I was deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Bernard Gotlieb, a lifelong resident of Côte Saint-Luc who endured significant health problems for most of his life yet he always kept a smile on his face and maintained a good attitude life.
A number of years ago I invited Bernard to Royal Vale School in NDG where he recounted his courageous battle with leukemia, the loss of two legs and why he decided to publish his own memoirs. He was a familiar face at that school and others for the popular chess club he ran several days a week.

The late Bernard Gotlieb

In 1977, 19-year-old Bernard was living a happy middle class existence in his native Côte St. Luc, which included a passion for the word game Scrabble. However, during a plane trip home from a winter vacation in Florida, he experienced some blockage in his ears, and went to see a doctor who was starting his new G.P. practice. Because the doctor was seeing him for the first time, he was subjected to a battery of medical procedures, including a blood test. When the blood test results looked slightly irregular, the doctor requested another one. The end result was a rather startling one: he was diagnosed with leukemia. Back in the late 70s, leukemia was practically a death sentence, and any treatments that were available were debilitating, painful and had no guarantee of success. However, such a dire diagnosis did not deter Bernard, as he decided to embark upon a six-week trip to Israel, pursued a degree in tourism management and established his own Scrabble Club (which was still in operation).

In June of 1979, Bernrard decided to take a major step in his battle against leukemia: a bone marrow transplant (which was still in the experimental stages) that was only available at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. And on top of that, his sister Gloria’s marrow was a compatible match, and was more than happy to take that risky measure of donating it towards increasing the chances of her brother’s survival against that dreaded disease. As a result, he became one of the first leukemia patients to undergo – and survive -- a bone marrow transplant in Canada, a treatment that is so common these days. The story of Bernard Gotlieb’s up and down road to successfully battling leukemia is told in honest, personal detail in his privately-published memoir “Hey What Happened To You?” He chronicles his struggles with a lot of with a lot of humanity and humour, and the message the reader gets is that through the more than 30 years since his diagnosis and subsequent bone marrow transplant, Bernard never gave up on the idea of beating this disease, and restoring himself to his normal way of life and pursuing the passions that kept him going through such difficult times.
Difficulties Bernard endured included infections, a series of extended hospital stays, injuries, accidents, operations, medical procedures, financial strains, a brain tumour, and a worsening skin condition that led to the amputation of both his legs. Yet somehow, through the love and support of friends and family (not to mention his continuing passion for Scrabble and his Scrabble club), he has managed to maintain busy life, in which he ran a games class at multiple schools.

Bernard is shown here a number of years ago being honored by City Council.

Bernard also tutored students in math, French, English and Spanish at his home. He also had a special adapted vehicle. Bernard had a great sense of humour. Besides the extraordinary support he received from his family, including his late parents, a word must go out to his lifelong neighbor Bram Weinstein who was as devoted as they come.

Tributes have been pouring in for Bernard. “My son developed a love of chess through Bernard’s kind and gentle guidance at Royal Vale School,” commented Cindy Blauer. “He shared his list with me of two letter Scrabble words, which I will always treasure. Bernard exhibited strength, determination and acceptance, humbly modelling what it takes to live life to its fullest.”

Bernard in a scrabble game.

Stephen Caplan was his physician at the time of his initial diagnosis many years ago. “Even at that time, I realized that he was a very special person,” he said. “No matter what he was facing, he always faced it with optimism and resilience. At the time, there was no curative treatment for his disease, except for the risky bone marrow transplant which he ultimately had. He was always upbeat and positive, even at times when the complications of the transplant caused severe disability.”

Liat Lev-Ary Goldstein recalls Bernard being her tutor 35 years ago when she first arrived to Montreal from Israel as a Grade 11 student. “I met him four times a week for a few months to work on different subjects,” she said. “Many years later, I met him again, this time at Royal Vale where he taught my four children chess in the afternoon program. His valour, courage and strength over the years never ceased to amaze and impress me. His positive attitude was also admirable.”

Robin Pollock Daniel noted how she met Bernard about 41 years ago, venturing into the Montreal Scrabble Club at the behest of her backdoor neighbour, Fran Silver, and began an adventure into a competitive world whose inevitable bumps and bruises were made tolerable by the grace and good humour of Bernard. “From hesitating to match me at the club with far superior players because I wasn't good enough yet, to graduating me from seven-letter prize-winning anagram puzzles to the vaunted 9s as my skills grew, he shepherded my and every player's growth to make the Montreal club the most admired one in all of Scrabble, with a string of World Champions – quite a feat considering Canada's comparatively low population and, oh yeah, those tournaments didn't use our usual, much smaller, dictionary,” she said. “At the Baltimore Nationals he wanted to go to the baseball game and had no one to take him. He would have gone alone, in his wheelchair, with thousands marching past him, such was his strength of determination. Tthankfully I learned of it and was able to accompany him; he inspired fierce loyalty and protectiveness. I have never met a kinder soul, and his ability to not just tolerate his afflictions, but to soar in spite of them, has helped me through my own illnesses, as I frequently think of him at those times. In Scrabble we have a saying with regard to making the best play: ‘What would Nigel do?’ But for all of life's trials and tribulations, I often think, ‘What would Bernard do?’ I can only aspire to reach the levels of optimism and acceptance that Bernard habitually achieved, and I will never match his grace. But I will keep thinking of him, as I'm sure you all will, too, and keep his memory alive and as a blessing for us all.”

