April
20th. 2014
Dear
Fellow Classmates
We
are now less than two weeks away from the Reunion. There was a flurry of
last minute confirmations and bios to beat the deadlines. Any more
bios received will be published on the blog but not in a newsletter as this
will be my last one – so no more begging for bios, for confirmation forms or
for help finding people.
If
you change your mind or have not sent in a confirmation form please come to any
of the events anyway. But if possible please tell me beforehand. No one in our
class will be refused at the door. We will have blank nametags ready for
last minute attendees.
This
newsletter contains a large number of bios, but a few are very short (
surprisingly again by lawyers). Also for those geographically challenged
there is information about parking, which was assembled by Carolyn Born Kennedy
as she lives near the school and the whereabouts of the room we are holding
memory Mingle written by Anu Pettai Marley as she actually still supply teaches
at NTCI and therefore knows her way around the new school. This
newsletter also has an opinion piece from Karyn Allen, as she unable to come
from the other side of the world for the reunion, but wanted to share some of
her thoughts. But first there is an important warning and advice.
WARNING
AND ADVICE FOR THOSE ATTENDING THE CLASS REUNION
There
is the remote possibility that you presently do not resemble what you looked
like in 1968. Therefore some of your fellow classmates may not recognize
you. Your name tag that you will be given when you check in, should
therefore be worn at all times to avoid possible embarrassment that your best
high school friend does not greet you with open arms.
Also
keep in mind that at 65 our minds and memories are not what they once were, and
we have not been in contact with classmates for 46 years. Therefore
even with your name tag your best friend, lab partner, team mate, first date or
even first love may not have a clue who you are even after you describe in
detail what you did on that first date. If that happens to you, please wait at
least 30 seconds to let that forgetful person either recall who you are,
pretend they know who you are, or give up trying to remember who you are.
In the latter two cases please do not get upset. Take a deep breath and say to
yourself “ gee, I guess they did not age as well as I did “. Please
no dramatic scenes or meltdowns.
If
you are in doubt whether your appearance has changed since 1968
I suggest you take your grad picture, put it up to your face and look into
a mirror in away you can see your face and the picture in the mirror. Then be
honest about whether someone would say these are one and same person.
PARKING
Parking
is tight.
The
closest parking lot is indoor at 11 Broadway, south side very close to Yonge.
$5.00 all evening after 5. $3.50 per half hour before that.
Across
the street North side there is public indoor parking for the
medical building on Yonge. $5.00 all evening after 6. $3.50 per half hour
before that.
Across
from the school and down 200 feet or so is 66 Broadway. Turn in the second
driveway, drive right to the back and there are about 25 parking spots in a lot
that is soon to be another condo. $5.00 all evening after 5. $1.00 per hour
before that.
If
you have to park on the street try Erskine as they NEVER ticket there according
to Carolyn – so if you do get ticketed blame Carolyn and no one else.
LOCATION
OF MEMORY MINGLE ROOM
Memory
Mingle will be in room 215. The school is in a square shape, so basically
get yourself onto the second floor and find room 215 ( it's on the east
side of the school, facing the yellow/beige apartment building that was
at the end of the field in our day). Anu will get signs made and put up:
NT '68 REUNION ROOM 215.
MAYTIME
MELODY TICKETS
If
you purchased Maytime Melody tickets from the school before the April 17th
deadline which 35 of us have done, your tickets will be given to you when you
check in at Memory Mingle. We will be sitting together. You can
still buy tickets before hand, in case the show is sold out , but you will have
to pick up your tickets at the box office and will not be sitting in our
group ( but should not be talking anyway so not a big issue).
VOLUNTEERS
Thank
you all those who confirmed they would volunteer for jobs at Memory Mingle. The
organizers for that event will contact you directly about timing and what you
are needed for.
THE
SPIRIT OF THE PLACE
By
Karyn Allen
Enhancing and
invaluable.
1968, the year of
our North Toronto Collegiate Institute graduation, was such a defining
historical time for our generation. Such turmoil in North America and Europe,
Woodstock Festival in August 1969, student revolts on university campuses,
drugs, The Rolling Stones, now in their late ‘60s and 70, Janis Joplin’s death
to follow in 1970. We all remember where we were on November 22, 1963, when JFK
was assassinated – in my case in the gym - in the unflattering blue “romper”.
