TRIBUTES Granddaughter could melt his sternness

“I knew him as a man consumed by his passion for his newspaper, most particularly what role it should play in its community and its country. He loved straight-forward thinking and writing. His vision remained constant: to make the Star a leader in its field. He worked tirelessly to ensure that everyone who worked in its newsroom — and anywhere else at the Star — understood the principles under which it operated. He had little time for small talk and for those who did not share his drive and vision. “ As stern as he was at work, I was fortunate to see another side — I remember one day talking with a smiling Beland Honderich, smiling because he had spent an afternoon showing his granddaughter Emily Honderich the Star’s huge newsroom and the motherlode of information in the Star’s library.” Mary Deanne Shears, former Star managing editor “He transformed the Star from a newspaper of sensation to one that swept up middle-class readers who, as they climbed, desperately needed information and advice. Bee also assembled the finest staff of writers any newspaper ever had for a heady period in the ’60s. No publisher could match him for merciless control and no publisher created a greater newspaper.” Val Sears, former Star reporter “ As a former secretary to Mr. Honderich, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to his family. He was a great boss, had one of the most infectious laughs I have ever heard and a wonderful smile. He was a great, great man.” Linda Hokanson, Toronto “I remember how the newsroom was stilled when Mr. Honderich entered. It was a mark of respect. I feel privileged to have met him.” Tim Harper, The Star’s Washington bureau chief “He made the Star basically what it was in the last few decades. It became a very strong newspaper, overtook everyone else, bought out the circulation list of the Telegram. (He) really was the principal author of the Toronto Star becoming the biggest newspaper in Canada.” Warren Gerard, retired Star reporter "An editor, name of Jim Kingsbury, asked me if there were any experienced reporters who might be interested in working at the Star. He said he’d heard the name Beland Honderich recommended and could I recommend him. “I approached Bee, but he said, ‘I don’t want to leave Kitchener.’ I told him to give it some thought. Next time I was back in Kitchener, he’d had some kind of run-in with his paper and asked if the position at the Star was still open. “He called and took the job. Can you imagine the difference, in the paper, in his family, if he hadn’t?" Milt Dunnell, retired Star sports columnist