Rest in Peace Bernard!

Stanley Diamond was one of those people I always thought would live forever. So when I learned that he passed away  on December 18 at the age of 91 years young, I felt profound sadness. In our regular talks over the last year he would often discuss his own mortality. “I know I am over 90, but I feel great and I don’t want to think about not being on this earth anymore. I have too many things to do.”

Stan attended his McGill Faculty Management 70th Reunion on October 30. He is seen here with Dean Chan.

I first met Stan decades ago when he played in the Côte Saint-Luc Slo Pitch Association and I was the scorekeeper. Years later, in 1995, he established a reputation for himself as a groundbreaking researcher in genealogy and the executive director of Jewish Records Indexing – Poland, a searchable online database. His commitment to uncovering family histories obscured by war and upheaval paved the way for countless people of European Jewish ancestry to trace their roots and track down surviving relatives. I was a journalist by then and he always had a good story to share. In 2005 I was elected as the Côte Saint-Luc City Councillor for District 2 and Stan became one of my strongest supporters. Last year he called to tell me that he was selling his condo and moving into assisted living. It was not a move he cherished, but quipped “my wife and I are 177 years old between us and I wanted to ensure she is in a safer place with support for the day I am no longer here.”

Stan was passionate about what he did. And a week did not go by over the last few decades when he did not message me or pitch a story. He spoke proudly about earning a commerce degree at McGill and an MBA at Harvard, then starting a very successful decorative ceiling business called Intalite with factories and clients around the globe. He and his wife Ruth had three adoring daughters  and four grandkids.

Of Ruth, Stan told me in a blog I wrote last year: “My wife and I were born five years and five days apart.

In honor of Stan’s 90th birthday, JRI-Poland kicked off its 2024 NextGen Fundraising Campaign by adding $90,000 to their goal in recognition of his contribution to this organization. Funds raised went towards website development project.

JRI-Poland is a searchable online database. Stan’s commitment to uncovering family histories obscured by war and upheaval has paved the way for countless people of European Jewish ancestry to trace their roots and track down surviving relatives. His personal journey to trace his family lineage not only unveiled surprising connections but also ignited a vision: making genealogical research more accessible for all. JRI-Poland, since its inception in 1995, has become a cornerstone for those tracing their Polish Jewish roots. With collaboration from the Polish State Archives, the organization has built a database of over seven million records.

Stan going door to door with me in 2017

Back in 2017, Stanley gave a speech at his synagogue, Shaare Zion, which I happily covered. “It’s truly humbling to be honored by my synagogue where 71-years ago this week, I celebrated my bar mitzvah,” he said at the time. “Many years ago, my wife Ruth remarked, ‘what are you going to do when you retire?’ Other women in this sanctuary may have asked a similar question - if they witnessed what Ruth endured for many years…a husband who had a passion for his international decorative ceiling business…and was consumed with it almost every waking hour. Little did I know that the seeds for my post-retirement had already been sown back in 1977 when my nephew Mark Diamond was diagnosed as being a carrier of the beta thalassemia genetic trait, and blood tests revealed that my father Harry, all four of his children and nine of 13 grandchildren were also carriers. I could hardly have anticipated how being a carrier, the fall of the Iron Curtain and the opening up of the Polish archives…the growth of the Internet and the dramatic changes in communications made possible by personal computers and email…and my international business experience - all seemingly unrelated - would come together to play such a huge role in my second career…a new chapter in my life that blossomed into something far bigger than I could have ever imagined.

“My family does not suffer from the Thalassemia disease…but we carry the beta thalassemia genetic trait. Only children who inherit the trait from both parents can have the disease known as Thalassemia Major. Children who only inherit the gene from one parent - like the members of my family - live normal lives. Since the trait manifests itself as mild chronic anemia, carriers in populations where it is not prevalent – like my Ashkenazi family – were never or rarely tested for the trait. Although Thalassemia trait is widely seen in Mediterranean and Southeast Asian families, and a very small percentage of Sephardic Jews, we were one of the first among Ashkenazim diagnosed as carriers in 1977…and that’s where my story begins. Dr. Arthur Cooperberg, head of hematology at the Jewish General was fascinated to learn about our family as he had only seen the trait in Greeks and Italians in Montreal. Cooperberg’s 1977 study of our family revealed that my father was the carrier…as were the families of his sister Ray Steinhouse and brother Barney Diamond. Many of us had been misdiagnosed over the years as being anemic and had been prescribed massive doses of iron which are totally ineffective.But where did it come from? We were naturally curious about the source of the trait…and we knew the potential danger to future generations as well as relatives near and far who were likely unaware that their mild chronic anemia could be something else. But, we knew little if anything about genealogical research and no one bothered to learn. In 1991, I became both the family genealogist and beta thalassemia detective. But to build a family tree of carriers, I first had to discover if it was my father’s father or father’s mother who had passed the trait to him. This was a challenge because my grandparents came to Montreal from New York in 1898 and left their siblings’ families behind.

