John FRANKEL

JOHN FRANKEL It is with great sadness that we share the passing of John Frankel on March 11, 2024 at Toronto Western Hospital with his wife and best friend Beverley at his side. A man of wit, wisdom, words and kindness his gentle spirit will be missed greatly by family and friends. In his unique self-deprecating and humble style John wrote his own obituary. True to being a writer he wanted to ensure he had the last word. Filled with love and appreciation we share his final words through tears and smiles at his enduring humour and presence. "This is to announce that I, John David Frankel of Toronto, Canada, born March 26, 1934, to Ruth Hartman Frankel of Chicago and Egmont Leo Frankel of Toronto, have left the premises of this earth. Pre-deceased by my wonderful, accomplished parents and by my fabulous brother, Alan Hartman Frankel, and my lovely, lovely sister, Helene Joyce Kofman. Survived by, the greatest good fortune I ever had, my lovely, brilliant and truly adored wife, Beverley Ann Simonsen, and by her nieces and nephews, and Gary and Kathy, important parts of my later life. And equally importantly, by Joyce's children, my nieces Barbara and Betsy and nephews James and Jeffrey, and their children. In 1987, Beverley agreed to marry me and thus began an enduring relationship of more than three decades in which she lavished upon me an infinite amount of warmth, care, and kindness, and all the other ingredients of durable love. She laughed at my comments, tolerated my abundant shortcomings, and encouraged my ambition to finish a novel of hoped-for consequence, "Love, the Very Idea!" (Though time might have run out by now). In 1985, my associate, Mary, and I started a small financial services company that overflowed with dedicated employees who(m) I would like to acknowledge. While slow to learn at how to learn, I had the good fortune to attend several outstanding learning institutions (University of Toronto Schools, McGill, University of Toronto, Waterloo U, the Sorbonne). I was a member of the (lawnless) Toronto Lawn, the Federation of Independent Deposit Brokers and the ever-genial Kappa Alpha fraternity, Taylor Statten's camp Ahmek and, starting in my early teens, a long-lasting group of fellow young hoodlums from around the Douglas Drive area of Toronto. Spoiled by my wonderful parents, I have also been slow at growing up but have not lost hope, even now in this my 89th year as I write this. A funeral would be hypocrisy run rampant, but cocktails and a short discussion of my existence will be held at the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club on Saturday, April 13th from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., 44 Price Street, Toronto. Not without inevitable setbacks here and there, I feel I have been dealt a very fortunate life, especially with Beverley in on the deal. It's not at all necessary, but should you feel like it, please donate to any one of the far too many on this earth whose life, the exact opposite of mine, has been trampled by a famine in good fortune. And, finally, understand that I am no longer here to maintain order. So, for god's sake, do take care. Please." Condolences may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.