BALLANTYNE, Ian Richardson (LCol, ret'd) Ian died peacefully in Ottawa, with family by his side, on November 20, 2010, in his 80th year. The son of Harold and Hilda Ballantyne, Ian grew up in Kitchener, graduated from Royal Military College and Queen's University, and then pursued a military career. He retired to Calabogie, Ontario. He is predeceased by his daughter Patricia, his parents, and his brother Jim. He will be lovingly remembered by his daughters; Peigi Dumouchel (Bryan), Sandra Ballantyne (Ibrahim Daibes), Nora Ballantyne (Chris Savage) and their mother Mary Ballantyne (nee Troup). Proud Papa to Meaghan, Gerry, Cole, Khalil, Rowan, Danna and Mara. He will be greatly missed by his Calabogie friends. A service to celebrate Ian's life will be held at the Pinecrest Remembrance Chapel, 2500 Baseline Road, Ottawa, on Monday, November 29, at 2 p.m. with reception to follow.

Labels: Member Updates, Passings

Labels: Member Updates, Passings

Gilbert Buchanan

Buchanan, Gilbert Laurence (Laurie) Peacefully at Headwaters Health Care Centre on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at the age of 89. Beloved husband of the late Heidi Buchanan (2015). Dear father of Heidi Ann (Peter Bishop) and Duncan Fraser. Cherished grandfather of Cameron Laurence (Sara) and Amy Elizabeth. Great-grandfather of Noah Christopher Bishop. Laurie will also be greatly missed by other relatives and many friends. Visitation will be held at the Dods & McNair Funeral Home, Chapel & Reception Centre, 21 First St., Orangeville on Friday, January 24, 2020 from 2:00 - 4:00 & 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at St. Mark's Anglican Church, 5 First Ave., Orangeville, on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. Memorial donations to St. Mark's Anglican Church, Parkinson Canada or Bruce Trail Club Conservancy would be appreciated by the family.Thank you to Dr. Mauro and the staff of D-Wing at Headwaters Health Care Centre for all your care and compassion during a challenging time and the staff at the Avalon Care Centre who have cared for Laurie over the years. A tree will be planted in memory of Laurie in the Dods & McNair Memorial Forest at the Island Lake Conservation Area, Orangeville. The annual dedication service will be held on Sunday, September 13, 2020 at 2:30 p.m. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.dodsandmcnair.com

Labels: Buchanan, Member Updates, Passings

David, Pat and Virginia's youngest, [48], died aug 21. The Memorial was held on Sat. Aug 28.
I should have been in touch with you sooner but, I didn't think fast enough.
Laurie and Heidi Buchanan and Barb and I were there.
I thought you might let others [including widows] know.
Perhaps you might consider keeping widows on the omega mailing list.

Thanks
       Bob Power

Labels: Eckersley, Member Updates, Passings

2015

1949

GELLATLY, Bruce
Bruce Gellatly, 84, died peacefully in Courtenay, British Columbia on February 2, 2016, surrounded by family. Bruce joins Audrey, his wife of 60 years, who passed away in 2014. He is survived by his children Barb, Mary, Sean Gellatly and Anne Armstrong; eight grandchildren; and three great- grandchildren. Bruce contributed significantly to Canada's university community. Bruce helped build the University of Waterloo from the ground up. Working from its inception in 1957 to 1983, Bruce provided financial management that enabled the university to pursue its vision and establish its reputation. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws in 1984 in recognition of his achievements. Bruce joined the University of British Columbia (UBC) as Vice-President Administration and Finance in 1983. In a period of financial restraint, Bruce helped lead UBC from a provincial institution to a leading national research university. Bruce contributed to the community in many other ways. He was active in the Anglican Church, was Chair of the Kitchener Waterloo Philharmonic Choir and Chair of the Richmond Hospital Foundation. Bruce's devotion to serving the community was met only by his dedication to his family. Since retiring in 1996, Bruce provided unparalleled care and commitment to his ill wife, Audrey. Bruce was also a sportsman, joining the Old Timers Hockey League on trips to Europe and Japan in winter and working on his golf handicap in the summer. A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at 2 p.m. at Comox Valley Funeral Home, 1101 Ryan Road, Courtenay, British Columbia with a Reception to follow. Flowers gratefully declined. A donation may be made to a charity of your choice.

Labels: Gellatly, Member Updates, Passings

             

Labels: Gellatly, Member Updates, Passings

Labels: McKee, Member Updates, Passings

Donald Henry Youngblut February 5, 1931 - February 8, 2009 Passed peacefully, at A.R. Goudie Eventide Home, after a lengthy illness. Proud father of Diane (Grant) Schellenberg; grandfather to Marc, Ben and Christine Schellenberg, all of Manotick, Ontario. Brother to Jack (Edna), Harold (Sheila) and Carol Parker (Robert). Predeceased by parents, Henry Jacob and Violet Ann (Miller); son, Mark; and sister, Marie. Fondly remembered by many nieces and nephews. Donald was artistically gifted and over his lifetime created much beauty with his talent for oil painting and wood carving. At Donald's request, cremation has taken place. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 519-749-8467.