“Fortunately, my sole living aunt finally remembered a distant cousin in Florida, a descendant of my grandmother’s brother Aron Hersz WIDELEC. After identifying myself and discussing how we’re related, I hesitatingly asked, "Is there any incidence of anemia in your branch?" "Oh, you mean beta thalassemia, it's all over our family!" In that one moment I knew I had to concentrate my research on my father’s mother’s branch from the town of Ostrów Mazowiecka – halfway between Warsaw and Białystok. My luck continued when I learned about Michael Richman, a remarkable young lawyer in Washington who also has roots in my ancestral town. Using the Mormon microfilms of the 1808 to 1863 Jewish records of the town, Michael not only documented the early generations of his own early family but out of curiosity, two hundred other families – including my grandmother’s WIDELEC family. Within a year, after hundreds of phone calls and countless letters, I had connected the main branches of the WIDELEC family in the United States to the earlier generations in Poland documented by Michael. But to research the other branches of my family from Poland, I needed access to the post-1863 records in the Polish State Archives and the pre-war records in the city hall archives. In May 1994, it was bashert that the keynote speaker at the International Conference on Jewish Genealogy in Jerusalem was Jerzy Skowronek, Director-General of the Polish State Archives. Skowronek immediately grasped my humanitarian quest and offered his full cooperation. Eighteen months later I made my first visit to Poland. But before leaving, I sent letters to a fourteen genealogists with an interest in my town and nearby towns. I suggested we do joint research of the microfilmed records and avoid senseless duplication of effort. The reaction to the letter was swift and just months later, in the spring of 1995, it led to the birth of Jewish Records Indexing-Poland in its early, rudimentary form.”

Stan sporting a most unique Habs shirt.

Stan shared too many success stories from JRI-Poland to print here. Like the woman in France with records proving that her maternal line is Jewish so that she could get married in a Jewish ceremony in Israel. JRI-Poland also contributed invaluable research for two TV series “Finding Your Roots” and “Who Do We Think We Are” about famous personalities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Carole King, and Alan Dershowitz.

Stan was also a lecturer and author

For all of us, including Amy Fish, Stan left us too soon. For the past six years Amy has been writing a book about Stan. “I am heartbroken that he did not live to hold the book in his hands, and at the same time grateful that he trusted me to document his legacy,” she said.

Amy, I can’t wait to get my copy.

Stan we miss you already!!!

Growing up in Côte Saint-Luc, where I still live and have served on city council for 19 years, my fondest memories go back to the days when I played in the local sports leagues. Front and center during all of those years, as a volunteer for minor hockey and baseball and a player/coach, was Kenny Saxe.

The late Kenny Saxe.

I have been thinking a lot about Kenny since I learned of his passing last week. Our sympathies go to his family, notably sons Glenn and Gary whom I grew up with.

Kenny was incredibly devoted. In the CSL Slo Pitch Association he managed and played for a team sponsored by the Famous Delly Boys. After most games you would find Kenny and the boys enjoying a smoked meat sandwich.

In what turned out to be my last year as hockey player, I was playing in the local CSL Midget league. My goal was to make it to the higher level squad that played in a league with teams from Hampstead, Montreal West and Ville St. Pierre. One night I got a call at home from Kenny. His team was down a man and he and co-coach, the late Solly Levine, wanted to add me to the roster for one game. I jumped at the opportunity, suiting up as number 17 for the CSL Cougars and setting up the winning goal. After the game Kenny came and told me: “Good game Mike! We want to keep you on the team.”

Kenny with sons Gary and Glenn.

In my last game I was knocked off balance by a player from Hampstead and hit the ice hard, crushing two vertebrae on my spine. I was taken to the hospital and what followed was a long recovery. The following season I resurfaced as a writer for The Monitor Newspaper, with the assignment to write a weekly column on minor hockey in CSL. Now I was interviewing Kenny and Solly.

“Kenny was a ‘giant’ in the early history and growth of minor hockey and minor baseball in Côte Saint-Luc,” said former Recreation Department sports league guru Harold Cammy. “ He was always known for his humility, warm smile, good humour, and kindness to all. He took great pleasure in his volunteering activities and when he arrived at the arena or the baseball field it was easy to see he was ‘where he belonged.’ I had the good fortune of bumping into (Kenny) at the Montreal eye care clinic a few years ago...thanks to the long wait for the eye doctor we took the opportunity to reminisce about our times in Cote Saint-Luc sports. The smile on his face and the look in his eyes while he spoke of those days clearly told me that when we bumped into each other on that day ‘it was meant to be.’ My condolences (to the family) in knowing how much your dad was so respected and admired!"

Ricky Steinberg, who also worked closely with Kenny as a hockey volunteer, called him “a tireless worker and very dedicated ensuring that our youth had a great minor hockey program. Kenny was a prolific hockey coach and a builder of minor hockey and baseball programs. He was one of the first coaches to take our hockey teams on cultural exchanges and various hockey tournaments. Kenny worked with me in hosting the first Côte St Luc-CBC Baseball Tournament . Besides all the accolades for his numerous community achievements, Kenny was an honest and sincere individual always putting others before himself.”

