As we mourn the passing of Harold Greenspon, who served as a Côte Saint-Luc city councillor and my District 2 predecessor for 26 years, many memories of this extraordinary man come back to me.

In the summer of 2004 I got a telephone call from Harold. This was during the period when the forced municipal mergers were in place and Côte Saint-Luc, grouped with Hampstead and Montreal West, a borough of Montreal.

Harold (left) is shown here at the first Sports Breakfast with hockey players Mike Ribeiro and James Desmarais.

Harold had served as city councillor from 1975 to 2001. I had gotten to know him very well during that time, initially as a young kid integrally involved with community activities and then as a reporter for the local papers covering City Hall.
The purpose of Harold`s call was to ask if I would help him create a Sports Celebrity Breakfast under the auspices of the Cummings Centre for Jewish Seniors, of which he had become vice-president. Côte Saint-Lucers had voted to demerge by this time and an election to reconstitute the city was set for November 2005. I told Harold that I wanted to run in the District 2 seat he had held for 26 years, but would not do so if he intended to seek office again

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“I will make you a deal,” Harold said. “You help me get this Breakfast off the ground and I will endorse you as my successor.”

In 2005 Harold shook my hand and endorsed me to run as his successor on city council.

It was an offer I could not refuse. The Breakfast, initially meant to just break even, recently celebrated its 13th anniversary and has raised over $2 million for seniors in crisis. As for my election, well Harold provided guidance and even knocked on a few doors with me for my first campaign and I defeated my opponent with 92 percent of the vote.

Harold and his wife Malvina had moved to a condo on Marc Chagall Avenue, so they were now constituents of mine. Like the late Mayor Bernard Lang, Harold would call me from time to time to share his thoughts on certain issues.

I always used to call Harold Côte Saint-Luc’s “Minister of Finance.” As a distinguished chartered accountant, he played a critical role in every financial decision the city made. While council had no formal portfolios back then as we do now, Mayor Lang entrusted Greenspon every step of the way to work on complicated budget matters.

In recent years Harold suffered from Parkinson’s Disease, a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that mainly affects the motor system. The symptoms generally come on slowly over time. Early in the disease, the most obvious are shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement, and difficulty with walking.

I remember Harold chairing our Maison Fleuries ceremony for the first few years after our reconstituted council came into office. He’d come to the microphone and shake quite a bit, repeatedly apologizing to the audience. Soon we’d see him walking with the help of a cane and then he needed a wheelchair and round the clock help at his home from caregivers. His wife Malvina and his children Neil and Donna were by his side every step of the way. Sadly, he had to the last 11 months  of his life as a permanent patient at Maimonides Hospital.

Neil Greenspon gave an eloquent eulogy at the funeral. Paperman and Son was filled to capacity,a fitting tribute to Harold. Neil told us how his dad was born in 1937 in Ottawa. The family moved to Montreal when he was two. When he was 12, his dad passed away unexpectedly. Older brother Mort, 16, quit school to run the family business. Harold would eventually get a part-time job at Steinberg`s Grocery Store to contribute. He eventually ended up at McGill University, getting a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in 1958 and becoming a Chartered Accountant two years later with the second highest mark in all of Quebec. Soon after he accepted an opportunity to lecture at McGill, a relationship that would last for 45 years.

“Just two years ago my wife and I were on an elevator in Tel Aviv,” Neil explained. “A gentleman from Texas came on. He asked where I was from and what my name was. He told me that he went to McGill and asked if I happened to know Harold Greespon. He said ‘Your dad was the best teacher I ever had. He was so passionate about what he was doing.’”
The last year marked a roller coaster ride for Harold, going back and forth to emergency for a variety of problems, ranging from pneumonia to heart failure. He had to be placed on oxygen on occasion,

Harold Greenspon left quite a legacy in this city. In Côte Saint-Luc, our auditorium and a park are named after him. Of course, the Sports Celebrity Breakfast was his baby. Had he not taken the initiative, vulnerable seniors would have had one less helping hand.

Rest in Peace Harold!

I used to joke around with Seymour David that he truly must have either been cloned or a triplet,  for it seemed ever corner I crossed, there he was.

