Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2021 13:44:47 -0500
From: Gerry Mazin


After OHS, I spent 4 quite miserable years at McGill; got an education almost
despite myself. Bummed out west ending up skiing in Aspen; Squaw Valley was
closed that year because the snow was above the lift lines. A year later went
out west with Clive and worked in a BC lumber camp @$3.90/hr vs $0.65 in Mtl.
Went back to McGill for an MA qualifying year in political science, quickly
realizing this was definitely not for me. That summer hitch hiked around Europe
with the sadly late and great Marc Solomon. In Mykonos completely unexpectedly I
walked into Clive. We got roaring drunk, crawled back to our sleeping bags on
the beach, at which point I broke down burbling to Clive ?We?ll go to Europe
again, but never like this again?. I was wrong; we never went to Europe again.

Worked at my Dad?s company for 3 years, and then at last life began for me. I
was accepted into the MBA programme at Western -- the best education experience
I ever had -- and then made the best decision of my life when I met and married
Maureen. Settled in TO, started a family (Jonathan & Rachelle), now expanded to
a wonderful son-in-law (Mark) & 2 grandkids (Naomi & Ezra).

In 1978 my dad who was a very experienced manufacturing exec, my brother and I
purchased a failing furniture manufacturing company. Life was good for about 8
years. However my dad died suddenly in 1981, and our inexperience and in
retrospect our lack of interest in manufacturing ended with bankruptcy in 1989.
My brother and I immediately started a distribution company importing consumer
furniture first from Taiwan, expanding to China, Malaysia and Vietnam; little
did we know that we were precursors of the shift of all manufacturing to Asia.
This proved a great fit of our strengths and interests and -- combined with the
incalculable experience that failure provides -- the company is now the largest
such enterprise in Canada. I semi-retired in 2018; with COVID this will likely
be a full retirement.

I have participated in the BBBC -- the Big Boys Book Club -- for over 30 years;
great group of very gentle men. In semi-retirement I joined varied courses and
lectures; now listening in on webinars.

Maureen has developed a huge circle of close friends and I have become friendly
with many of their husbands. I have kept close to Clive, Meir and the
peripatetic Bill Litwack over the years; at this point of my life I really
appreciate the full meaning of Simon and Garfunkel?s song of Old friends like
book ends.

The past 20 years have been filled with great travels world-wide with spiritual
experiences in unexpected and varied places --- Cambodia, Peru, Galapagos -- and
appreciating the joy of children, grandchildren and friends. For that I am
forever grateful.


Looking forward to seeing everyone tonight.


Gerry Mazin