This upheaval and
time of creative invention was not unique to our generation, but definitely
part of our world at that time.
Our years at NTCI in
historical perspective bring to mind such a positive time in our lives, so
formative, shaping values, perspectives, learning what we did – and did not –
excel in – and defining our future direction in life.
Somehow as I think
about those years, we were in a kind of cocoon, supported by our gifted,
enthusiastic teachers and forming indelible friendships and in some cases, love
relationships, learning the values of loyalty, a love of learning, giving back
to the community, good sportsmanship and pride in one’s accomplishments.
Who would have
thought, in reading the biographies of those who have written about their lives
since high school graduation, what life had in store for us? Entering
university seemed like such a huge step – yet in retrospect, was just part of
the journey.
This is not to say
that I am idealizing those years. But they were definitely formative.
I have kept the
precious five years of year books, which as I recall I had a part in designing.
As I think about the upcoming reunion, which unfortunately I cannot attend due
to currently living in Papua New Guinea – perhaps the furthest of anyone – I
think about what a special occasion this is. We have all lost too many, far too
young, have experienced the challenges and joyous moments that are all part of
life. For myself, I have had the privilege of working in the international art
world for over 40 years. To all of you, who have loved, excelled, lost,
believed and given to your communities, I raise a glass to you from afar.
Congratulations!
BIOS
Here is the latest
and last batch of bios. I am pleased to say we published 81 bios.
Marsha McQuillan
Marsha produced a
very creative bio as a one page artsy collage with pictures and information in
colour which does not lend itself easily to be out in a newsletter but can be
found on our blog specifically at the url below, so please click to read http://www.mediafire.com/view/u4ii3n1o2p0sqim/NT_Yearbook_Face_pg_PDF.pdf
Marg
McLean Routledge
I
worked as a Registered Nurse at Toronto Western Hospital until 1977. For those
of you from Allenby, I worked with Patsy Penman (now Pat Durante) for a few
years. I trained with Jane Bunker and we were able to renew our friendship from
grade school days. Sadly, Jane passed away 10 years ago.
I
met my husband a few months after high school and we will be celebrating 43
years of marriage this June. Our daughter Cora was born in 1977 and our son
Jonathan in 1979.
In
1980, I went to the University Health Network as the manager of a busy
multi-centre unit specializing in blood treatments for adults and children. It
was a very challenging practice, treating acutely ill patients with very rare
illnesses. We were pioneers in areas such as blood stem cell collections,
managing incompatible organ transplants, red blood cell exchange, plasma
exchange, WBC and platelet collections. For a number of years, I was also the
coordinator for several large international clinical trials for Therapeutic
Apheresis. This position enabled me to do some traveling to present our
published research findings. Outside of my professional career, in the 80’s and
90’s, I designed and produced custom figure skating dresses (the kind you see
in competitions) and specialty costumes for ice shows. I was also very involved
with our children’s sports organizations during that time. Now I realize why I
always felt tired back then.
In
1999, I transferred to Oakville hospital and worked in renal dialysis as
coordinator of the vascular access program, anemia management, renal transplant
program and CQI leader.
At
age 50, I decided to go back to university and found that I enjoyed learning
much more than in my teens and early twenty’s, when things like concerts and
the Jarvis house seemed much more important.
I
retired from the hospital in 2004, and am now self-employed working as an RN in
the Insurance industry. Our daughter lives in Saint Catharines and has a three-year-old
daughter, Gabby and a two-year-old son, Larson. Our son is in Calgary and has a
six-year-old daughter, Audrey. Unlike most of our friends, we do not
travel south for the winter. We chose to buy a small cabin near the Rockies so
we can spend more time with our granddaughter in Alberta. I have more
time for myself now and along with seeing our grandchildren whenever possible,
I have gone back to painting and sewing. I developed severe arthritis in my
late 20’s and was forced to give up skiing and skating, but have now discovered
snowshoeing and golf. I am not a great golfer but enjoy getting out several
times a week. I just read the new Bio’s that Laurie sent and was surprised to
discovered that I am in the same women’s golf league as Barry’s wife Ave. She
really is an excellent golfer.
I
can’t commit to attending the festivities in May as I am waiting for my second
knee replacement. The first was a godsend and am anxious to have this one done.