Head into the library, there was Seymour!
Walk down the aisle of a grocery store, there was Seymour!
Go to City Hall, there was Seymour!
Attend a community event, there was Seymour!
Go to work at the School Board, there was Seymour, in his role as a childcare worker!

Seymour was also my constituent. For the past dozen years he resided on Rembrandt Avenue, taking care of his elderly father. His move was precipitated by a divorce, but he always told me how close he was with his two children and his ex-wife.

Seymour and his 97 year old dad last summer.

I was very saddened to learn of Seymour’s passing. He had spent the past several months in intensive care at the Jewish General Hospital due to non-alcoholic sclerosis of the liver. While he told everyone who would listen how optimistic he was that he would survive this horrible ordeal, that was not to be. Now his friends and family are left to mourn.

Seymour was adored by the students he assisted daily in the EMSB Alternative School network. He loved living in Côte Saint-Luc and was particularly proud of his presence with the local Dramatic Society.

There is one memory I have of Seymour which illustrates the many nice things people are saying about him. About a year before I first ran for city council, around 2004, I attended a Borough Council meeting in Hampstead. At a certain point I decided to leave. Seymour was there (of course he was) and followed me out. I did not realize it at the time, but I had actually walked in through one entrance and out from another. As I frantically looked for my car, Seymour stuck by me. I was convinced it was stolen. Seymour actually walked the block with me. We even checked side streets, hoping someone might have just taken a joyride. I called the police. Thirty minutes later, they still had not shown up. I told Seymour to go home, that I was fine. But he insisted on staying. My mother in law and father in law soon arrived as a rescue mission. I jumped in the back seat, thanked Seymour, and as we turned the corner there was the car. Yep, near the door I had entered. Whenever I saw Seymour after that I remembered his patience and empathy.

Like me, Seymour ran for city council in 2005. He did not win, but enjoyed the experience. When the newspaper reported the final result, they called him David Seymour instead of Seymour David. We all had a good laugh.

Our mayor, Mitchell Brownstein, was a very close friend of Seymour`s. He is crushed by his passing. “Seymour was a dear friend since our early adult years,” said Mitchell. “His son Priam, aged 22, performed in our Dramatic Society shows with his dad and is studying music. His daughter Evara, aged 26, worked as a lifeguard, volunteers at EMS and works at dispatch. She is in her final year of law school at U of M and missed this semester's exams due to the situation with her dad. He was an incredible dad, a devoted son  and a loyal friend.”

Shiva is in Chalet #1 at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Park on Mackle Road until Thursday, January 19. Rest in Peace Seymour. You left us way too early!

Two men who made very significant contributions to Côte Saint-Luc passed away this week.

Solly Levine was a fixture on the local hockey and baseball scene for decades and I had quite a history with him. Seymour Kleinnerg was the ultimate gentleman and so much revered by the CSL Men`s Club that they twice recognized him as Man of the Year.

Solly passed away at the age of 97. Virtually from the moment I got involved in the amateur sports scene he was presence. Now Solly was not really an athlete, yet he was a true manager of people. So when he stood behind the bench of the Côte Saint-Luc Cougars with his co-coach Kenny Saxe, everyone respected his decisions. He knew just how to send out the right line combinations, which players to select at the start of each season and how to deal with the parents.

Solly Levine, Mike Ribeiro and Jack Dunn in 2005.

It was in management, though, where Solly found his true calling. In hockey, he ended up becoming the general manager of the Westluc Saints Midget AA team while in baseball he did the same for the Côte Saint-Luc Avengers. Eventually, Brian McKeown saw Solly’s true potential. McKeown was the owner of the Lac St. Louis Midget AAA Lions, which developed many NHL stars. He brought on Solly as his general manager and for a considerable period of time the man known to friends as “Dinky” became a living legend.

A few months ago I bumped into former NHL star Martin Lapointe, now the head of player development for the Canadiens. He played for the Westluc Saints and the Lac St. Louis Lions. “How is Solly doing?” he asked.

Solly loved seeing his name in the paper. He’d often call me and say, “Hey Michael, give me a little write up next week would you?”

I vividly remember the first Cummings Centre Sports Celebrity Breakfast I helped organize in 2005. Former Hab Mike Ribeiro was our guest. Solly and his friend Jack Dunn were in our VIP room. The moment Ribeiro saw Solly, he raced across the room to greet him.

