Beatrice Millman Bazar

Dear Len and Ron

I was saddened to get the news, belatedly, that your mother passed away.  She was a dear and constant friend to my mother, Nellie Sharpe, and saw her through some troubled times.  When Nellie died in 1987, Bea was extremely kind and helpful to me and my brother Howie.  For some years afterwards, I visited her and Bernie on my annual trips to Montreal, and always felt welcome.  They were immensely proud of you both and of your families.

 

Bea was exceptionally modest.  I knew only by chance of her award of the Order of Canada, and she never mentioned the other accolades, referring merely to her "voluntary work" for the UN.

 

I know you must all miss her warmth, intelligence, kindness and wisdom, and wish you much sympathy in your loss.

 

Love,

 

Jo Burman Tulloch

Dear Ron and Leonard,

We just read of your Mum's passing in the Globe. All of our family are with you in spirit at this difficult time. Since my mother's move to Winnipeg in 2005 we have kept in touch with Bea. We had a wonderful visit in person last summer when we were all back in Montreal for a wedding. Bea came up to the hotel where we were staying with Eudice Garmaise and the 3 of them had a great reunion. My Mum has always spoken of how fortunate she has been to have been blessed with the love and friendship of "Les Girls" as they were known (Bea, Eudice, Lonnie and Betty). You could not ask for a finer group of women to be connected to.

Your Mum was deeply loved and admired by all of us. Her warmth, grace and wisdom were cherished. She was always interested in knowing how our family was doing. I still have very vivid memories of visiting the pharmacy on Greene avenue as a kid with one or both of my parents to pick up whatever the family needed and remember how supportive both your parents were when our family went through some very challenging times. They were always there with encouragement, compassion and love. I also remember your parents as frequent visitors at my parents' home and the tremendous laughter coming from the living room as I tried to get to sleep and the arguments about politics and world events. Our parents and their circle of friends were passionate, engaged and embraced life.

Bea was and will always be an inspiration to all who chose to serve the communities in which they live. She is one of those special people who make us proud to be Canadian and remind us that each and every one of us can make a difference in the lives and fortunes of others.

Although we cannot make it to the service tomorrow please know that our thoughts will be with you as you celebrate Bea's amazing life and accomplishments. She always spoke of you and your families with great pride.

Love,

Zelda, Mia, John, Barbara, Norah, Alexandra and David Myers

Dear Ron,

Once more, I wish to extend my sympathies to you and your family.
Sunday's ceremony was a wonderful tribute to a remarkable woman.  Thank
you for allowing me to be a part of the love that your mother shared with
so many people.  She will always have a place in my heart, and I will miss
her greatly.

If you are ever in Montreal again, please do get in touch.  It would be my
pleasure to visit with you again.  Please know that I am always here for
you and your family.

Kind regards,

Jean-Claude Primeau

She was and is a glorious expression of what and who a human being can be.  I am happy that you were with her for so many of the last months. 

to Ron (Buzzy to us):

there is a meandering but durable thread that seems to forever bind our motley bunch (imperceptible to others yet undeniable for us).  we are instantly rallied and our hearts aligned.  know that we are thinking of you now.

ruth grossman and brian lazare



 

Dear Ron,

So VERY sorry to hear about your dear Mum.  She was such a good friend of ours, though we didn't seen her often in the last decade or so.  You may rest assured that she was one of the top Canadians, even top world leaders, from behind the scenes in a host of endeavors that have changed our world. God bless her.

We knew your Dad, too.  A very fine, admirable fellow.

Thanks so much for letting us know.  Your,  James Huntley

To Ron, Leonard Bazar and extended families, my deepest condolences
 
Bea n’est plus parmi nous mais en nous
 
Comme une étoile qui a su illuminer la vie de tant de personnes par son humanité, sa lumière a cessé de briller dans le ciel de Montréal mais pas dans celui de chacun d’entre nous.
Elle laisse derrière elle une famille dont elle était si fière et dont elle parlait avec tant d’amour et d’affection.  L’internet, qu’elle avait apprivoisé, lui permettait de parler de ses enfants et petits-enfants qu’ils soient à Washington, Vancouver, à Vienne, en Asie ou auprès d’elle à Montréal.  Elle adorait parler de leurs succès, de leurs projets de l’affection qu’ils lui portaient et surtout de la Vie qui continuait à travers eux.
On ne pouvait croiser le chemin de Bea, sans être touché par sa vitalité, son humilité pour tout ce qu’elle avait fait depuis les années 30, son besoin continuel d’apprendre, de comprendre.  Bea était curieuse de tout et jetait sur le quotidien comme sur l’universel ce regard de tolérance et de compassion qui rejetait les extrémismes. La sagesse de ses propos, sa compréhension des enjeux et problèmes illuminait les conversations, les discussions et toutes ses actions.
En tout temps, elle gardait sa sérénité, sa force et sa liberté intérieures sa confiance aux solutions sans violence.
Sa générosité désintéressée remplissait toute personne qui la rencontrait d’un sentiment d’adéquation avec sa nature profonde de Grande Dame.
 Pour sa famille, ses amis, ceux qui ont eu le bonheur de la rencontrer, Bea sera toujours en nous.  Félix Leclerc écrivait :
C’est grand la mort,
C’est plein de vie dedans.
Bea est dans la vie de chacun de nous.
 