Jim
[aka Stretch] McCullam
I
arrived at North Toronto midway through my high school career. My parents had
moved from the burbs where I attended a large, sprawling school with multiple
playing fields and its own student parking lot. NT was different; I remember
those early days taking it all in and deciding that it was urbane and cerebral
and that I was up for it. Two things I remember best were being greeted by Sid
Reynolds, not only a legend at NT but also at Camp Pine Crest, a place where I
spent many happy summers. The other memory was that on my first day of school,
try-outs for senior football were announced. In the suburbs football,
especially senior football, was everything. A young man who made the team would
find that pretty much anything a young man desired would be made available to
him. Consequently my brother and I would train all summer and, along with
hundreds of others, show up for rigorous try-outs only to frequently get cut
and therefore be left undateable for the year. At NT, 32 guys showed up, 32
were needed, so we all made the team!
As
well as Sid Reynolds, two other teachers I remember were Miss Chudleigh [sp?]
for Art and Mrs. Shaw for History. Very few took Art at NT but for us who did
Miss Chudleigh made it a very rich experience and gave me a good foundation for
university. She herself could not draw a line but instead guided us and also
connected us to the city’s galleries. In the burbs there was no such thing as
an art exam, whereas hers took three hours and filled many exam books. Ann Shaw
made History seem alive and engaged us as though we were adults. I remember she
brought in a Playboy to read to us as it contained an interview with Fidel
Castro …amongst other things.
After
NT and much to my surprise, I got into Architecture at Waterloo, a career I had
decided on since discovering Le Corbusier in grade two. The first couple of
years were brutal and hazy. I remember endless all-nighters surviving on
coffee, cigarettes, donuts …amongst other things. However here I sit today
still practicing Architecture. It has given me many wonderful experiences;
taken me to many different places and connected me with many interesting
people. For the last 30 years my focus has been on hospitals - I enjoy their
complexities and the close user groups contacts. My portfolio includes
Sunnybrook, Princess Margaret, Mt Sinai, Toronto Rehab, UHN, Sick Kids and
others.
Except
for Mary Jane Lovering who, btw is a brilliant landscape architect specializing
in healing gardens, I have done poorly with keeping in touch with high school
friends. Max Muselius is a retired oil patch executive now living in paradise
in Alberta’s foothills. Mary Wreglesworth is in France and Vancouver where she
founded an outreach program for at risk sex workers. I was saddened to read
about Mike Burley and my neighbor Ron Britton Foster who we called Foster
Britton Ronny. Unfortunately I can add to the list Geoff Hunter who died in
2009.
While
at university I married my cottage sweetheart, Stephanie. Together we have
moved 14 times and en route produced an amazing daughter, Katie, who also
married her cottage sweetheart and they are now expecting their first child in
July. We live near NT and when I drive by it I always smile – especially now
that it has an official-size football field.
Leslie
Kiraly
I
am very fortunate. I feel like my life has turned out quite well. I have
an intact marriage with 2 lovely daughters and 4 grandchildren with one more on
the way. Everyone is healthy and happy in spite of the, "damned human
condition".
I
did get into Meds from Premeds and I went on to do Psychiatry since the last 34
years. I was able to work with patients with the most interesting health
problems and complex lives. I feel very fortunate that I chose this profession.
It has been a wild and wonderful ride. There were some academic and research
and teaching opportunities but mostly I worked at Community Hospitals, where
most of the clinical work gets done for those who are most in need.
I
was Chief of the Department of Psychiatry at Peel Memorial Hospital in Brampton
for about a decade which cured me of my ambitions. My first love was always
private practice with all the autonomy and variety that private work can give
you. No on call and no meetings or political hassles.
I
worked one day a week in Collingwood since 1985 so I could keep my kids and now
grandchildren on the ski slopes in the winter.
I
was looking forward to seeing familiar but somewhat older faces on Friday May
2nd, but unfortunately, I won't be able to be at the Reunion. I have to be in
New York for the APA CONFERENCE because I'm a rep from our district branch. I
am sending my regrets. Hopefully, I can make the next one.
Mary
Jane Lovering
Jim
McCullam just phoned to further prod a bio from me. We cross paths as
colleagues. My landscape architecture firm, Vertechs Design Inc. often teams
with his architecture firm.
I
forced my parents to let me enroll in North Toronto for my final years of high
school. Anything to escape Branksome Hall meant taking a sudden interest in
Russian Language studies. The course was unavailable at the all girl’s private
school, so naturally I had to move on.