Seymour Kleinberg

Seymour grew up in Outremont, was educated in the public school system and enjoyed an outstanding career in football as a defensive linebacker. After senior matriculation he entered the men’s clothing manufacturing sector with his father and uncle. He soon moved into retail in rural Quebec, which made him fluently bilingual, after which he returned to Montreal as a manufacturer of ladies wear until his retirement. He married Renee in 1953 and was blessed with three children - Ellen, Sharon, and Carl. Seymour is the proud grandfather to Ryan and Benji.

I got to congratulate Seymour in 2009 when he was named Man of the Year.

Always community-oriented, Seymour was active in the Young Israel of Chomedey Congregation and Combined Jewish Appeal and the Mount Sinai Hospital Sadly, his wife passed away in 1988. He shared his time with Rhoda Baskin, a former executive-secretary in Neurology at the Jewish General Hospital, herself a widow and now, retired. They became inseparable companions these past 17 years, enjoying club activities as well as each other’s children and grandchildren.

 
Seymour was just about one of the friendliest men you can ever meet. I always enjoy his company and was proud to have him as a constituent on Sir Walter Scott Avenue.

Our sympathies go out to both families.

Funeral services were held at Paperman and Sons on July 31 for Merle Margles, a resident of Côte Saint-Luc’s District 2. Sidney Margles, Merle’s husband, is well known in the community dating back to his days as a high profile reporter for CJAD and Standard Broadcasting.

Merle and Sid.

Merle and Sidney had a rock solid marriage for 53 years. They raised three daughters, who gave them six grandchildren.

Two years ago I called Sidney on behalf of my mother, Elaine, who writes for The Canadian Jewish News. Regularly, she profiles couples who have been married for 50 plus years. Would they agree to a profile? “Absolutely,” said Sid.

As my mom wrote, former Quebec Liberal MNA Paul Gérin-Lajoie may be recognized for his accomplishments as Minister of Youth as well as Minister of Education in the 1960s, he also played a role in Merle and Sidney walking down the aisle.

When Sidney first met Merle (née Elkin) in 1958, he was at McGill University and she was at Sir George Williams (precursor to Concordia University). They dated for a while but later went separate ways to focus on other interests.

Sidney spent time in Boston studying public relations. As far back as his teens, Sidney remembers “hanging out” at CJAD radio station. Addicted to the broadcast media, Sidney put aside his third year studies at McGill and accepted a full-time job opportunity in 1959 at CJAD. Sidney was a pioneer at CJAD in broadcasting live from the scene of air crashes, bombings, riots, fires and other events. He won numerous awards, the most notable being for the TCA air crash in Ste. Thérèse in 1963.

By the time he reconnected with Merle at the Gérin-Lajoie meeting, she was working full-time during the day and immersed in evening courses at Sir George Williams. Sidney was a seasoned news broadcaster. Merle told my mom that the timing was also right for her. A romance blossomed and by the fall of 1962, the couple were engaged. Merle, at 21½, and Sidney, 24, wed on June 16, 1963, at Congregation Beth Ora. Their eldest daughter, Susan, was born in 1966, followed by Elizabeth in 1968, and Melissa in 1971.

In 1974, Standard Broadcast News, formerly parent owner of CJAD, asked Sidney to head up the company’s news operation, based in Ottawa. Standard Broadcast News serviced more than 100 Canadian radio stations. In 1981, with Sidney being the point man, Standard Broadcasting received CRTC approval for a radio station in Ottawa and he assumed the helm as vice president and general manager.

While in Ottawa, Merle, along with other parents, lobbied for an all-day kindergarten at Hillel Academy. Their plea was answered in time for their youngest child. Merle re-entered the workforce. In the interim, she had completed a university degree and been involved in the community.

In 1984, the family headed back to Montreal, where Sidney presided over Standard Sound Systems and ran Muzak until 1997. They re-settled in the Town of Mount Royal and Sidney’s interest in the community led him to seek municipal office. Subsequently, he was elected and served on the council for three consecutive terms. In addition, from 1985-99, he presided over the Liberal Mount Royal Riding.

