This cool, rainy morning on Hilton Head Island, I received a broadcast email from an alumni representative of my former prep school, St. Andrew’s College in Aurora, Ontario, from which I graduated in 1967. Strangely, I vividly recall both the day I arrived and the day I left.
I first arrived at 14 years old on a similarly dreary rainy September afternoon in 1963. I had just returned from a summer in Europe where my parents and sister were living in Stockholm, Sweden. A uniformed driver in a black sedan dropped me off—mistakenly—at the front of MacDonald House, the junior school dormitory, rather than Fourth House of the senior school, where I properly belonged. Four years later, at 18, I was one of the last to leave, alone in the nearly empty school with our small Upper Six graduating class after completing the requisite provincial examinations. More memorably, I had narrowly escaped Bobbie Ball’s infamous surreptitious water bombing while asleep in my room.
It was a long, long time ago.
It was in this uncommon state of reverie and reminiscence that I trolled the school’s website and ran across an allusion to a former classmate Peter Love who reportedly is now an adjunct professor at York University. Peter’s father was formerly the chairman of the board of the school. He had four sons boarding contemporaneously, oldest son Gage, Dave, Peter of course and youngest son Geoff. The Love country estate was in nearby King, Ontario where after graduation a number of us were invited one wintry day for luncheon and snowmobiling. The second summer following graduation Gage Love Sr (through his corporation) supported a Christian theatre company Creation 2 (Director Louis Capson) for which I was then fund-raising. It was a long, long time ago. Most memorably however Gage Love Sr distinguished himself at St. Andrew’s College having attended chapel one pleasant springtime Sunday evening wearing his characteristic tweed sport jacket and gum boots covering the extremities of his grey flanneled legs reflecting his country confidence.
Gage LOVE Obituary
LOVE, Gage Hayward
Surrounded by his loving family, Gage Love, cherished and beloved husband of Betty, died at the age of 85 peacefully at home after a brief illness on Friday, September 5th, 2003. Proud and devoted father of Gage, David, Peter and Geoff. Adored by his daughters- in-law, Ann, Patti, Melanie and Mimi; his twelve grandchildren, Austin, Bryce, Melanie, Jennifer, Adrian, Charmian, Colin, Gage, Gaelan, Allie, Kate and Jesse and his three great-granddaughters Ava, Makayla and Olivia. A gifted athlete, he was a competitive swimmer; but his real athletic prowess emerged when playing sports with his children and grandchildren. All games overseen by Gage ended in a tie. Among his greatest achievements was a hole in one on the treacherous third hole at Glen Abbey. He was also the self-appointed Commissioner-for-Life of the Westwinds Bootin’ League. After graduating from the University of Toronto, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve. He was a lieutenant (N), RCNVR in World War Two. Gage led a remarkably successful business life. He was president of the W.J. Gage Company, publisher of that great bestseller, Dick and Jane. When he took over the company, it was a small shop on Spadina Avenue. When he left, the company had moved to Scarborough and was one of Canada’s most important printers and publishers. The company recently celebrated its 150th anniversary. He was a chairman of The Toronto Board of Trade and of the Board of St. Andrew’s College. Gage was a relentless and passionate philanthropist. He served as chair of The Gage Research Institute, The Ina Grafton Gage Home, Pollution Probe and West Park Hospital. He served on the board of The Boy Scouts, King City United Church, National Sanitarium Association, The Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation, Toronto Community Foundation, United Way of Greater Toronto and York Central Hospital. He supported a great many other community organizations and charitable causes. The funeral service will be held at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, 230 St. Clair Avenue West on Tuesday, September 9 at 11 am. Betty and Gage were married in this church 62 years ago. Instead of flowers, a donation to either West Park Health Care Centre or The Ina Grafton Gage Home would be appreciated. Gage and his family have been involved in these two organizations for four generations.
Prompted further by these long forgotten memories I sent a message to Peter through the school’s website but I am uncertain whether I shall receive a reply, never having attempted this form of communication with one with whom I haven’t spoken for a very long time. In my brief correspondence to Peter I mentioned the names of a number of our former classmates, some of whom I know are no longer whinnying among us. Among those who have gone is Bill Mulock, grandson of Sir William Mulock, who in addition to having lived in the nearby Town of Newmarket had (I understand) a home on Jarvis Street in Toronto (see connection below). A number of us enjoyed a “breakfast party” on the Mulock estate following one of our highland cadet balls at school. The grounds were complete with a 9-hole golf course.
Wading into these ancient waters can prove to be a treacherous affair. It is nonetheless a reckoning of the first order, constituting both an estimation and possibly a punishment of the past. As I unhesitatingly transcribed my note to Peter this morning I suddenly realized how much has happened since those youthful days to which I so spiritedly referred; and, how long, long ago it was.
Among the other acquaintances whom I recalled was Michael Perley who, although a year ahead of Peter and me at St. Andrew’s College, was again conjoined at undergraduate studies at Glendon Hall in Toronto.
“This result demonstrates the benefits that the province’s new Smoke-Free Ontario Act will have for bar and pub patrons but especially pub workers across the province,” said Michael Perley, Director of the Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco. “While many bars and pubs in Ontario have been smoke-free for several years now, the Act will make all such facilities 100% smoke-free as of May 31. These workers are subject to extremely high levels of second-hand smoke pollution, and have some of the highest rates of lung cancer as a result. It will be great when St. Patrick’s Day in Ontario is completely smoke free.”
Also following Michael’s aside was that of Murray Shields whose parents (I believe) formerly owned the Celebrity Club on Jarvis Avenue in Toronto.
Former Celebrity House: Designed by the renowned architects Knox & Elliot and built in 1891, The Blake House is one of the last standing heritage structures in Toronto mixing late 19th century Victorian and Second Empire architecture. Its first owner, the Honourable Edward Blake was the second premier of Ontario and leader of the federal liberal party between 1878-1887 . He was also the founder of the law firm known today as Blake, Cassels & Graydon. At that time, Jarvis street was a tree lined boulevard of stately mansions as displayed on our wall stencils and pictures. Leading Canadian families such as the Cawthras, Masseys, and Gooderhams were among Blake’s neighbours. The home remained in the Blake family until 1917. Since then, the home went through several owners as the street led way for high density projects. In the 60’s, The Blake House was transformed to the Celebrity Club, an exclusive supper club. Shortly after it became the legendary Red Lion Pub. The famous British cartoonist Ben Wicks also occupied the second floor for many years in the 90’s.
There are naturally other accounts, some dreadful, revived by this idle investigation into the past. My best friend at school was F. Max Maréchaux JD who suffered his own disastrous familial losses but continues today with his wife to enjoy life. Also Nicholas Glassow, son of Dr. Frank Glassow among the senior surgeons of the Shouldice private hospital in Thornhill, Ontario, is yet recovering from a horrific automobile accident. I have remained in connection with Nick’s sister Karen but she too has lately suffered the loss of her partner.
Thinking about these historic events and insinuating calamities is not the making of guaranteed satisfaction. I find it odd to have dwelt to such extent upon the same; however it strangely works to produce an insight into the dreadful scope of this very limited existence each of us has upon the planet. It was all so long, long ago…