As
graduation neared my mother gave me two options; you can be either a teacher or
a nurse. Being a Doctor like my father, grandfather and brother was not an
option. Accordingly I headed to Queen’s in Kingston to study Physiotherapy.
A
few years of treating patients in public housing was an education. I came to
appreciate the difference between the have and have-nots. It was not an
intellectually challenging profession but it opened the door to wondering how I
could give more to society.
I
graduated from Landscape Architecture at the University of Toronto while
working part time as a physiotherapist. My practice is at Bay and Bloor St in
Toronto. Our firm was founded (32 years ago!) on the basis that the landscape
can do more than be a pretty aesthetic back drop. We have pioneered studies in
the use of outdoor space by special populations. In healthcare that includes
the elderly, blind, children with disabilities, in prison settings forensic
inmates and in schools -children’s play.
While
wealthy patrons hire us to design residential estates; developer’s property
enhancement and municipalities better planned community facilities – the most
rewarding projects continue to be for those with limited means in institutional
settings.
As
an antidote to running a design firm I paint watercolors, am an avid yogi,
golfer and play the piano. This summer I have a staycation planned based on
five all day intensive piano studies. Toronto has been a great city to live in.
Having sold our Muskoka cottage, I enjoy sailing at RCYC and playing golf at
The Ladies Golf Club of Toronto.
It’s
been a privileged life. May middle age continue to be a time of growth
and good times with family and friends. I look forward to seeing our
cohort’s together again at the reunion.
George
Arvola
In
1964, my family moved from Sudbury Ontario to Toronto and we settled into the
area that brought me and my two sisters to NTCI. Childhood friends were mostly
left behind in northern Ontario and I might truthfully say that during the
following three years, I did not make any close friends at my new high school.
On the other hand, I don't remember making any enemies either and mostly, my
grades 10, 11 and 12 years at NTCI were relatively uneventful. I took no part
in any after school endeavours.
I
received reasonably good marks until grade 12 at which time I had taken my
private music studies very seriously and no longer seemed to have the time or
energy to put into homework and anything to do with my formal education. I
suspect that most of my peers were not aware that I was ever even involved with
music. My classical guitar study was not particularly approved of by my dad as
he would have wanted me to pursue something like engineering or anything
scientific. Little did he realize that there not only is an art to music but
there is a scientific component to it as well. Only many years later did he
realize that I did succeed in the field to some degree.
After
grade 12, I decided to get away from formal schooling and circumstances brought
me Kitchener Ontario. Soon I was involved in teaching at a local music store
and of course I was also in music instrument sales. Over a few years I became
the store manager. In 1976 I left the music store business and branched out on
my own as a private music teacher. During my previous years in the music store
business I had made many contacts and had begun playing professionally with a variety
of large and small bands. I freelanced as a guitarist and also played electric
bass.
Most
of my musical education had been self study with the exception of having taken
private lessons during my grade 12 year in high school. The mathematics of music
and the associated theory of music seemed to be rather obvious to me. However,
in 1976, through a musical grapevive, I came in contact with a jazz guitar
teacher named Tony Bradan and spent the next five years under his tutelege
taking a weekly trip to Toronto. Tony was an inspired musician and instructor.
Years later, I collaborated with Tony to assemble his methodology for teaching
the guitar. Interested parties might read more about this on my web site. Just
google George Arvola and you will find it.
In
1976, I also met my wife to be, Gitta, and we lived in sin for a number of
years until her divorce was finallized. We married in 1981. In this
relationship, I also inherited a step-daughter Susie who was 8 years old when i
came on the scene. We continue to get older together.
Mostly
I have been a musician all of my life to the present day and I still teach a
number of students. Early in my teaching career I took on all comers but in my
older age, I tend to be rather "picky" about students and screen out
the ones who would only waste time and money.
My
music career has taken me from coast to coast in Canada and I have travelled
abroad on some occasions. Have I become famous? No! Am I happy? Yes! Fame and
fortune have never been particularly important to me. Happiness and
satisfaction have been the goals and to a greater degree, I have accomplished
those. A phd from the university of life is maybe my greatest achievement.
Unfortunately it does not come with a diploma which you can hang on the wall.
Due
to previos commitments, I am not able to attend the reunion but that is just a
poor excuse. I also think that I would feel a bit like a fish out of water
because I only have vague memories of the three years at NTCI. I do have the
year books and they do bring things back to mind. Nevertheless, I am certainly
open to communicating with any of my ex-school mates through any medium. I am
really easy to find on the internet and my email address is: garvola@rogers.com.