Labels: Member Updates, Passings

Grant's Graduation Picture from O.A.C. 1953

Labels: Bomberger, Member Updates

Labels: Buchanan, Member Updates

It was great to hear from you about a possible Omega get together.  Nothing in the world would please me more.   My health has taken many turns for the worse since I turned 80. which now require me to use a walker and a wheel chair.  Along with rheumatoid arthritis I have congestive heart failure.  I have home care 8 hours per day. To make a long story short I'm not allowed to fly, and so would not be able to attend. Please keep me posted so I can send greetings when you get together. Best wishes to you all.  Bruce

Labels: Gellatly, Member Updates

Labels: Member Updates, Power

Jenny MacDonald sent the following update on Bill.

Thank you for sending Bill the Omega Club, updated information for 2010.
Unfortunately Bill had a stroke last January, and although he has made some recovery, his condition is such that I am unable to look after him adequately at home, and he is now a resident of a Nursing Home.
He was interested to read the News Letter and although his memory is not good, I do think he could remember some.
I do hope you all have a Happy Christmas and wish you all the best for 2011.

Labels: MacDonald, Member Updates

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Labels: Fritsch, Member Updates, Mike Fritsch

By Chuck Howitt, Record staff

KITCHENER — The carpet is worn and could use a good vacuuming. Boxes of perfumes, eau de toilette and cologne in all shapes and sizes crowd the counters and display cases. Old paintings depicting the history of pharmacy line the walls. Stock is piled haphazardly at the back.
Walking into Fritsch Fragrances is like taking a trip back in time to the 1960s.
Located at 201 King St. W. across from Kitchener City Hall, the store could badly use a makeover, but owner Michael Fritsch is not about to undertake one. Not after 50 years in business. He has seen all kinds of trends and fads come and go and greets it all with a good-natured, world-weary sense of humour.
Asked if he's celebrating his golden anniversary, he says, “My kids decided they should tell somebody. I am trying to ignore it as much as possible.”
How did he finance the purchase of the store in 1959? “Blood.” That and, “I had one of those nice old-fashioned, 25-year mortgages people used to have.”
Did he buy the building along with the business? “I wouldn't be here now if I didn't.”
Marketing plan? “Word of mouth. It's the best and it's cheap.”
Number of employees? “I'm the CEO. My wife is secretary-treasurer.”
Annual revenues? “Minimum wage. Sales have dropped off 50 per cent in the last 10 years.”
Why aren't sales better? “No retailers. If you took away parking from Fairview (Park mall), their sales would drop, too.”
Vacation plans? “I haven't had a holiday in 50 years. Who's going to run the store?”
The latest downtown street makeover? “Looks like another skateboard park. Maybe, they're trying to copy Waterloo.”
Changing times may have worn down Fritsch's spirit, but not his love of the business. Neatly dressed in white shirt, grey slacks and tie, experience and expertise are his sales tools, dignity and professionalism are the packaging.
A large multi-coloured chart stands near the counter, ready for any questions on the origins and ingredients of every eau de toilette, perfume and cologne on the market. A walk along his counter sparks a dialogue on any one of the brands that happens to catch his eye. Miniature boxes of fragrances near the front appeal to collectors in his customer mix.
Owning a perfume shop was not his initial goal. Pharmacy was. A tap on the shoulder from next door neighbour Erwin Fahrner got him started at 14. Did he want to do deliveries at Fahrner's drug store downtown? The part-time job kept him in petty cash all the way through high school and spurred his application to the Ontario College of Pharmacy. He graduated in 1953 with a degree that still hangs on the wall of his store.
Returning to Kitchener, he soon began working for Fahrner again, then bought the store when his mentor retired in 1959. A mortgage from Waterloo Trust helped finance the purchase and a second mortgage from his father supplied the downpayment.
Tough competition honed his skills. In the 1960s, 14 drug stores lined the streets from downtown Kitchener to downtown Waterloo. “There was one on almost every corner,” he recalls. But business was good. People lived close to downtown and worked nearby too.
In 1964, he did a complete remodeling. Out went the old wooden display cases and in came sparkling glass booths. A new sign gleamed outside. “I had the most modern store downtown,” he says proudly.
He sold piles of cosmetics to young girls, pitched by demonstrators brought in from Montreal.
Eager to diversify his product mix and boost sales, he began selling fragrances. Travelling salesmen from major suppliers such as Chanel and Estee Lauder visited his store. Fritsch tapped their brains and built up his expertise.
By the late 1980s, a new drug benefit plan began squeezing his pharmacy profits. Rebates favoured bulk buyers, not small players like Fritsch. He pulled out of the pharmacy business to concentrate on fragrances.
Chain stores began selling fragrances which ratcheted up the competition. Shoppers defected to suburban malls and box stores. Restrictions on the wearing of scents, fuelled by allergy fears, further cut sales. “In this world, can you tell me anything that is fragrance-free?” says Fritsch. “Everything you buy has scent in it.”
Beaten down but not out, he retreated to his specialized knowledge, considerable supply of more than 100 brands and the small merchant's old standby, customer service.
At 79, he's got no succession plan. His three daughters all make more money doing other things. When the taxes get too high, cost of maintenance too much and business gets too slow, “I'll shut her down,” he says. In the meantime, he plans to keep on going. “It's a hobby. It gives me something to do. It's still fun.”
chowitt@therecord

Labels: Member Updates

Labels: Member Updates, Power