OBITUARIES

John Martin Mugar
1914-2007

John Martin Mugar of Gloucester, Massachusetts, was born in Boston on Palm Sunday, April 5, 1914 and died March 23, 2007, just short of his 93rd birthday. He was the son of Armenian immigrants Martin and Anna Chooljian Mugar. He was chairman of Star Market Co. when he retired in 1978 after more than 40 years at Star. He graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University in 1937 and served Tufts for many years as Life Trustee, as well as being on the board of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. During WWII, he served as a Senior Lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve Acorn 44 division in Okinawa. His beloved wife of 60 years, Helen Gienandt Mugar, who served as a Navy nurse in New Guinea during WWII, survives him. They met at Portsmouth Naval Base in 1943.

John Mugar was a leader in the supermarket industry in the 1950s and 1960s. He went to work for Star Market in 1937 when there was only one store. On his retirement, Star Market operated 61 stores in the New England area. He introduced many merchandising and management innovations, including unit pricing before it became mandatory in Massachusetts, and was the first in the industry to introduce in-store banking, florists and book sales. He instituted a profit-sharing and retirement program for full and part-time employees in 1955. He believed in the customer and would say “Take extra good care of the customer and she will take care of you.”

Always interested in international relations, he was a member of the Foreign Policy Club of Boston, the Center of International Affairs at Harvard, and established an internship program that brought Europeans and Africans to work in the stores. He had the idea for the long-running TV show “Starring the Editors,” sponsored by Star Market, that had a panel of Boston newspaper editors discussing current events.  He was a seminar speaker at MIT’s Sloan School of Management and went to Washington to speak on behalf of a program called “From the Seed to the Table.” He enjoyed working with young people and hosted dinners that brought together policy makers and college students. After Star Market was bought by the Jewel Company in 1964, John continued as president and later chairman of Star, as well as serving on the Jewel board.

His business and motivational skills showed up at an early age. At age 12 he sold the Saturday Evening Post in Harvard Square, and soon became the manager of a sales force of 25 boys. His group won every sales contest that Curtis Publishing held in the Boston area. 

He encouraged women and minorities to enter business and served as a founding advisor for the Graduate Program in Management at Simmons College and worked closely with minority businesses. He was also on the President’s Council at the University of Massachusetts, and president of the Minuteman Boy Scout Council, as well as on the boards of the National Association of Food Chains and the Food Marketing Institute. He was on the board of the Castle Hill Foundation, Ipswich in the ’60s and helped broaden the appeal of its concert series by bringing in folk and jazz acts. He was a longstanding member of the Algonquin Club. He was a member and supporter of many Armenian organizations and was a founding member of the Armenian Executive Club and the Armenian Library and Museum of America.

Following his retirement, he traveled widely around the world. He was a frequent visitor to Blaine and Point Roberts and enjoyed the area immensely. John’s warmth, intelligence, love, sense of humor and clarity of vision will be sorely missed.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children Elizabeth Eveillard, Martin Mugar, Ellen Mugar and Louise Grubb, grandchildren Suzanne and Pauline Eveillard, Gabriel and Eve Mugar, Lydia Clements, Andrew and Alexandra Grubb, and two sisters, Mary Tatoian and Beatrice Fye. He was predeceased by his sister Irene Pike.

John Martin Mugar was buried at Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts on March 30, 2007.

Ronald Martin Simundson
March 31, 1936 to March 31, 2007

Our beloved Son, Husband, Father, Grandfather and Best Friend, age 71, passed away peacefully at home in Point Roberts, WA after a long and courageous battle with heart disease.