Several
humorous things came to my mind as I was writing this bio. First of all, I
imagine that a "mingle" with my fellow school mates would be similar
to "speed dating" like some singles services advertise. Spending a
few hours with a large group of relative strangers is not particularly
appealing to me even though I am not necessarily anit-social. I am much better
at personal one to one contact.
I
do wish all the best to everyone attending the reunion and hope to hear from
some of you at any time of your choosing. I am totally agreeable to replying to
any communication.
Naomi
Siegel
It's
been hard writing this bio because random thoughts keep popping up: Mr.
McMurray slamming his ruler on the desk and shocking our geography class, Mike
Guiness quietly chuckling over my pronunciation of Don Quixote, Nancy and Bev
getting upset because Dylan went electric......
I
spent a lot of time in school gazing out of the window wishing I could be in a
canoe or on a horse. That hasn't changed! I've managed to avoid being stuck in
an office until 3 years ago and once again I have those same freedom loving
thoughts.
After
high school I travelled a lot, did odd jobs and was able to complete university
because I lived on Queen St. and had so many interesting room mates and
neighbours that it created a perfect school/life balance. I studied psychology,
dance and dance therapy, eventually getting a degree in Fine Arts, then taking
a college/university program in vocational rehabilitation.
I
worked in Vancouver, ran a health food store on the south shore of Nova Scotia
and along the way settled down for awhile and had a son with my now ex husband.
My son is a decent human being, a real mensch.
I've
always worked in the non profit sector. The highlight of my career was heading
a project for unemployed youth with disabilities. I had a hand picked team, an
unlimited budget for neuro-psych assessments and was able to program the
content to match the needs of our diverse group. The federal government only
intended it as a pilot project so it ran 31/2 years but at least I can look
back on the golden years of social services when such funding was possible.
I'm
now working for the Toronto District School Board as a job developer but it's a
terrible fit for an introverted empath who hates making cold calls. Next year
I'm retiring and returning to my love of yoga, dance and movement. I plan on
studying and teaching restorative exercise and work on improving my clicker
training skills (who knew that I would ever find operant conditioning useful or
interesting!). I might even attend Chicken Camp; if you can train a
chicken, then dogs and horses will be easy!
I've
lived in the country for 30 years. I'm lucky to be able to spend a lot of time
looking after and riding horses instead of just dreaming about it like I did as
a kid. Last year farmers planted a lot of corn in our area. The snapping
turtles still made their way to and from the pond but the fireflies disappeared
along with the bees and the swallows. The first speech I gave at Allenby public
school in Grade 6 was on ecology. Funny how things come round again if you live
long enough.
Donna
Hennessey ( Bartlam)
When
I left NTCI, I went to the U of T to study English and History with very little
idea of where that might take me. After three years, I had more Political
Science courses than English or History and still no idea of what I wanted to
do. After working in a bank for several years, I realized I had a talent
for accounting. That should not have been so surprising since my father
taught Commerce, but since they didn’t teach practical subjects like that in
high school in those days, I had no idea what was involved until I was actually
doing it. I did CMA courses by correspondence and night school but over
time the demands of my family swamped any ambition I might have had for a
career. Instead, I made a career as super mom.
I
met my husband, Richard, while I was at University and we were married in
1972. We are still happily together after 42 years, and living in the
same house here in Toronto we bought shortly after. In a generally
unplanned fashion, which is the way we live life, we gave birth to four
daughters and a son, all naturally and at home. Looking after the needs
of the family kept me very busy and out of the work force for sixteen
years. Then I worked part-time for twenty years as the administrative
assistant at my church. Fortunately my husband has found constant
employment all of these years doing home repairs and improvements, though I
suspect he also has never had more than part-time employment.