My old hockey teammate Leon Krantzberg (number 16) says he has fond memories of Kenny coaching him in minor league hockey and then through spending some time at his house. “As my mother didn’t drive and my father had to work, he generously gave us lifts to and from the hockey rink,” Leon recalls.

Rest in peace Kenny!

Last winter, several months after long-time Côte Saint-Luc resident Alexandre Look was murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7,  I got a call from Mayor Mitchell Brownstein. He and his wife Elaine knew the Look family very well as their eldest son Andrew grew up with Alex.

“How can we properly honor Alex’s memory,” the mayor asked,

As the city councillor responsible for Toponymy  (Naming Opportunities), I immediately zeroed in on a large piece of greenspace in my District 2, sandwiched between Bialik High School and Beth Chabad CSL. We had been looking for  a name there for a few years.  Sadly, this was the perfect match. Alex had attended Bialik and he also frequented Beth Chabad CSL.

Members of Council, the Alain and Raquel Look and other special guests unveil the sign.

Alexandre Look grew up in Côte Saint-Luc, attended Bialik High School, was a frequent visitor at the Parkhaven Pool, the Cavendish Mall, and played numerous sports. As a child, Alex was very protective of his younger sister Kayla, and as he grew, he would extend that sense of duty to protect all those in need.  

On Monday night, September 9 (the eve of what would have been his 34th birthday), we formally dedicated Alexandre Look Place.  Our Director of Public Works Beatrice Newman prepared the grounds beautifully. Associate City Manager Tanya Abramovitch met with the family and ensured the property was adequately prepared. And Darryl Levine, our Director Public Affairs and Communications, handled the branding, signage and wording on the inscription on the large plaque.

I will share below the wording expertly pieced together by Darryl.

Alexandre Look grew up in Cote Saint-Luc, attended Bialik High School, was a frequent visitor at the Parkhaven Pool, the Cavendish Mall, and played numerous sports. As a child, Alex was very protective of his younger sister Kayla, and as he grew, he would extend that sense of duty to protect people in need. He had numerous friends and coached many to achieve direction in their lives. 

A beautiful flower display surrounds the plaque. Some of these flowers were brought back from Israel. The red anemone is the national flower of israel and it blooms in the south. So it is used on all memorials for victims of Oct 7.

Alex had a larger-than-life presence, with unmatched charisma and generosity leaving a mark not only on the community, but the many places he would travel and live. A real bon-vivant with an entrepreneurial spirit, he spoke six languages and was a gifted a salesman, eventually opening his own cosmetics shops in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.  

Alex was immensely proud of his Jewish heritage and would visit Israel during the summer months. During his trip in 2023, Alex extended his stay to attend the Supernova Music Festival in the Negev desert of southern Israel. When hundreds of rockets were fired from Gaza in the early morning of October 7, Alex and his friends sought urgent refuge in a bomb shelter nearby at Kibbutz Be'eri, where nearly 40 others were hiding. Hamas terrorists soon arrived and began firing indiscriminately on civilians. Without hesitation, Alex placed himself at the entrance of the shelter, putting himself in harm’s way to protect friends and strangers alike. When a terrorist tried to enter, Alex fought the attacker and was murdered using his body as a shield to save others. Miraculously, eight people survived due to his act of bravery.  

There was a large crowd on hand.

Alex’s ultimate act of heroism stands as a testament to his unyielding spirit and lifelong dedication to others. His fearless protection of friends and strangers and his legacy of compassion serve as powerful reminders of his remarkable life and the enduring impact of his heroism. His memory will live on in the countless lives he touched and forever inspire strength and unity in our community and beyond. 

The City of Côte Saint-Luc mourns the loss of Alexandre Look and the numerous innocent lives lost on that tragic day. 

“This was home to Alex in all of its formative years,” said Mayor Brownstein.

Israel’s Consul General Paul Hirschson admitted that he did not know Alex, yet he has become intimately familiar with him over the past 11 months via  his parents Alain and Raquel. “”We mourn Alex and we celebrate him at the same time.”

Cantor Danny Belolo performs a memorial prayer.

Mount Royal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather  was in British Columbia at  party caucus, but he sent a message in which he told the parents “ your son was a hero. You know that already. But it needs to be repeated.”

D’Arcy McGee Liberal MNA Elisabeth Prass added  “those lives Alex saved by being a human shield showed the values he was raised with.”

Alain Look told me that he and his wife recently moved back to Côte Saint-Luc. “I think Alex was looking over, telling us to make this move,” he said.

Added Raquel: “This is a place that holds profound significance  to our family.  This represents more than just a greenspace. This place will serve as a beacon of hope.”

Federation CJA President and CEO Yair Szlak, a stalwart in the community since the October 7 attacks, said “we still have not had a chance to mourn what happened on October 7.”

