A toast to 72 wonderful years
For George and Jean Spear, a dance in wartime London led to a long, happy life
The vintage red dress that British war bride Jean Spear wore to her recent tea party was just like the one she had on in August 1941, the night a Canadian soldier approached her at a dance hall in suburban London to ask her to dance. That soldier is now her husband, George Spear.
The Ottawa couple celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary with an Aug. 22 party, held with friends and family in the backyard of their west-end home, built years ago by Spear himself. George, 94, and Jean, 91, were escorted by a lone piper before settling in for an afternoon of memories and musings.
Present was one of Jean’s “dearest friends,” Jeanne Fuller, widow of naval war hero Thomas G. Fuller, with her developer son, Simon. The Spears sat side by side, holding hands.
After a champagne toast to the happy couple, the husband and wife cut their anniversary cake with George’s bayonet from the war. Later, George brought out his harmonica and played for everyone. Now for the juicy part: the kiss. It was long and loving, just like their marriage.
BIRD, MANLEY AGAIN LEAD HOSPITAL FUNDRAISER
Prominent project manager Graham Bird belongs to a long line of family members born into this world at the Ottawa Hospital. His connection doesn’t end there — the hospital is also where many of his loved ones turned for medical help when battling cancer, ALS and heart problems.
For his third year in a row, Bird is undertaking a leadership role with Royal LePage Performance Realty sales rep Mary Jane Manley at the hospital foundation’s 13th annual President’s Breakfast, slated for Sept. 16 at the Ottawa Convention Centre. The pair is back to co-chair the fundraiser, which brought in nearly $400,000 last year. Bird hosted a lead-up reception Aug. 21 with his wife, Cynthia. Dozens of guests listened to Dr. Duncan Stewart talk about the exciting and groundbreaking medical research currently happening in Ottawa. Present were such breakfast volunteers as City Manager Kent Kirkpatrick, siblings Dan and Nancy Oakes, Gowlings lawyer Margaret Ross and therapist Marion Balla as well as the hospi- tal foundation’s past board chair, Dentons lawyer Greg Kane.
EPIC WALKERS HONOUR STEINBERG’S MEMORY
Last year, lawyer Gary Steinberg had been feeling unwell, so he and his wife, Sharon, were invited to a weekend at David and Sara Lipnowski’s cottage. So beautiful were the surroundings that Steinberg asked Sara to paint him a landscape. Two days later, Steinberg, 67, went into hospital and never came out, so aggressive was his cancer. He died Nov. 14. This summer, Lipnowski saw an opportunity to finally paint that landscape in memory of her dearly departed friend when she learned about an Epic Walk for Cancer benefit being organized by Isabelle Cantor and Avalee Prehogan. Both women hold senior positions with the Robert Half International staffing and recruiting firm. The night of shopping, auction bidding and prizes was held at Cantor’s Briargreen home Aug. 13. Lipnowski’s lovely painting was donated to the benefit and bought by highest bidder Karin Bercovitch, director of finance with the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. The one-day, 28-km Epic Walk on Sept. 27 is a partnership between the cancer foundation, Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation and Bruyère Foundation. As a tribute to Steinberg, a team was put together by Avalee and her lawyer husband, Ron Prehogan. It’s currently raised the most money, at more than $20,000.