A Perfect Rest

Martin Bergman, who appreciated beauty like few other men, died suddenly Wednesday, April 19, after a brief illness at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal. He is survived by his wife, Madame Justice Dionysia (Denny) Zerbisias, his daughters Mandy Bergman and Cindy Stein, his son-in-law Kenny Stein, and his two beautiful granddaughters, Betsy Kate and Sarah Melissa Stein. Funeral and shivah (which will be private) arrangements to be announced.

Words fail.

Blogging will be light to non-existent over the next 10 days.

I hope to see you under happier circumstances.

Comments

[Jiminy C]

To George Zerbisias - sir - thank you for taking the time to paint this brief and moving picture of Martin.
To Antonia - sadness - with you and for you!

[Greg Soucie]

Antonia,

My deepest sympathies to you and your family on your loss.

Best,
-Greg

[MD]

Look forward to hearing from you when circumstances are better.

Condolences to you and yours.
MD

[balbulican]

Antonia: this is a strange community, isn't it? Few, if any of us have ever met: but we all feel for your loss. It will get better.

[Corinne Allan]

It feels bad to know my favourite columnist must go through such a sorrow. Be well, Antonia.

[Fazal Ur Rahman]

"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

: John Donne (1573-1631)
Your loss is also our loss. May God grant you peace.

[Bahija Reghai]

Dear Antonia,

My thoughts are with you, your sister and all your family as you grieve for a wonderful person who inspired such love and respect - I didn't have the privilege to know him, and I am poorer for it. You were lucky he was part of your life, even if for a shortened period of time.
Helen Keller had these words that remind us that those we love stay with and within us forever: "With every friend I love who has been taken into the brown bosom of the earth a part of me has been buried there; but their contribution to my being of happiness, strength and understanding remains to sustain me in an altered world."
Hugs,
Bahija

[Jinoole]

My deepest condolences, Antonia.

[Robert Alfers]

Deepest sympathies Antonia. I don't know what we would do without you.

[Robert Alfers]

Dear Antonia,

Although I don't know you personally, you have my deepest sympathies on your loss, and hope to see you back online soon when you are ready. We need you. All the best from a fellow transplanted Montrealer.

[RobNS]

Dear Antonia,

Although I don't know you personally, you have my deepest sympathies on your loss, and hope to see you back online soon when you are ready. We need you. All the best from a fellow transplanted Montrealer.

[Justin]

Deeply sorry about your loss and I just want to repeat the sentiment of the last few comments. You are missed out here and you are needed.

[Jiminy C]

More of the same Antonia - and I guess perpetuating this "digression" (I know this thread is in honour of your bro-in-law Martin!
My first "taste" of Canada as an immigrant was Montreal (I arrived St. Jean Baptiste weekend of '72).
3 years later, my then employer wanted to transfer my job (and hundreds of others) to Toronto,and I (and hundreds of others) refused to go, so they canned the move.
A year later, we had no choice- the political climate had changed-we were no longer welcome in a society that most of us loved enough to risk losing our jobs for.

Back to Martin.

I suspect that most folk that took the trouble to acknowledge your loss here, even not knowing Martin personally, did so because they had suffered some similar loss and could empathize with some-one - who - through the passion and determination you display here and in your columns - they respect and feel affection for.

While not forgetting Martin- a man that earned YOUR love and respect - let's be clear here - in his own measure -clearly here was a man worth praising- but just as important - the lady who wrote the first post here and who, for once in a lifetime ran out of words, that lady's judgement is held in high regard by 99% of the folks who read this BLOG - and if Martin was good enough for you, he's more than good enough for us - be assured!
Come back soon!

[Outsider]

Greetings Ma'am

As an outside who has only contacted you once in the past few years (I have always read your pieces in the star and tried to keep up with your blog), but who really respects you, both as a writer and as a human, I offer my sincere condolences.

Please take enough time for yourself to heal; just remember you're never alone.