We
have always had a life-style commitment to leaving the smallest
footprint. We recycled before it was fashionable; I walked to work and
church, and shop in small stores in my neighbourhood; we have had an allotment
garden in High Park for over twenty-five years where we grow most of the
vegetables that we eat during the summer and into the fall; we cook things from
scratch and do a lot of canning and freezing in the fall; almost everything we
own and wear has been broken in before it comes to us; I sewed a lot of
our clothes and household things; Richard’s work has often been about making
old houses work better without major renovation; our vacation property has no
modern conveniences, just peace and silence. Our children are similarly
committed to minimalist lifestyles. Three are married and two have
children. Those two, one, an occupational therapist and the other a
teacher, live in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, while two others live nearby in
Toronto. Our youngest is a wanderer and outdoors person who travels the world
on a shoestring, working as a wilderness trip guide and climbing instructor,
covertly using her Social Work degree through therapeutic recreation. (You have
to be cautious about where you send your kids to camp: they may never want to
come back to the city.)
One
of the things I enjoyed most in my years at NTCI was the music program and all
the hours put into orchestra and choir practices. My biggest regret was that I
never had formal lessons so that I could do it really well. Those were
the years before David Ford and his marvellous music program, the heritage of
which has since made NTCI renowned for its music program and graduates. I
wanted my children to have the opportunity to enjoy the same thing, so very
early in their lives they were each introduced to an instrument and given
lessons through the Suzuki method, which, incidentally, I first heard about in
Grade 13. They each did very well on their instruments – piano, violins,
cello, flute – and attended a high school equally well known for its music
program, Humberside. If you know anything about the Suzuki method, you
will realize that this required me to practice with each child for at least a
half hour per day as well as attend all lessons. The rewards were having
my own little music group and learning a lot about each child as they
interacted with their wonderful music teachers. I also was able to
have lessons finally, and I have continued to learn and participate in various
music groups. It was wonderful to perform in the orchestra and choir at
The 100th Anniversary Maytime Melodies at Roy Thompson Hall two
years ago. I currently play with the Kitchener Waterloo Community Orchestra
and a Christian choir and orchestra called Jubilance, that ministers to
churches here in Ontario and all over the world.
After
exploring political theory and a few alternative spiritual disciplines after
University, I returned to the faith of my childhood and became a committed
Christian. My faith has always been very important to me, my husband and
most of our children. It has provided a strong basis for our family life,
lifestyle, and my work at the church. In recent years, it has also
provided exciting opportunities for travel, visiting missionaries and with
Jubilance. I have enjoyed the enlightening experience of meeting with and
talking to ordinary people in their homes and churches in cities and the
countryside in places like Peru, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia as well
as Europe.
I
have been adjusting to retirement for a year and a half now. I sometimes
wonder how I ever had time to work since I seem to be busy all the time.
I spend a lot of time visiting and caring for my five grandchildren, four boys
and a girl, helping out at the church’s Food Bank, practising and performing
music with all the travel it entails, gardening, sewing, catching up on my
reading and watching all the old TV shows and movies I was always too busy to enjoy
before. This is very fulfilling. My family is blessedly
healthy and very busy getting on with their lives. My husband and I are
fortunate to enjoy good health and have the energy to do most things that
interest us.
Robert
Nicholson ( English Teacher)
The
following is a report on my activities after leaving NTCI .
In
1966 after 9 years teaching English (the last two and a half as assistant head
at North Toronto) , I became Head of English at Jarvis where I stayed 19 years.
In my final year ,in an emergency, I served as acting vice principal.
This
experience encouraged me to make a change and in 1995 I became VP at Malvern.
My
next step was to Secondary Alternative Schools as acting principal
.In 1991,I was appointed principal at Eastern Commerce .My 7 years et
Eastern were tremendously rewarding .In total ,I worked for the Toronto Board
for 41 years and loved every year . When we both retired. Mairi , my wife
(Guidance Secretary at NT from 1959 to 1963 ) and I enjoyed many
excellent trips . Our last in 1997 was to New Zealand where we enjoyed a mini
North Toronto reunion at the home of Gordon Stewart , class of 67. Jim
Stewart, class of 65, was visiting Gord at the same time . One year later,
Mairi died of cancer. Since then I have continued to live in my house in Don
Mills and have received tremendous support from my family -2 sons 1
daughter 2 daughters in law and 5 grandchildren aged 22 to 11 . I
celebrated my 80th birth day last year at a party with my family and 40
friends
Best
wishes to the class of 1968.
Bill
Ostrander
The
simple facts of my life since NTCI are:
1.
MA (Pol Sc), and LLB at University
of Toronto
2.
Corporate Law at Gowlings in Toronto
until 2003
3.
Investor and Chair of 2 smallish private
businesses since 2003
The
more human aspects of my life are:
1.