You can watch the entire ceremony here

The Gazette

https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/friends-travel-from-around-the-world-as-cote-st-luc-honours-alexandre-look

CTV News

https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/video/c2990891-alexandre-look-memorialized-with-park?binId=1.1332485

CBC News

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6505357

City News

https://montreal.citynews.ca/2024/09/09/alexandre-look-place-cote-st-luc/

Alexandre (Coco) Abraham Look 

1990–2023 

Alexandre Look a grandi à Côte Saint-Luc, où il a fréquenté l’école secondaire Bialik. On le voyait souvent à la piscine Parkhaven et au mail Cavendish, et il participait à beaucoup d’activités sportives. Enfant, Alex était très protecteur à l'égard de sa jeune sœur Kayla et, en grandissant, il a étendu ce sens du devoir à la protection des personnes dans le besoin. Il avait de nombreux amis et en a accompagné plusieurs pour qu’ils trouvent un sens à leur vie. 

Alex avait une présence plus grande que nature. Son charisme et sa générosité inégalés ont laissé une trace non seulement dans la communauté, mais aussi dans les nombreux endroits où il a voyagé et vécu. Véritable bon vivant à l'esprit d'entreprise, il parlait six langues et était un vendeur hors pair, qui avait fini par ouvrir ses propres boutiques de cosmétiques à Cabo San Lucas, au Mexique. 

Alex était extrêmement fier de ses origines juives et il aimait se rendre en Israël pendant l’été. Pendant son voyage en 2023, Alex a prolongé son séjour pour assister au festival de musique Supernova dans le désert du Negev, dans le sud d’Israël. Lorsque des centaines de roquettes ont été tirées depuis Gaza au petit matin du 7 octobre, Alex et ses amis se sont réfugiés d'urgence dans un abri anti-bombes situé à proximité, au kibboutz Be'eri, où se cachaient près de 40 autres personnes. Les terroristes du Hamas sont arrivés rapidement et ont commencé à tirer sans discrimination sur les civils. Sans hésiter, Alex s’est placé à l’entrée de l’abri, se mettant en danger pour protéger des amis autant que des étrangers. Quand un terroriste a tenté d'entrer, Alex a combattu l'attaquant et il a été tué en utilisant son corps comme bouclier pour sauver d'autres personnes. Par miracle, huit personnes ont survécu grâce à son acte de bravoure.  

L’ultime acte d’héroïsme d’Alex témoigne de sa détermination et de son dévouement aux autres tout au long de sa vie. Sa protection téméraire d'amis et d'étrangers et son héritage de compassion sont autant de rappels de sa vie remarquable et de l'impact durable de son héroïsme. Son souvenir restera gravé dans les innombrables vies qu'il a touchées et inspirera à jamais la force et l'unité au sein de notre communauté et au-delà. 

La Ville de Côte Saint-Luc pleure la perte d'Alexandre Look et des nombreuses vies innocentes perdues lors de cette journée tragique. 

The late Johnny "Elvis" Champagne. (Glenn Nashen photo)

Jean-Noël Johnny “Elvis” Champagne  was a beloved Côte Saint-Luc Public Security Officer for many years. He retired in 2015 and left us too soon, at the age of 75, two years ago after  experiencing some health problems.

Johnny was one in a million, beloved by his colleagues and citizens. On July 10 there was a small gathering in front of Côte Saint-Luc Public Safety headquarters to remember Johnny and dedicate a bench in his memory. Now , when his former colleagues want to take a rest, they can take a seat on the bench and channel their inner-Johnny.

The mayor, some members of council, Public Safety officials and friends of the late Johnny Champagne help dedicate a bench in his memory

Director of Public Safety Philip Chateauvert presented the very first Jean-Noël Johnny Champagne Award to Lieutenant Anthony Tsakon.  There are more than 240 staff and volunteers in our Public Safety Department, which encompasses Public Security, Emergency Medical Services and VCOPs (Volunteer Citizens on Patrol). Each year one of these individuals  will be recognized. Lt. Tsakon is an invaluable member of our staff who always goes above and beyond the call of duty.

Our original Public Security Director Gérard Dutil.

Also on hand was our original  Director of Public Security Gérard Dutil, now in his 90s. He and his wife of more than 70 years had fond memories of Johnny and shed some tears as we remembered him. I had a wonderful relationship with Director Dutil. Back then I was covering City Hall for The Suburban and he had joined the city after 27 years in the Montreal Police force.

Director Chateauvert and Mayor Brownstein present Lt. Tsakon with his certificate.

Johnny was called “Elvis” for a very good reason. He idolized the singing legend Elvis Presley and as a result emulated him in terms of his looks and mannerisms. Not only were his hair and sideburns a perfect match, he also wore the jewels around his neck and he performed Elvis songs at events like our Canada Day and Volunteer Night.

The thing I remember most about Johnny was the respect he attracted from our younger generation. When he patrolled a park and kids were, shall we say, out or order he merely needed to walk in their path and they’d all chant “Elvis!” `

A closer look at the bench and plaque.

“He had a way of interacting with people, but especially kids,” Mayor Mitchell Brownstein said at the ceremony. “He became their friend, always waving to people. It is not easy to be like that, especially in public security  when you  need to enforce by-laws. His memory will never be forgotten.”

Councillor Dida Berku, who spearheaded the move to memorialize Johnny, recalled when her daughter got married in 2014. “I invited Johnny as a guest. He came and performed some songs. He was amazing and wow, the stories he told!”