Soon after their return, Sheila Finestone, then newly elected Liberal MP for Mount Royal, offered Merle an administrative position. “We knew each other from projects at Federation CJA,” Merle pointed out, adding initially she was reticent but credited her daughter Susan for persuading her to go for it. Merle ran Finestone’s office for 15 years. Finestone served as Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and the Status of Women in 1993 and was named a Senator in 1999, whereupon Merle retired.

Despite heavy schedules, Merle and Sidney always considered quality time with family a priority. “We made every effort to sit down to dinner as a family,” Merle told my mom. Skiing was another cherished family activity. Merle described herself as more “reflective” than Sidney. “He’s more analytical,” she remarked.

Sid and Merle with their grandchildren.

In 2005, the empty nesters moved to Côte Saint-Luc. Sidney immediately became integrally involved in our community. He presided over the Senior Men’s Club for two terms. As a constituent, he has always provided me with solid advice. When Anthony Housefather decided he wanted to become the successor to Irwin Cotler as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Mount Royal, Sidney and Merle stepped forward to first run his campaign to get the nomination and then to win the election. I spent a lot of time with Merle at Anthony’s Côte des Neiges campaign office. This was less than a year ago. She ran the office, much in the same way she steered the ship for Finestone during all of those years.

Merle fell ill a few years ago, but you would never have known it. She and Sidney missed some time at their beloved condo at Century Village in Deerfield, but everyone hoped and prayed that her treatment had been working. When she had to come home early last spring, we knew it was not a good sign. It was clear from the funeral that even just a month ago she spent a great deal of time with her kids and grandchildren. She went to Ottawa to see one granddaughter off to camp and to New York to visit with another.

“My mom was always our teacher,” said daughter Elizabeth. “She taught us how to stand up for ourselves, be independent, loyal, resiliant and how to love.”

I always admired what a great team Merle and Sidney were. She was clearly a very supportive wife. At the funeral we were told how she had her three kids before the age of 30 and with Sidney’s unpredictable hours as a reporter had a lot on her plate. She always made sure a home cooked meal was waiting when he came home.

Merle always used Sundays to plan the family meals for the week. She had inherited many recipes from her mom and grandmother and created many of her own. “Merle set the bar high, but obtainable,” said Rabbi Lionel Moses from Shaare Zion Congregation. “Like their mother, all three girls are committed to the community.”

We extend our deepest sympathies to the family.

-With files from Elaine Cohen

It is always particularly difficult to learn about the passing of someone you have known most of your life. Such was the case this week when Harold Heft lost his year and a half battle with a brain tumour. He was only 50 years young, happily married and the father of two.

While Harold moved to Toronto a number of years ago, we always stayed in touch. He grew up in Côte Saint-Luc as a close friend of my younger brother Chuck and as such he was at the house very often. Harold travelled in the same circles as us - the son of Ruby and Eddie and the brother of Joel and Richie. What I remember most is his happy go lucky nature - always smiling, with his trademark dimple and absolutely full of laughs and personality. We called him "Hefty boy!"

Harold became a very prolific writer, penning his own book and often gracing the pages of different newspapers. He also carved a successful career for himself as a fundraiser in the health sector. The last time we actually sat down face to face and talked was at his dad Eddie's shiva three years ago. Emails followed, but that all stopped when he fell ill. I reached out to him via friends and family, but he was not in the frame of mind to communicate back and forth with the endless array of people trying to reach out.

Below is a beautiful obituary which appeared in The Montreal Gazette. Rest in peace Hefty!

From an early age, Harold Heft understood the unpredictability of life and therefore how important it is to preserve and share our stories. At age 10, he had lifesaving open-heart surgery and spent a summer convalescing while friends went to camp. That episode made a deep impression, and made many future experiences over the ensuing 40 years all the more sweet. 

In February, 2014, Harold was suddenly diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. With enormous courage and determination he faced a daunting prognosis and grueling medical treatment. Despite his valiant efforts to beat terrible odds, on July 23, 2015 Harold died peacefully in his home, surrounded by those who loved him most. 

Harold was born in Montreal on November 19, 1964, to Ruby (née Lenet) and Edward Heft, Z"L. 
He attended Wagar High School in Côte Saint-Luc, and then took three degrees in literature: a BA from McGill in 1987, an MA from Université de Montréal in 1989, and a PhD from Western in 1994. (Those who knew his playful sense of humour can almost hear him say: "I took the degrees, sure, but I also worked hard for them.")