Ron’s legacy began in Fort Macleod, AB where he was born the only child to Lucille and Martin Simundson. With his father off at war, he grew up surrounded by a close knit extended family consisting of his mother, numerous aunts, uncles and cousins, many of whom he considered siblings. After the war his family moved to Calgary where he attended St. Mary’s High School, excelling in football… but definitely not French. A post secondary education at SAIT in the field of aviation engineering led him to a summer job in Banff where he met his first wife of 28 years, Anne (pre-deceased in 1985), and with whom they had 3 children. Ron’s interest in engineering later put him in the oil patch. A successful career and partnership with Glen Bird of Bird Oil Equipment throughout the 70’s took him around the world and eventually to Point Roberts, Washington, where he found a love for the water and sailing. He soon after purchased the Point Roberts Yacht Basin where he called his 48’ ‘Morgan’ sail boat (The Thorfin) home. Cashing in on corporate life, retiring his business suits for Helly Hanson clothing, Docker shoes, long hair and a pony tail, he met and married his second wife of 22 years, Sandy. A honeymoon to the Dominican Republic lead to an extended stay of 7 years where Ron and Sandy built a beautiful home, ran a quaint beach cantina and lived the vacation life style. Ron’s health brought them back to “The Point” where they settled down on a beautiful property laboring with love to create a unique home and a piece of heaven for family, friends & their animals to enjoy. His lanky build, distinctive looks and trade mark hat made him a household name as the local character on the Sterling Bank commercials. Ron’s whole life was about his family, his animals, his wife and her busy flower business for which he was the receptionist & delivery driver. The crowning achievement in his life was watching his 9 grandchildren grow to become strong, independent and beautiful people, 2 of whom are accomplished Canadian athletes. He was proud. He will be sorrowfully missed by all who knew him.

Ron is survived by his mother and stepfather: Lucille and Al Stadelman (Calgary AB), wife: Sandy (Point Roberts Wa), children: Ray(Cheryl) Simundson (Calgary AB), Wendy (Trevor), Thomas (Airdrie AB), Linda (Rob) Van de Pol (Calgary AB), Aleigh Atyeo (Vancouver BC), grandchildren: Kaillie, Jordan and Shelby Simundson, Carley, Stephanie and Charley Thomas, Stacey (James) Campbell, Sean and Corissa Van de Pol. As well, Ron was pre-deceased by his father Martin Thorfiner (1970) and first wife Anne (1985).

A private service will be held for Ron’s mother and immediate family in Calgary, AB, followed by a celebration of life in Point Roberts, WA. this summer.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations can be made to the BCSPCA. BCSPCA, 1245 East 7th Ave., Vancouver, BC V5T 1R1, 1-800-665-1868. www.spca.bc.ca/help/tributes

Dale Gordon Johnson

Dale Gordon Johnson passed away suddenly at the age of 60 on April 13, 2007.

Dale was a funny, gregarious, kind-hearted guy and a talented artist. When able, he supported many animal welfare and wilderness protection charities, and in lieu of flowers, would ask that friends and family do the same in his memory.  He loved old cars and music, especially the blues.  His infectious laugh was legendary and he will be missed by his many friends. Survived by his loving daughter Nicola (Sean), son Derek (Sarah) and son Stacy, and by his grandchildren Fionn, Taio, Elijah, Gordon, Nikkolas and James. He will be sadly missed also by his siblings Merrilee, Tarri, Jim and Robin and his former wives Anne and Sue. Dale requested no formal service but there will be a Celebration of Life at Brewsters Restaurant, Point Roberts on Sunday April 29th at 3 p.m.

Charles Edouard Brabant

Charles Edouard Brabant, age 75, passed away January 28 in Oak Harbor, Washington. Charles was born April 16, 1931 in Montreal, Canada. He attended Loyola High School and McGill University in Montreal, and also studied engineering in Manchester, England. After leaving Montreal, he lived in Detroit, MI; Springfield, VA; Mountain View, CA; Stamford, CT; Los Altos, CA; and Point Roberts, WA. He worked for the U.S. Geological Survey, the Stanford Research Institute, and Quantum Science in New York City. He enjoyed sailing out of the Redwood City Marina, Stamford Yacht Club, Santa Cruz Harbor, and Point Roberts Marina.

Charles was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Alcide Brabant (1896-1964); mother, Eva Bernier Brabant (1898-1950); and son, Charles Edouard Brabant (1963-1965). Charles is survived by his ex-wife, six children, and eight grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held at the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery in Montreal this spring. A notice prior to the service will be published in the local Montreal paper for any interested parties.