Lt. Tsakon thought back to his early days with the department. He was driving down Mackle Road with his training officer when another Public Security vehicle went by. Lt. Tsakon noticed the driver had his shirt open and the sideburns and wondered out loud how this guy can get the job done. “Well, I found out very quickly how good he was,” said Lt. Tsaskon.

If you are driving down Côte St. Luc Road near Westminster, stop and take a look at Johnny’s bench with the inscription that includes “Johnny has left the building,” with some musical notes.

Elvis a quitté le bâtiment, mais l'ancien agent de sécurité publique bien-aimé reste dans notre cœur

Jean-Noël Johnny "Elvis" Champagne a été pendant de nombreuses années un agent de sécurité publique bien-aimé de Côte Saint-Luc. Il a pris sa retraite en 2015 et nous a quittés trop tôt, à l'âge de 75 ans, il y a deux ans, après avoir connu des problèmes de santé.

Johnny était unique en son genre, aimé de ses collègues et de ses concitoyens. Le 10 juillet, un petit rassemblement a eu lieu devant le siège de la Sécurité publique de Côte Saint-Luc pour se souvenir de Johnny et dédier un banc à sa mémoire. Désormais, lorsque ses anciens collègues voudront se reposer, ils pourront s'asseoir sur le banc et laisser libre cours à leur Johnny intérieur.

Le directeur de la sécurité publique, Philip Chateauvert, a remis le tout premier prix Jean-Noël Johnny Champagne au lieutenant Anthony Tsakon. Plus de 240 employés et bénévoles travaillent dans notre département de la sécurité publique, qui comprend la sécurité publique, les services médicaux d'urgence et les VCOP (Volontaires citoyens en patrouille). Chaque année, l'une de ces personnes sera récompensée. Le lieutenant Tsakon est un membre inestimable de notre personnel qui va toujours au-delà de l'appel du devoir.

Notre premier directeur de la sécurité publique, Gérard Dutil, aujourd'hui âgé de 90 ans, était également présent. Lui et son épouse, qui a vécu plus de 70 ans, se souviennent très bien de Johnny et ont versé quelques larmes lorsque nous nous sommes souvenus de lui.

Johnny était surnommé "Elvis" pour une très bonne raison. Il idolâtrait la légende de la chanson Elvis Presley et l'imitait donc dans son apparence et ses manières. Non seulement ses cheveux et ses favoris étaient parfaitement assortis, mais il portait également des bijoux autour du cou et interprétait des chansons d'Elvis lors d'événements tels que la fête du Canada et la soirée des bénévoles.

Ce dont je me souviens le plus à propos de Johnny, c'est le respect qu'il inspirait à la jeune génération. Lorsqu'il patrouillait dans un parc et que les enfants étaient, disons, désordonnés, il lui suffisait de marcher sur leur chemin pour qu'ils scandent tous "Elvis !". `

"Il avait une façon d'interagir avec les gens, mais surtout avec les enfants", a déclaré le maire Mitchell Brownstein lors de la cérémonie. "Il est devenu leur ami, saluant toujours les gens. Il n'est pas facile d'être comme ça, surtout dans le domaine de la sécurité publique, lorsqu'il faut faire respecter les règlements. Sa mémoire ne sera jamais oubliée.

La conseillère Dida Berku, qui a pris l'initiative de commémorer Johnny, s'est souvenue du mariage de sa fille en 2014. "J'ai invité Johnny. Il est venu et a interprété quelques chansons. Il était incroyable et les histoires qu'il a racontées sont incroyables !

Le lieutenant Tsakon s'est souvenu de ses débuts dans le service. Il roulait sur Mackle Road avec son officier instructeur lorsqu'un autre véhicule de la sécurité publique est passé. Le lieutenant Tsakon a remarqué que le conducteur avait la chemise ouverte et des rouflaquettes, et il s'est demandé à voix haute comment ce type pouvait faire son travail. "Je me suis vite rendu compte qu'il était très bon", a déclaré le lieutenant Tsakon.

Si vous roulez sur le chemin de la Côte Saint-Luc près de Westminster, arrêtez-vous et jetez un coup d'œil au banc de Johnny avec l'inscription "Johnny a quitté le bâtiment", accompagnée de quelques notes de musique.

Mike Rothpan passed away last week at the age of 90.

I have fond memories of Mike, whom I first met as a youngster. He was a crafty lefthanded pitcher in the Côte Saint-Luc Slo Pitch Association. This was not softball. A pitcher needed to bring in his delivery  with a very  high “slow pitch” and he did so perfectly.

Mike Rothpan

Mike was not only among the best players; he also sported the nicest moustache in the community. When I saw him walking down the aisles of the local IGA not too long ago, the masterful moustache was still very much in place.

When I became old enough to play and serve as an organizer for the Slo Pitch Association I became friendly with Mark Rothpan, Mike’s son. As a chartered accountant he also served as league treasurer. Together, Mark, Mike and I worked on coordinating the annual awards banquet each fall. It was usually held at the old Bill Wong’s on Decarie. I must say that Mike took this task very, very seriously. Our league always had a solid turnout- probably in the 90 percent range. My late Larry, a good friend of Mike’s, was the emcee and he always secured a prominent sports personality as our guest. The meal was great and so was the company.