After an appointment as Visiting Professor of Canadian Studies at the Halbert Centre, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, he started what would become a highly successful career as a senior fundraising and communications professional at University of Toronto (Faculty of Engineering), Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Hospital for Sick Kids, Mt. Sinai Hospital, and North York General Hospital. Throughout his career he built new, innovative programs to engage major philanthropy, always looking for the best way to "tell the story" of the causes for which he worked tirelessly. He knew if the story moved minds and hearts, people would act with generosity, and the world might be a better place. Harold also loved to bring people together. He inspired and mentored various young professionals and was unfailingly generous about making connections for friends and colleagues. Even in the last months of his life, he was helping people find jobs and offering career advice.

A continuous strand of his own story was his writing, editing and publishing. He published three books: On Your Mark: Getting Better Grades Without Working Harder or Being Smarter (published as The Savvy Student in the U.S.); Build a Better Book Club; and The Shape of This Dying: Remembering Alexander Bercovitch. Over the past year he was co-editing a new book of collected personal stories of trauma and transformation, work on which continues. 

He also published many poems; articles and reviews on new and established Canadian and international writers; jazz, rock, folk, blues and pop music; science and neurology; and of course, on baseball and in particular, his beloved Expos. His work appeared in The Globe and Mail, Montreal Gazette, National Post, Toronto Star, Tablet, Jewish Daily Forward, among many others.

Harold believed strongly in tikkun olam, the Jewish tradition of helping 'to heal the world'. In addition to serving on the Board of Writers' Trust of Canada, New Israel Fund, Harold Green Theatre, and the Advisory Board of the Max and Beatrice Wolfe Children's Grief Centre, Harold was a counsellor at Camp Erin, a summer camp for bereaved children. He volunteered for 10 years at Holy Blossom Temple on the Out of the Cold program, rarely missing a shift. Even while an outpatient at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre he volunteered weekly in the library of Holland Bloorview Children's Rehab Centre.

Harold was predeceased by his father Edward and is survived by his mother, Ruby Heft, the two of whom were married over 50 years; his beloved wife of 16 years, Suzanne, and his sons Sam and John, to whom he was completely and absolutely devoted; by brothers Joel (Rachel), Richard (Martha) and nephews Jared, Ross, Jacob and A.J.; by mother-in-law Viviane Decker, and brothers-in-law David Mitchell (Jenny) and Chris Mitchell. He will be deeply missed by those who loved him and by a core group of friends, far and wide, whom he also considered "family." 

Although he lived in Toronto for many years, he was a Montrealer to his core and his favourite journey was crossing the bridge back to the island of Montreal that he called home.

Sincere thanks to the medical teams at the Gerry and Nancy Pencer Brain Tumour Centre and the Temmy Latner Palliative Care Centre at Mount Sinai Hospital, as well as Ashlee and Jonathan and all those compassionate care-givers who helped care for Harold at home.

Funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 26, 2015 at Holy Blossom Temple, 1950 Bathurst Street. Interment at Holy Blossom Temple section of Pardes Shalom cemetery. Shiva immediately following and through to Thursday at 64 Oriole Road 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 7:00-9:00 p.m. (Prayers at 8:00 p.m.). In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Harold's memory to the McGill University Library, c/o Donation Records, 1430 Peel Street, Montréal, QC H3A 3T3 (514)-398-2787.

Fifty years was not long enough for us to have Harold in our lives, or indeed for Harold himself to tell his full story. In his book The Shape of this Dying he wrote a poem about driving back to Montreal with painter Alexander Bercovitch's great-granddaughter after attempting to see a Bercovitch painting at the National Gallery. The poem begins: "You and I are finally silent. / The highway is linear and automatic and / we are lost in the knowledge that / this one journey will end / before we can find even one more / of the stories." 

For many years, pedestrians at the  busy corner of Cavendish and Kildare always knew they could get across the street safely due to the presence of dedicated crossing guard Archie Kwiatt.

