editorial writer
for the Citizen in 1946. "I couldn't write quickly enough," he
said in an interview at his home in Rockliffe in 2004. "My editor
would give me a subject - 500 words on such and such a subject
by 3 o'clock. My instinct was to go to the parliamentary library
for a week and then come back with the 500 words," he said. "I
was wretched." He went to his uncle Harry
SOUTHAM, then publisher
of the Citizen, and said, "I can't manage to do this, so I am
going to External Affairs."
He wrote the examinations and joined the department in 1948 under
Lester Pearson at a time when Canada "had a role to play" and
when being part of the foreign service was "riding the crest
of a wave, as far as I was concerned." It was "a wonderful time,"
Mr. SOUTHAM said, his eyes flashing under his expressive beetle
brows. "Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive, But to be young
was very heaven!" he said, quoting Wordsworth.
In 1949, Mr.
SOUTHAM (and his family, which now included a second
son, Christopher, who is now called Abdul) was posted to Stockholm
as third secretary under ambassador Tommy Stone. After nearly
four years, they returned to Ottawa before being posted to Warsaw
as chargé d'affaires in March, 1959. By then, the Southams had
two more children, Jennifer and Michael. This posting was one
of the highlights of Mr.
SOUTHAM's diplomatic career because
he solved the "Polish Treasures" problem.
After Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, the curator
of Krakow removed a number of treasures from Wawel Castle, including
tapestries and the sword of state. Following a circuitous route,
they ended up in museum warehouses in Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec
City. After the war, Poland, then behind the Iron Curtain, requested
the return of its state treasures. That was fine with the Canadian
federal government, but not with Maurice Duplessis, then premier
of Quebec. He refused to hand anything over to a Communist government.
Amid the diplomatic fracas, "we never sent an ambassador there
and they never sent an ambassador here," Mr.
SOUTHAM explained.
Mr. Duplessis died in office in September, 1959, and was succeeded
by Paul Sauvé, "a more rational man" who agreed to ship the treasures
back, causing Poland and Canada "to unfreeze their governments
and to exchange ambassadors." And so, Mr.
SOUTHAM's grateful
government promoted him "sur place" to the rank of ambassador
in April, 1960.
In 1962, the Southams returned to Ottawa, where he was appointed
head of the information division at External Affairs. He was
at work one day when he received a visit from Faye Loeb of the
IGA grocery chain. She wanted him to help spearhead a citizens'
move to build a performing arts centre in Ottawa. Rashly, he
promised to find an appropriate candidate and, if necessary,
to take charge himself.
"Time ran out and Faye came back," is the way he described his
assumption of the leadership of the National Capital Arts Alliance
in 1963. At its height, the alliance included about 60 arts organizations
in Ottawa. They raised enough money (about $7,000) to commission
a feasibility study, which recommended both the building of a
performing arts centre and the holding of an annual national
festival in Ottawa. In 1964, Mr.
SOUTHAM took the completed study
(with its projected costs of $9-million) to his old boss Mr. Pearson,
by this point prime minister, and persuaded him that the proposed
building would be an ideal centennial project for the federal
government.
"He thought about it for a month and then came back and said,
'We'll do it,' Mr.
SOUTHAM said. "After that, it was his project
and he never gave up on it." The prime minister arranged for
Mr. SOUTHAM to be lent from External Affairs to Secretary of
State, which appointed him co-ordinator of the National Arts
Centre in February, 1964.
The decision about the architect for the new facility was left
up to Mr. SOUTHAM. He recommended Fred
LEBENSOLD, who had already
built the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, had won the competition
for Confederation Centre in Charlottetown, and would later build
Place des Arts in Montreal. Mr.
LEBENSOLD did a quick estimate
of $16-million and signed on as architect. Mr.
SOUTHAM was appointed
inaugural director of the National Arts Centre in 1967 and oversaw
the construction of Mr.
LEBENSOLD's hexagonal buildings on 2.6 hectares
on the banks of the Rideau River, defending vociferous criticism
along the way as the costs spiralled to a final tally of more
than $46-million. (By this time, Mr.
SOUTHAM's first marriage
had disintegrated. He married Gro
MORTENSON of Oslo in 1968,
with whom he had two children, Henrietta and Gordon. He and his
second wife were divorced in the late 1970s, but as with all
of Mr. SOUTHAM's wives, she remained on affectionate terms with
him.)
The multifaceted performance centre, with three halls including
the country's first professional opera house, two restaurants,
two theatre companies and its own touring symphony orchestra,
opened in June of 1969 with the National Ballet of Canada performing
two commissioned ballets - The Queen by Grant Strate to music
by Louis Applebaum, and Kraanerg by Roland Petit to music by
Iannis Xenakis. The following night, when the ballet danced John
Cranko's Romeo and Juliet, something went wrong with the technology
in the orchestra pit. Conductor George Crum and some of his musicians
slowly ascended above stage level, leading Mr. Crum to say later
that it was "the only time I ever looked down on Celia Franca,"
who was performing as Lady Capulet. After two terms as director-general,
Mr. SOUTHAM stepped down in March of 1977.