I’d also see Mike at the Snowdon YM-YWHA. He was very conscious of staying in shape. And after showering from a workout, he’d walk out of the locker room looking like a million books: his hair slick backed….and oh that terrific moustache!

Mike was a big family man, dad to Mark, Sharon and Debra. So it was with a heavy heart he had to say good-bye a few years ago to his daughter Debra , who lost a battle with cancer. No parent should have to outlive their child.

Mike also lost his loving wife of 58 years, Eleanor. In recent years he was grateful to have the company of Rose Gotteiner. He adored his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Last year, for Father’s Day, Mark produced a touching video of his dad.

Give it a view here. It  is full of smiles and joy

Rest in peace Mike and please say hello to my dad, whom I am sure has already given you a hero’s welcome to heaven.

While Lionel Segal earned his living as a notary and a senior director for the State of Israel Bonds, he really could have been successful as a standup comedian.

Lionel, also a former Côte Saint-Luc city councillor, passed away peacefully last Saturday. He spent the last few years of his life at the Waldorf seniors residence on Côte St. Luc Road and then the Donald Berman Jewish Eldercare Centre.

Lionel Segal (right) in a 2012 photo with former Councillor Allan J. Levine and friend Mish Granik.

My late dad Lawrence Frederick Cohen (aka Larry Fredericks) was a lifelong close friend of Lionel’s. They went to summer camp together and enjoyed a lot of good times. My dad was  the public address announcer for McGill Redmen football games for years. Lionel served as his spotter. My brother Chuck and Lionel’s sons Lloyd and Brahm would always tag along.

Lionel and my dad were builders of the Côte Saint-Luc Slo Pitch Association. Lionel was a player, commissioner and then an umpire. However, his greatest moment would be serving as a speaker at the annual awards banquet in the fall.  Here he channeled his inner Rodney Dangerfield and Don Rickles. Many players attended just to hear his routine where nobody in the audience was safe. He poked fun at the players and the guests. I remember one event when a number of executives from the Expos joined us. This was at a time when attendance was low. “I called the Expos office for tickets and asked what time the game was,” he stated. “They responded, ‘What time can you make it?’”

When I met with Lloyd last spring he told me that the COVID-19 lockdowns had a negative impact on Lionel. When he initially moved to the Waldorf to be with his partner, he’d go for walks and always take enjoyable promenades through the Côte St. Luc Shopping Centre. Then came the pandemic and everyone had to shelter in place. It put him in a very bad place.

Lionel, it has been more than 11 years since my dad left us. I am sure Larry is rolling out the red carpet for your reunion right now with a huge "Hello Hiawatha!" greeting.

My sympathies to Lloyd, Brahm, daughter Donna and the rest of the family,

Just over four years ago, longtime Côte Saint-Luc City Councillor Ruth Kovac left us following  a valiant battle against cancer. Behind her every step of the way was Peter Kovac, her devoted husband of 47 years.

Since his wife’s passing, Peter kept her memory alive by supporting  many of her causes (including a blood donor clinic in CSL that was named in her memory).

When I first met Peter and Ruth a few decades ago I thought that he closely resembled actor Dustin Hoffman. So whenever I’d see him, I  always said , “how’s Dustin?” He would respond with that infectious smile.

Ruth was a dynamic member of city council.  We initially connected when she ran for office in 1986, succeeding David Klinger. She  was a passionate  individual and Peter would often be in the audience for council meetings and accompany her to events and conferences. When she passed away, many thought he might succeed her.

Peter had a successful career in the garment industry, as a financial advisor and yes even as a restaurateur. For a number of years he was a partner in Le Biftheque Boucherville. One night he and Ruth took my friend and colleague Glenn Nashen and I out for a terrific steak dinner to celebrate her election.

Peter and Ruth (middle) seated with city council, spouses and staff at a 2016 event.

Peter was a loving dad and grandfather.  He was only 76 years of age, like Ruth ( who was 69), he left us way too soon.

Even though he had health issues the last few years, Peter did not even share this with many who were close to him. So news of his passing came as a total shock.

My sympathies go out to his entire family.

Funeral service from Paperman & Sons, 3888 Jean-Talon West, will be  on Tuesday, January 2 at 2 p.m. Burial at the Congregation Shaare Zion Section, Eternal Gardens

Congratulations to a constituent of mine in District 2, Nina Cohen, who saved someone’s life last week.

Nina, who  lives on Rembrandt Avenue and works as a nurse’s assistant/PAB ( préposés aux bénéficiares) at the Jewish General and Royal Victoria Hospitals. She got her training at the Shadd Health and  Business Centre, part of the English Montreal School Board.

Nina Cohen

Last Monday night Nina and Rozanne Abramson were on the balcony overlooking Heywood when there was a car crash. They both headed towards the accident, with Nina swinging into action. The driver had no pulse. Two people removed him from the vehicle and she gave him CPR. When he regained consciousness it was clear  he had been driving under the influence. Public Security, Urgences Santé, Emergency Medical Services and the police all arrived. The car was totalled .