Archie was more than a mere crossing guard. He was a friend to everyone he met. I often accompanied him at the corner to study the traffic flow and it was amazing how popular he was with motorists and pedestrians alike. Students at Bialik High School  were safer with Archie present. With a gentle voice and a wave of the hand he reminded them not to cross at red lights and to abide by the traffic rules. If a motorist drove recklessly he'd let them know this was unacceptable. Since his "office" was directly in front of Police Station 9, he made sure these incidents were reported.

In recent years Archie had to slow down his activity due to health reasons, initially taking the cold winters off. Recently, he retired.  I am sad to report that Archie passed away on June 16 with his beloved with Bluma by his side. While at Maxies Bakery to pick up a few items, word was already circulating through the store via owner Mark that Archie - a fixture at the Quartier Cavendish food court - had passed away. Funeral services will take place on June 19 (1 p.m.) at Paperman and Sons.

I first met Archie many years ago through my dad. He was the ticket sales manager for the Montreal Alouettes and Concordes. His crossing guard duties essentially served as a semi-retirement gig. He loved every moment of the work and we in Côte Saint-Luc were lucky to have him.

Archie Kwiatt (third from the left) with Mayor Anthony Housefather, myself, Howard Liebman and former Police Station 9 Commander Sylvain Bissonnette.

Two years ago at my District 2 Information meeting I honoured Archie, presenting him with an Award of Merit. He was very touched. As he told me, 14 years earlier he was downsized from his job as a warehouse manager. Soon after he saw an advertisement in The Suburban. The city was seeking a crossing guard. He quickly called our Public Security Department. When they found out he worked in a freezer and was therefore able to adapt to cold weather the job was his.

"It's not a job; it is a labour of love," Archie told me. "I like the people. I have developed a lot of friendships. It's a lot of fun."

Archie's standard hours were 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and Noon to 4 p.m. I asked him who he focused more attention on, the students or the seniors. "The seniors," he responded. "It's a lot harder for them to cross the street than a younger person. I would like to think they have peace of mind with me there." 

You can fast forward the video below to the 1:25 mark for my video chat with him on that night
 

Côte Saint-Luc has lost another one of our builders following the passing of former city councillor Henry Marcovitz on September 6. I last saw Henry just over two weeks ago dining with family members at a popular Montreal restaurant. He was wheelchair bound, but seemed to be in good spirits and very involved in conversation around the table.

I was proud in recent years to serve as Henry’s city councillor. He and his wife of 60 years Shirley had left their long time home on Randall Avenue and bought a condominium on Rembrandt Avenue. I immediately came into regular contact with them: Shirley via email and Henry by telephone, on the street and at the grocery store. They attended my District information meetings and provided feedback on discussions I held regarding possible changes to Rembrandt Park.

Two and a half years ago, on March 12, 2012, Shirley lost a battle with cancer. I found this remarkable given the fact I ran into her often during what had clearly been a horrible period in her life and she never brought it up or sought sympathy. Henry was naturally devastated and told me how lost he felt. His family, though, stepped in and provided extraordinary support. I remember standing at the front door of our Aquatic and Community Centre when it opened for the first time three years ago. My late father Larry, who went way back with Henry, was standing with me. In walked Henry with his daughter. He wanted to be there and see for himself our state of the art facility.

Henry Marcovitz (back row second to the left), shown in this 1983 photo with the mayor and members of council.

I covered Côte Saint-Luc City Hall in the 1980s for The Suburban and as such conducted many interviews with Henry. He was a stickler for financial issues and spoke out loudly against any expenditures he thought were out of line. This was the time of the construction of our present-day City Hall and Library Complex and he had many opinions on the project. Henry served on council for 20 years and among the committees he chaired was Town Planning.

At his funeral we learned that Henry had been accepted to McGill Medical School at a time when not too many Jews were admitted. However, it was at the same time as World War II and he felt compelled to fight for his country and enlisted in the Canadian Army. After suffering twice from pneumonia  he received an honourary discharge, returned to school and graduated with his Bachelor of Commerce Degree. He went on to become a successful businessman. One day Shirley, a bookkeeper, appeared in Henry’s office and he was immediately smitten. He asked her to join him at a concert and 10 days later they were engaged.

Henry’s granddaughter Gillian and son Alan spoke at the funeral. We heard about what a healthy life he kept, staying in shape by water skiing and doing downhill, as well as golf. He even continued to exercise when he was in a wheelchair.