Un ami,
Michel Jarry
 

Dear Ron and Leonard,

 

We just read of your Mum's passing in the Globe.  All of our family are with you in spirit at this difficult time. Since my mother's move to Winnipeg in 2005 we have kept in touch with Bea.  We had a wonderful visit in person last summer when we were all back in Montreal for a wedding.  Bea came up to the hotel where we were staying with Eudice Garmaise and the 3 of them had a great reunion.  My Mum  has always spoken of how fortunate she has been to have been blessed with the love and friendship of "Les Girls" as they were known (Bea, Eudice, Lonnie and Betty).  You could not ask for a finer group of women to be connected to.  

 

Your Mum was deeply loved and admired by all of us.  Her warmth, grace and wisdom were cherished.  She was always interested in knowing how our family was doing.  I still have very vivid memories of visiting the store on Green avenue as a kid with one or both of my parents to pick up whatever the family needed and remember how supportive both your parents were when our family went through some very challenging times.  They were always there with encouragement, compassion and love.

 

Bea was and will always be an inspiration to all who chose to serve the communities in which they live.  She is one of those special people who make us proud to be Canadian and remind us that each and every one of us can make a difference in the lives and fortunes of others.

 

Although we cannot make it to the service tomorrow please know that our thoughts will be with you as you celebrate Bea's amazing life and accomplishments.  She always spoke of you and your families with great pride.

 

Love,

 

Zelda, Mia, John, Barbara, Norah, Alexandra and David Myers

Dear Ron and Len and family, I was saddened to learn of Bea's passing in today's Globe and Mail. While I had lost touch with her since I and my family returned to Western Canada in the mid 1990s, I have many happy memories of the friendship, kindness and encouragement she extended to me in the early 1980s after I moved to Montreal to work at CN's head office. For a number of years, we both served as board members of the Montreal Branch of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs along with Jean Pelletier and others, at a time when the Chair was another Western Canadian, Ed Neufeld, then Chief Economist at RBC. We worked together on the program committee and arranged an outstanding series of speakers at that time, including John Kenneth Galbraith, Lester Thurow, Pierre Trudeau, and others. Bea provided a role model for enthusiastic, active involvement in worthy community organizations. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Hedley Auld Winnipeg

Dear Ron & Leonard,
 
Here is another important (poignant) memory of your family & ours.
 
Deborah & Donald Matheson (parents to my brother, Michael and myself, Catherine) were very close friends with your parents right from the "get go" at 369 Clarke Avenue. Your family lived upstairs in apt.6 and we lived below in apt.4.
 
In 1955, my parents purchased our family cottage (we are still the original owners) in the Laurentians. In those days you had to have cash (no credit or credit cards) to purchase. My parents invited all of you to our cottage for a visit & swim.
 
What transpired next has stayed with me (in total disgust) for 54 years. Your parents were definitely wanting to purchase the newly built cottage next door to us. I learned from my parents that your family was denied (i.e. not allowed) purchasing any land on our lake and simply because your family was (is) Jewish. As a child, even after my parents explained "why"... I still could not understand why our very special Bazar family was refused. We happen to be Protestant but we never ever dreamed of or saw any difference between ourselves and our loving friends, the Bazars. My Mother especially was deeply saddened because she was looking forward to many years at the lake. To this day I cannot fathom "the why"; a haunting thought that has never left me. I feel this story needs to be told and never forgotten.
 
My family has always seen the goodness in people... no matter their race, religion, creed, color, ethnicity. I have forgiven the land seller for his ignorance. I know your Mother would want this closure. Your Mother Bea & your Father Bernie deserve their dignity and respect repaid (however long it takes) which was so denied during those times and before.
 
Deepest love and affection,

Catherine Matheson