A view of the accident. (JP Amiel Photo)

I called Nina to thank her for what she did.

“I am just so glad that I had the training which allowed me  to step in and save someone’s life,” Nina said.

Said building mainstay JP Amiel: I don't know if the victim survived and has learned a lesson, but his chances were greatly improved by the presence of Nina and Roxanne."  

We all salute her!

Félicitations à l'une de mes électrices

Félicitations à l'une de mes électrices du district 2, Nina Cohen, qui a sauvé la vie d'une personne la semaine dernière.

Nina, qui habite sur l'avenue Rembrandt, travaille comme infirmière auxiliaire/PAB (préposés aux bénéficiaires) à l'Hôpital général juif et à l'Hôpital Royal Victoria. Elle a suivi sa formation au Centre de santé et d'affaires Shadd, qui fait partie de la Commission scolaire English-Montréal.

Lundi soir dernier, Nina et Rozanne Abramson se trouvaient sur le balcon surplombant Heywood lorsqu'un accident de voiture s'est produit. Elles se sont toutes deux dirigées vers l'accident, et Nina s'est empressée d'intervenir. Le conducteur n'avait plus de pouls. Deux personnes l'ont sorti du véhicule et Nina lui a fait un massage cardiaque. Lorsqu'il a repris conscience, il était évident qu'il conduisait sous influence. La sécurité publique, Urgences Santé, les services médicaux d'urgence et la police sont arrivés sur les lieux. La voiture a été détruite.

J'ai appelé Nina pour la remercier de ce qu'elle avait fait.

"Je suis tellement heureuse d'avoir reçu la formation qui m'a permis d'intervenir et de sauver la vie de quelqu'un", a déclaré Nina.

JP Amiel, pilier du bâtiment, a déclaré : "Je ne sais pas si la victime a survécu et en a tiré une leçon, mais ses chances ont été grandement améliorées par la présence de Nina et de Roxanne".

Nous la saluons tous !

Chatting with Isadore at the last Remembrance Day ceremony he attended.

Isadore Goldberg was a city councillor for District 1 in Côte Saint-Luc from 1982 to 2001. He was unbeatable in any election for one reason: he gave constituents what they wanted, that being full customer service. This was before the internet era.  What you got from Isadore was a return phone call or a personal visit.

In February of 2020 Isadore passed away.  In a strange geographic makeup, District 1 in Isadore’s day included the area of MacDonald Avenue, North of Hampstead, some buildings along Côte Saint-Luc Road and yes – Marc Chagall and Sir Walter Scott. The latter two became part of my District 2 in time for the 2005 election. It is for this reason that a park, located behind the apartments on Sir Walter Scott, was named after Isadore. At that time a sign was placed on Kildare Road, meaning for those who wanted to actually go  to the park they had to navigate their way through a parking lot and a narrow strip of land.

Friends and family join us at the rededication ceremony.

When I was elected I promised Isadore that I would do something about this.   We spent considerable time looking into the feasibility of moving the park to a large green space on Marc Chagall Avenue. When that land was needed for parking lot to accommodate workers for a large construction  project, discussions were placed on hold for three years.

Public Works Director Beatrice Newman, Foreman for  Parks, Horticulture and Green Spaces Joanne Warren and their team were absolutely marvelous to deal with.  In late 2019 I called Isadore with good news. His park would be refurbished and the sign moved to a more appropriate spot. Sadly, he passed away soon after and then the pandemic hit. Again. Projects were delayed.

Our group visits the park.

Last year, Public Works completed work on Isadore Goldberg Park. For starters, the sign was moved to Marc Chagall next to a new, nicely paved pathway. Finally, there was a easy way to get there.  Bollard lights and trees were installed in that space as well.

At the park itself, Public Works removed all invasive species of weeds and trees. New sand and some new play equipment was added as well as urban furniture. A drinking fountain will be added in the next few months. Because we have named the large greenspace on Marc Chagall as Sheila Finestone Park,  an  arrow will be added to the Goldberg sign pointing people in the right direction.

A few weeks ago we held a ceremony to dedicate Finestone Park. I decided it would not do justice for Isadore to merely mention his park as a sidenote. So, on September 3, members of the Goldberg family and some friends joined myself and Councillors Steven Erdelyi and Sidney Beniziri for a lovely rededication ceremony.   We were also lucky to have local teenage recording artist Rachel Dara on hand to sing a beautiful tribute song to Isadore.  Rachel is 16, the same age Isadore was when he went to fight for Canada in World War  II.

I shared some kind words about Isadore, as did his sister-in-law.  Mayor Mitchell Brownstein was not able to attend, but he wanted me to express how much he appreciated the 11 years he served on council with Isadore. Everyone loved Rachel’s song, Comme Toi by Jean-Jacques Goldman, about Sarah, a Jewish child victim of the Holocaust. Rachel felt it was appropriate given that Isadore was veteran of  WWII.

Please watch the video

Most appropriately, we all  took a walk over to  the park, which is used regularly by families living in the area and those in the condos who bring their grandchildren there.

It took some time, but Isadore Goldberg Park and its signage have been properly delivered. I am very proud to have helped see this through.