OBODOFSKY o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2008-07-25 published
WATT,
John
Russell
Peacefully on July 22, 2008 in his 83rd year, with his son by
his side, John Russell 'Johnny'
WATT leaves behind his wife of
53 years, Tess and his son Norm of Toronto, his sister-in-law
Edna (Robert
ARNOLD d.1979) of Montreal, and her children Audrey
(Godin) and nephews Melvin, Bobby and John and their extended
families.
He was the third child born in Ville St. Pierre in 1925 to Henry
and Janet WATT (née
BOYD.)
Following the untimely deaths months
apart in 1927 of his father and his 9 year old brother Douglas,
John's mother struggled to keep her two remaining sons (older
brother Arnold) with her while she worked to support the family.
She often took in boarders to help pay rent, while working nights
cleaning at the Raleigh bicycle factory in Montreal. John spent
his childhood between their first floor flat on Rue du Couvent,
his mother's relatives in Worcester, Massachusetts, and with
Uncle Alec
BOYD in Lachine who all helped to raise and shape
him during the Depression years.
At the young age of 12 John was already a 'rink rat' at the Forum,
where he witnessed the longest game in National Hockey League
history between his beloved Maroons and Detroit, and got his
hide tanned for coming home at 2 a.m. As a young hockey player
himself, he was proud to have been a childhood team mate of Doug
Harvey in both hockey and softball. His love of sports stayed
with him his whole life, whether it be watching les Canadiens
conquer the world of hockey with their numerous Stanley Cup victories,
taking in a game at Delormier stadium watching Jackie Robinson's
season with the Montreal Royals, or enjoying his season tickets
at Percival Molson stadium for the great Alouette teams of the
50's. He made a devoted sports fan of his son, who remembers
Jr. Canadiens games at the Forum, major league baseball at Fenway
Park, the 'new' Shea Stadium in 1964, seeing the World Cup Champions
from England play soccer at Expo '67 and childhood afternoons
playing golf with the 'old guys' at BeauChateau golf course on
the south shore. Norm still plays baseball and hockey with the
passion he learned from his father who was the consummate fan.
One of his great thrills was to take his Dad to the 1st World
Series game played in Canada in 1992.
John began working at Dominion Engineering Works (a subsidiary
of GE) in Lachine as a floor sweeper at the age of 16. He stayed
for 42 years, retiring as the General Foreman of Shop 1 with
over 200 staff, a pretty big accomplishment for a little guy
from Ville St. Pierre who never finished grade 9 at Montreal
High. The only time he left was a short two years overseas beginning
in 1944 to 1946 to be trained in the Royal Canadian Air Force
as a tail gunner on Lancaster bombers.
Once back from the war, he would spend time at the Scandinavian
Club dances with his buddy Jimmy Manley who was the bartender
there. That's where he met Jeanne Newton and her younger sister
Tess OBODOFSKY (a couple of young women from a Lithuanian family
in Ville Emard). John and Tess were married in 1955 and set up
a small shop on Rue St. Jacques, John's Handy Store, where they
lived in two rooms at the back with their son. Through this time,
John became the official chronicler of the family history through
the eyes of the 8mm movie camera where he captured the Cousins'
and Norman's early years on film.
After five years of working days at the machine shop supervising
the building of turbines for the burgeoning Hydro stations in
northern Quebec, and evenings at the store, John and Tess were
able to save enough to move the family to their dream house in
Dorval in March of 1961.
As an active member of the Masonic fraternity (St. George's Lodge,
#440) John took his volunteering seriously and was committed
to his duties of hospital visiting and representing the Lodge
at Brothers' funerals, offering support to grieving family members.
He was considered by many to be both thrifty and a wise financial
planner, long before many knew what an Registered Retirement
Savings Plan was. His memories of childhood poverty stayed with
him, even when memory loss became a serious daily challenge.
His skills in retirement planning and investing were in constant
demand from family, Friends and even his own colleagues at the
shop. Just before taking ill with pneumonia for the first time
in 2004, John at 78 years young, acted as Executor for an old
friend in the Brockville area.
In 1989, once both he and Tess had retired, they moved to Toronto
to be closer to their son, settling in Guildwood which reminded
them of their West Island home of 28 years.
Tess and Norm would like to extend warm thanks to the staff of
Rockcliffe (Scarborough) and Lakeshore Lodge (Etobicoke) for
their caring attitudes and above and beyond service in the last
two years of John's life. Cremation has taken place and a celebration
of life will take place in Montreal sometime in the fall. In
lieu of flowers, Donations to the Baycrest Foundation in support
of research and treatment of Alzheimer's disease would be greatly
appreciated. http://www.baycrest.org/Donations/default.asp Online
condolences can be sent to http://www.ridleyfuneralhome.com/death-notices.htm
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O'BORN o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2008-03-18 published
HARVEY,
Evelyn
May (née
FULLERTON)
Lynn died on Friday, March 14, 2008 in Toronto. She was the daughter
of the late Cecil and Mary
FULLERTON and the wife of the late
William Case
HARVEY, a petroleum executive. She had many careers,
including child psychologist, Air Force officer, advertising
copywriter and model.
She was a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan (B.A.) and
U.B.C. (M.A.) and was President of the University Women's Club
of Calgary for many years. She had homes in Vancouver and Toronto
until recently and although she lived in Toronto for most her
life, considered herself a Westerner.
She loved a good party, her many wonderful Friends, golf, skiing,
bridge and frank and politically incorrect conversation. She
was also an early advocate for women's rights and, come to think
of it, everyone's rights and corresponding obligations.
She is survived by her brother Ross
FULLERTON, her daughter Jane
HARVEY, her son-in-law Don
O'BORN, her grandchildren Stephanie
and James O'BORN.
At her request, there will be no funeral service. If you get
a chance, help out the Salvation Army, her favourite charity.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to the Turner and Porter 'Yorke'
Chapel. 416-767-3153.
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