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Mourning the passing of community leader Joe Presser

I knew Joe Presser for most of my life, so when I learned that he had passed away suddenly on January 30 I took the news quite badly.

I first met Joe when I was a young child. His daughter Shari was in my class at school and his nephews the Marons were close friends. My late father Larry revered Joe, always promoting the fact he was the man behind Cooper Clothing. He pegged Joe as the “Suit Man” and it was a nickname that stuck.

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Joe and I at a Men's Club Gala Dinner.

In the summer of 2018.  we honoured Joe at the Côte Saint-Luc Golf Classic. Extreme heat postponed our day at the links, but the luncheon banquet to pay tribute to him carried on. Despite the fact I was dealing with an intolerably painful case of kidney stones, I made sure to be there for Joe’s sake. I am so glad the city did something to recognize his remarkable community work.

 I considered Joe a good friend and a true supporter of mine in District 2 from day one of my time on council. Since the start of the pandemic we spoke but regrettably saw each other less than usual and I feel badly for that.

Joe had been active at programming in Côte Saint-Luc for most of his life, notably at Beth Zion Congregation, the Parks and Recreation Department, the Cummings Centre Sports Celebrity Breakfast and the Côte Saint-Luc Men’s Club. But he was often the man behind the scenes, not getting his deserving day in the sun.

As told by Joe’s close friend Irving Leiner, at our luncheon, the late Rabbi Sydney Shoham was a close as well to Joe and would often and affectionately refer to him as “Pressure.”

 At the age of eight and living on City Hall Avenue, Joe and his six siblings sadly lost their father and survival skills at a very young age were untimely thrust upon him. As a young boy and as a means of recreation, Joe spent all his free time at Neighbourhood House where the cost was free unlike the nearby Y that charged a yearly unaffordable fee of $50. He quickly honed his leadership and athletic skills there and became a dear friend to many. However, there was a time for play and more importantly a time to help support the family. So, at the tender age of 16, he left school and did what most Jewish boys at that time did for a living. He went to work in the schmattah business for a men’s clothing firm called Cooper Clothing.

MensClubCheque2k1
Recognizing Joe at the Golf Classic Luncheon.

 

As Leiner shared, Joe started off as a shipper and then was given a sample bag and a territory and told by his boss to go out and sell and return home only with a bag full of orders. Back in those days, not only were you selling the line but you were given the task of collecting past due receivables, so when Joe went calling on his customers and asked to be paid for last season’s merchandise the retailer sensing the innocence and vulnerability of this young salesman doubled down on their placing orders. So, Joe quickly sensing victory forgot about the past due receivables and triumphantly began to write the orders. “Wow!” Leiner mused, “was the boss ever going to be impressed. Needless to say, the homecoming displayed by his boss could have been a little more receptive. And Joe quickly learned that writing orders was easy but getting paid is a whole different ball game. After a few seasons of abuse and schlepping samples on the road, Joe and a colleague soon took over ownership of the firm and quickly grew it to a prominent and leading mens and boys clothing firm.

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Joe and his family.

Joe had a wonderful marriage with Isabel, his wife of 61 years. He was a loving father to his three children and an equally amazing grandfather and great grandfather.

To say Joe was a fabulous individual is an understatement.  In 1988 I was hired as the national director of communications for Canadian Jewish Congress. I called Joe and went to see him as I needed some nice suits to wear for work. He took care of me like I was his own son. When I first ran for office in 2005, he took me door to door to every resident in his building. He did so for every subsequent election, and had it not been for COVID, he was ready to do so again last fall.

Years ago, when he was the president of Beth Zion, Joe called and asked me to help him organize a Sports Celebrity Breakfast. We did so successfully for several years. In 2004 the late Harold Greenspon called and asked me to do the same thing for the Cummings Centre. The first call I made was to Joe to ask him to join the committee. He agreed immediately and played a crucial role for an event that has since raised well over $2 million for seniors in crisis. We called Joe our “general manager.” Not only did he personally recruit some of our honourees, but the day of the event he’d help us police the VIP Room – no easy task.

Joe was so proud of Beth Zion, notably the annual Cantorial Concert. I remember seeing him at the funeral for Rabbi Shoham. He was pacing back and forth, repeatedly saying “I can’t believe he is gone!”

PKPressser
Joe with PK Subban at the Sports Breakfast.

 

That is the way I feel right now.  Eighty-six years on this earth was not enough. I miss you already Joe. To your family and legion of friends, my deepest sympathies.

A private funeral will take place by invitation only. Donations in his memory may be made to the “Joe Presser Memorial Fund” c/o Beth Zion Congregation, (514) 489-8411

Comments

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David Apelbaum

Mike, you have late Joe dying on Monday, 31st. Quite a trick to honour him a day before he died!
Understandable error, as still shocked at his sudden passing on Sunday. For sure many others are also shocked because he had so much more to give the community but HaShem had other plans.
Feeling your pain,
David Apelbaum, Chomedey, Laval

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