“Dad was proud of the exemplary way the city was run,” said Alan.

Added Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz: “Henry was Mensch, a gentleman and a role model. He never took a pill. Occasionally he would indulge himself with half a Tylenol. Even a few weeks ago he went to the library for a lecture by Dr. Joe Schwarcz. He could fix his own car, his own house and do his own taxes. Above all, he was a man of integrity, kindness and generosity.”

Our sympathies are extended to  his family.

I will be recommending an appropriate way for the city to honour Henry’s memory.

We are all in mourning today with the news that former Côte Saint-Luc Mayor Bernard Lang has passed away at the age of  88.

In this 2011 photo I welcomed Mayor Lang (far right) to my Cats Committee.

Lang was the mayor of Côte Saint-Luc for 22 years. Prior to that he was a city councillor for 13 year. He attempted a comeback in the 2005 election and ran against Anthony Housefather. I had a long history with “Mayor” Lang. No, he was not the present-day mayor. But just as they refer to President Clinton, President Bush and  President Carter in the United States, it was difficult to address someone as “Mr.” Lang when he held the mayoral post for so long.

I go back many years with Lang, notably to my years as the Côte Saint-Luc beat reporter for The Suburban, The Monitor and briefly The Weekly Herald. We  never lost contact.

The arrival of Lang's first  and only grandchild Dylan some 13 years ago rejuvenated him. He was the youngest and most fit looking 87 year old I know. Soon after his crushing defeat in 2005, Lang began calling me at least once a week as that election coincided with my debut as a city councillor. He was not bitter. It was clear that he chose to run again because of his undying love for the city. He questioned me on various decisions of the city, but out of general interest and concern that the right thing be done. As time went on I sensed a genuine support for the current council. He and Mayor Housefather began to speak. At a VE Day ceremony in the year following that election, Mayor Housefather acknowledged Lang in a very positive way. Afterwards, Lang thanked him warmly.

When we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Côte Saint-Luc Eleanor London Public Library, Lang was profiled prominently in the special edition of our Courier newspaper. He was also brought on stage and saluted by Mayor Housefather at our ceremony. It was on that night it became clear to me that we needed to find a place for him at the committee level.  He agreed to sit on our library committee. He and his devoted wife Miriam were cat lovers. And so they joined my Cats Committee.

Bernard Lang was a full-time mayor, spending virtually every weekday at City Hall. He had a successful business which he had his sons run. Lang was an articulate spokesman who brought credibility to the city. He stood up against any wrongs coming to the city and was noted for taking on the City of Montreal and winning after then Mayor Jean Doré reneged on a pledge to extended Kildare Road into CSL. Lang went all the way to Quebec City and came back with a multi-million dollar ruling in favor of our city and  the awarding of the North of Hampstead area and Decarie Square to our tax coffers.

Lang bitterly opposed any talk to extend Cavendish Boulevard. "We don't need it, we don't want it, we can't afford it," he would always say.

His feud with then Hampstead Mayor Irving Adessky was legendary.

Under his watch the present-day City Hall and Library Complex was built. When he retired, it was named the Bernard Lang Civic Centre - a fitting honour.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, June 15 (2 p.m.) at Paperman and Sons. Ironically that same afternoon, a demerger celebration concert featuring Bowser and Blue will take place at Trudeau Park - another facility like the arena which came into being under his leadership. Lang was very much part of the demerger issue. And so, there will no doubt be a nice tribute to him.

May you rest in peace Mayor Lang.

It is not often that one says  "he left us too soon" for a man of 95 years of age. But in the case of Joel Sourkes, that is  quite accurate.

Joel was a remarkable man whom I met on a number of occasions during my eight years as a city councillor via his association with the Cote Saint-Luc Senior Men's Club. He died suddenly on January 2, leaving his wife of an incredible 71 years Rose (pictured with him below), one daughter (his son passed away in recent years), the grandfather of four and the great-grandather of seven. He was predeceased by three sisters.

Joel served for four-and-a-half years as a Sergeant Major in the Canadian Air Force during World War II and worked for over 40 years in the importing trade. After retirement, he joined the Men's Club where, for the past 20 years, he led their current events discussion group. 

Côte Saint-Luc has indeed lost a very special individual.