Less than a year later, after a short respite spent sailing his
yacht, Mr.
SOUTHAM was persuaded by secretary of state John Roberts
to become chair of Festival Canada and take charge of the national
celebrations on Canada Day. He was paid a dollar a year and required
to appear before a Commons committee to answer questions about
his mandate and budget. When some members criticized the fluently
bilingual Mr.
SOUTHAM for preparing a report in English - he
said later that he hadn't had time to have it translated - he
sent a letter resigning from his post in French to the minister.
It was rejected and Mr.
SOUTHAM oversaw celebrations in hundreds
of communities across the country and a blow-out televised extravaganza
on Parliament Hill on the theme "You and Me - Le Canada, C'est
Toi et Moi." In the 1980s, Mr.
SOUTHAM was a partner in Lively
Arts Market Builders, a scheme to create a television channel
devoted to producing and broadcasting plays, concerts, films
and programs on the arts. The group received a cable television
licence and launched the pay-television C Channel in January,
1983. But it failed to attract subscribers and went into receivership
six months later. Rogers Cablesystems Inc. bought its pay-television
licence that December for $12,500.
(The following year, Mr.
SOUTHAM married for the third and final
time. Marion
TANTON, a French woman he had known and loved for
many years, was the wife of the late Pierre
CHARPENTIER, a former
Canadian ambassador, and the mother of his three children. She
died of cancer in May, 2005.)
In January, 1985, prime minister Brian Mulroney appointed Mr.
SOUTHAM
chair of the Official Residences Council, a civilian oversight
group he had established amidst mounting criticism of the cost
of maintaining official residences. Mr.
SOUTHAM's tenure was
not an easy one; there were political brawls about work done
on the speaker's house in Kingsmere; on Stornoway, the residence
of the opposition leader; and on both official prime ministerial
residences.
His beloved National Arts Centre went through a long period of
turmoil beginning in the mid-1980s, involving funding crises,
a revolving series of chairs and artistic directors and a strike
by the National Arts Centre orchestra, before it began to stabilize
more than a decade later with the appointment in the late 1990s
of David Leighton as chair of the board and Mr. Herrndorf as
president and chief executive - thanks in no small part to Mr.
SOUTHAM's
behind-the-scenes lobbying. Early in 2000, during Mr. Herrndorf's
tenure, a grateful National Arts Centre renamed its opera auditorium
Southam Hall in his honour and threw a lavish party for him on
his 90th birthday.
After attending the rededication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
on September 17, 1999, Mr.
SOUTHAM met some Friends for lunch
at the Rideau Club. He had been "moved" by the ceremony and by
governor-general Adrienne Clarkson's "wonderful" speech, and
he began thinking that the fallen soldier "should have some company
on Confederation Square," rather like the "great cloud of witnesses,"
described by St. Paul in his epistles. Those lunchtime musings
led to his final public campaign, which was realized seven years
later when Governor-General Michaëlle Jean unveiled the $1.1-million
Valiants Memorial. He considered the Valiants his second great
project after the National Arts Centre. "Parliament Hill is full
of statues of prime ministers and politicians, some of them good,
some of them not good. But in Ottawa, there shouldn't just be
statues of politicians," he said. "It is the capital of the country
and there should be statues of the men and women who have made
this country."
Aside from building monuments to others, Mr.
SOUTHAM enjoyed
sitting in the study of his Ottawa home, a well-proportioned,
light-filled room lined with bookcases, rereading the complete
works of Anthony Trollope and "contemplating three generations
of reading." He had his grandfather's books on the top shelf,
his father's Everyman editions on the second and his own books
on the third shelf. As well, he was examining his own soul. "I
have lived my life, and that which I have done may God himself
make pure," he said. "I meditate and I don't compare today with
yesterday. I have more important comparisons, concerning my inner
life, and I have much to think about." He was an Anglican, but
he "was thinking the same thoughts" as a Catholic or a Jew or
a Muslim. The soul is a more important part of our being than
character," he said. "It is essential."
And so he spent his last years in contemplation and in visiting
with close Friends and family, enjoying life and engaged with
the world around him.
On Canada Day, he was about to go for a drive with his valet
when he suddenly felt tired. He lay down for a rest and quietly
died.
Gordon Hamilton
SOUTHAM was born in Ottawa on December 19, 1916.
He died July 1, 2008, at home in Ottawa of complications from
cancer. He was 91. He is survived by his second wife, Gro
MORTENSON,
his six children and his extended family. A private family funeral
is planned followed by a memorial service at St. Bartholomew's
Anglican Church, Ottawa, later in July.
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