Bugle Call: John "Doc" Savage

It is with sadness that I report the passing of John "Doc" Savage. He was a tour de force, with and amazing capacity for life, that had been slowly silenced by Alzheimer's. 

 

John's grandparents Col. Alexander Copper and  Agnes Massie had come to Sturgeon Point in 1918 renting what is now the Phipps cottage from Lillian Grieg Stewart.  There they raised their three children, including John's mother Marjory.  About 1926, they bought the cottage at the bottom of 2nd Street from their friends William Rundell & Ada Dundas.  In turn Marjory Cooper and her husband, Reginald Savage, raised John and his sister Joan at The Point.

John Savage on Lake Avenue, 1928

He led by example.  His commitment to the community in which he had been a year round resident from the 1970s was done through public service.  As Reeve he fought long and hard for our village in the face of a Province determined to amalgamate.  He spent endless hours ensuring that our voice was heard and that we were represented on the wider stage. 

 

John was "out" at a point in time when many were still fearful of community reaction.  He paved a road of tolerance for younger generations.

 

 

As a young man...

Joe Rivard & John Savage



 

We wish for John now the dignity and peace that Alzheimer's had stripped from him and we thank his friends for ensuring that his final years were safe and secure.

 

A Celebration of his life will be held at St. James Anglican Church in Fenelon Falls on Thursday May 23rd at 7:00pm.

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His obituary appeared as follows:

In his 87th year, passed peacefully in his sleep at Wellesley Central Place in Toronto, on Friday, May 17, 2013.

Doc had a full life. He was raised in a loving family in Toronto, where he worked as an advertising executive.

Doc had the opportunity to travel the globe extensively before retiring to the gentle shores of Sturgeon Point. Doc served this tight knit community that meant so much to him for years as it’s Reeve, a job that was very endearing to him.

Doc was very fond of the arts, and was an avid supporter of The Canadian Opera Company and The National Ballet of Canada.

Doc knew what it was to give back to the community that he lived in, and volunteered on countless community projects, to name a few... Case Manor in Bobcaygeon, Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay, The Peterborough AIDS Resource, and The Victoria and Northumberland County.

Doc was a gracious host, and valued friend and will be sadly missed by all who knew him. He has joined his closest friends, Joe Rivard and Brent Savoy who have passed a few years ago.

A Celebration of Doc's Life will be held at St. James Anglican Church, 19 Bond Street, Fenelon Falls on Thursday evening, May 23rd at 7:00 p.m. A reception will follow in the adjoining church hall.

If desired, memorial donations to the Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation or the St. James Anglican Church would be much appreciated.

The Sturgeon Point History Project - 2013 Season

Happy Two-Four and a great start to the 2013 Season at The Point!

As mentioned several times here and in SPA newsletters, the Sturgeon Point History Project is no longer able to offer the breadth of community activities this year.  In large part that is because I no longer live in the community and live too far away to be able to be there in person.  Also there are so many volunteer hours required around the community that people's free time to give has become thin on the ground.  So I am out of Schlitz and the community is low on beer...

So, going into this 2013 season, here is what we are going to do.

 

1.  We are still collecting images of the community from any time in its history - from yesterday back to the beginning (pictures of dinosaurs welcome but the content of the cocktail glasses must be identified...).

 

Send these pictures to stptphotoproject@hotmail.com or e-mail and we'll make arrangements to get them scanned.

 

Several volunteers have offered to take photographs at community events and send them into the archive, their time and efforts will be really appreciated.

 

2.  Images for personal use, school projects, community events, etc., are available. Send an e-mail and we'll talk about what you need and how to get them to you.

 

3.  Research projects are not currently being undertaken, but if you have a great idea or question, fire away and we'll see what we can do.

 

Obviously the big event this year is that this is the Celebration of the 175th Anniversary of the First Regatta.  I have the CD of images and volunteers will be needed to print them and put them on display boards. Another group of volunteers will be needed to put the display up at the event.  Perhaps a group of students needing volunteer hours... Something for a day when golf gets washed out...  Please speak with Lisa Vehrs at SPA about this.

Have a great summer everyone. 

Liane

Bugle Call: Audrey Bradshaw Rutherford Upton

It is with deep regret that I learned of the passing of Audrey Rutherford Upton.  What an amazing lady!  She was very kind in her support of the History Project sharing her knowledge of our history from the inside view point of one of the earliest year-round residents.  To a young sailor, she was an endless source of popsicles and mail.  To our parents and grandparents, she was the source of telephone calls, milk and groceries.  All of which were neatly handled from the front porch, as she deftly managed her own family.  As a community we were blessed to have her and she will be missed.

 

Our deepest condolences go to Bernice, Elaine and Karen and their families.

Gratton & Audrey at the Point, early 1950s

Audrey with Karen & Bernice and Mr. & Mrs. Oakes at Red Rock

 

Her obituary  read:

 

On Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay we said goodbye to our “Mom” and “Best Friend”. Audrey (nee Bradshaw) Rutherford Upton of Sturgeon Point was in her 92nd year. Beloved wife of the late Gratton Rutherford (1984) and the late Arthur Upton (2012). Loving mother of Bernice Rutherford and Stephen Hemsted, Elaine and her husband Brian Ward, Karen and her husband Paul Weightman all of Fenelon Falls. Step mother of Chris and Barry Green and Barbara Upton all of Bobcaygeon. Dear gramma of Sara, Erin, Rossie, Tyler, Tobi, Dustin, Mackenzie, Alison, Erin, Kevin, Laura, Jennifer. and great-gramma of fourteen. Pre-deceased by siblings Gordon, Kenneth and baby Bernice Bradshaw. The family will receive friends at Immanuel Baptist Church, 20 Bond Street East, Fenelon Falls, on Friday, May 3rd, from 1:00 p.m. until time of service at 3:00 p.m. If desired memorial donations to Immanual Baptist Church would be appreciated by the family. To leave on-line condolences, make a memorial donations or to light a memorial candle please visit: www.jardinefuneralhome.com