It was a little lonely being an out gay man on Bay Street in the 80's.
2
I have been in love three times and each of them is still happily in my life.
3
I am lucky to have 12 nieces and nephews and 28 great nieces and great nephews,
who don't seem to mind having me around.
Ruth
Chick (Wagner)
I hesitated to write this bio and come to the reunion because I
was from the previous year. I developed a sleeping sickness early in my first
time around of grade thirteen at NTCI, and slept away the year. Coming back, I
always felt like a failure, and was sad, although I hadn’t returned from
failing but rather from absence. However I must say the ‘68 students were nice
to me. I have truly enjoyed reading your bios.
I think it best to skip much of my life.
However, I attended University of Toronto, married a crazy architect, and have
four lovely adult children from that time. I did my stint with biodynamic
organic farming. All during that time I played the violin, piano and church
organ professionally, and taught music and still do. I am blessed with six
grandchildren.
In 1984, the house I owned burned to the ground and I lost
everything I owned. This included my old yearbooks. I would dearly love to acquire
them again, as I cannot picture many of those whom I knew. I also cannot send
you my school photo from then.
I pursued a career in violinmaking, attended Ontario
College of Art for Instrument making, married a wonderful violinmaker Sieg
Wagner,( I was his second wife), who changed the way I made new instruments and
taught me restoration of old and broken instruments and re-hairing bows.(sadly
he died of cancer.) Wagner violins carries on. I work making and repairing
violins and acoustic instruments . I love what I do, so have no plans of ever
quitting.
I live between Bracebridge and Huntsville, where my house
is also my violin workshop. If anyone wishes to see me now , I have
a web site for my violin making
www.wagnerviolinrepairs.com
you are most welcome to contact me, and if you wish, come for a
visit . I know that you will all have a wonderful time and sincerely
wish you the very best.
Garth
Drabinsky
Film
Producer, Television Producer, Broadway Musical Producer. I have won
multiple Tony Awards for Broadway Musicals.
I
have 2 children and 2 grandchildren.
Barb
Smith (Bowen)
Still
horsing around, I am humbled by the bios I have read. Having three
beautiful children and one granddaughter with extended families, a wonderful
guy to share good times and bad, life is good. If wealth was measured by
ones family and friends, I would be rich. I still reside in the
Waterdown area on fifty acres, breeding, training, and selling horses.
And yes, I still climb on these nags myself! With not much time for leisure,
I don’t get away from the farm much. I still enjoy skiing, travelling
(usually horse related), and the many people that visit frequently.
Looking forward to seeing everyone and catching up after, how many year
yesterday it seems! Short like me, I hope this bio brings you up to
date.
Fred
Fruitman
Editor’s
Note: Fred was one of my best friends in high school, but like it
seems most even best friends, we did not keep in touch afterwards.
In 2005 when I was in New York City for a work related conference I decided to
look him up because I had heard from a cousin who knew his brother that he was
working on Wall Street and living in Manhattan. My wife and I met with
him and his wife at his beautiful Tribeca condo and we caught up. He has
since moved to his firm’s London England office and I was able to track him
down to tell him about the reunion. He is not able to come to the reunion
but I warned him that if he did not write his bio I would write a short one for
him. So here are some facts about Fred he would probably want you to
know.
After
graduating from N.T.C.I. Fred attended prestigious Massachusetts
Institute of Technology in Boston where he obtained a degree in Engineering and
Economics. He then attended the University of Oxford in England for
two years where he studied law and received a Master’s of Arts followed
by two years at the University of Toronto Law School to obtain a Canadian law
degree ( though he has never practiced law). He then to finish off his
education went to Harvard University where he obtained a Master’s of Business
Administration. He worked in Boston before heading to Wall Street where
he was an investment banker and now works for Loeb Partners as a Managing
Director. He has two adult daughters from his first marriage and a teenage
son with his present wife.
Fred
was the organizer behind N.T.C. I.’s Reach for The Top Team for our year and
along with Ken Clark, Anne Koresaar, and Bill Schabas made up the
team that did very well on the show. It was one of Fred’s goal in life to
appear on a U.S. television trivia game show. So a few years
after high school he travelled to New York City to attempt to achieve
that goal. He was successful, as he appeared on the “Who, What and Where”
game. Unfortunately Fred did not do as well on the show as he had hoped
and it was not the experience he expected, but he made it to prime time.
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