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It is with a deep sense of loss that we announce the passing of Frank at the age of 93 on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, at the Sault Area Hospital with his family by his side. 

Beloved husband of Gloralyn for 68 years; cherished father of Jill (Katie), Keith (Marie), and Mark (Dana); proud “Pops” of Michael, Brooke, and Devin; and dear brother of Gerry. He is now reunited with his sisters, Reta and Joyce. 

Frank was a legend and contributed to the creation of an era in Sault Ste. Marie like no other. Everyone knew him. He knew everyone. His dedication to his family, to education, and to sports defined him. Frank taught and/or coached thousands of people and was an exemplary role model in doing so. He was a terrific dad, with Gloralyn fully supporting him, and he was an amazing and involved “Pops.” 

Frank attended Sault Collegiate Institute and then went to ���Ҵ�ý , where he played for the Golden Gaels basketball team and was captain for the team in his final two years. 

He returned to and taught at Sault Collegiate Institute and later returned there as principal and also to Sir James Dunn after that, retiring in 1987. He coached basketball and football in those years and refereed football as well. He was a colour commentator on CJIC radio for basketball tournaments and the Sault Steelers regular season games. 

Frank lived at the golf course, scoring under his age, even at the age of 93 – and established his tradition of the Steak and Beans golf tournament that continues on. 

The Christmas Eve gatherings finally discontinued! He gave countless hours volunteering for the CNIB reading math textbooks for the blind; he drove elderly patients to appointments; he conducted vision screening for elementary school students; he provided input into provincial health programs, and he always spent time with his friends and wife with dementia. 

Frank endlessly nurtured and strengthened the people and community of Sault Ste. Marie as a distinguished coach and mentor, educator, citizen, leader, friend, husband, dad and Pops.

The family would also like to thank the ER staff at the Sault Area Hospital for their kindness and compassion.

Joan Mary McAlister, Sept. 15, 1948 – Sept. 8, 2025

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Joan Mary McAlister - beloved wife, mother, sister, gramma and friend. She was born on Sept. 15, 1948, in Toronto to parents Metro and Gertrude Ogryzlo. She was the middle daughter of three, with older sister Ann and younger sister Kathy. Her fondest memories from childhood were time spent at their family cottage on Lake of Bays in Muskoka, Ont. 

After graduating with Ontario Scholar Honours from York Mills Collegiate in 1966, she pursued her teaching degree at Queen’s. It was there that she met her loving husband of 54 years, Steven McAlister. Married on Aug. 27, 1971, Steven and Joan first settled in Welland, Ont. They moved several times for Steven’s work, enjoying their time in St. John (New Brunswick), Omaha (Nebraska) and Pointe-Claire (Quebec). Among their travels, they welcomed their first daughter, Sarah and first son, Michael. Their final move was to Abbotsford, B.C., in 1978, where they remained for the next 47 years and welcomed two more daughters, Jessica and Megan. 

Joan ran very efficient and warm households, in addition to working full time as a teacher at various schools, and later in life as a speech and language learning assistant with the Fraser Valley Child Development Centre. She was passionate about her work and provided gentle and loving care to all the children she worked with. She officially retired in 2013. Aside from her work, Joan was deeply involved in her children’s lives and an unwavering supporter of all their endeavours. 

In 2007, she became a grandmother and her love grew exponentially. She welcomed 11 more grandchildren in the following years, and they were the light of her life. She was their biggest fan at all their sporting events and beamed with pride for all their accomplishments. Joan also found the time to become an accomplished skier, windsurfer, and standup paddleboarder. More recently she had been enjoying rides along the river and through the mountains on her electric bike. She loved hummingbirds and swimming in the waves at her family cottage on Harrison Lake. She could also often be found walking laps at Mill Lake, on Willband Creek Trail, or the Seawall in Vancouver, always excited to run into a familiar face. 

On Sept. 8, 2025, she passed peacefully with her husband, children, and their spouses by her side. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by everyone whose life she touched. She will forever be remembered by husband, Steven and children, Sarah, Michael (Lindsey), Jessica (Jeremy), and Megan (Matt). She will live on forever in the hearts of her grandchildren: Annabelle, Alayna, Braylen, Nevaya, Nadia, Callie, Andersen, Isaak, Carson, Arielle, Lila, and Ivy.

Mildred Eisenberg passed away peacefully on Jan. 7, 2025, in Toronto, just three months shy of her 100th birthday. She was predeceased by her brother, Tommy Levy and her husband, Philip Eisenberg. She is survived by her sons, Joel, Ian (and Susan), Eric (and Joni); sister-in-law, Peggy Levy; nephew, Allan Levy; grandchildren, Robert (and Hannah), and Meryl (and Chris Nirenberg); and great-grandchildren, Samuel, Liam, Miriam, Philip, and Jordan, as well as cherished cousin, Stan Albert. 

The term “lifelong learner” is often used, but rarely does it apply so aptly as it does to Mildred. Despite growing up during a time when women were not expected to work (or to work as a secretary, as she was encouraged to do by her mother and friends), Mildred believed she was capable of much more. She attended Queen’s, where she obtained her teacher’s degree in 1943. She began teaching primary school right away to support herself, but continued to pursue her studies during the summer months and part time during the school year, eventually graduating with her BA from Queen’s in 1949. 

Over the next 30 years, she raised her three sons Ian, Joel, and Eric in Montreal, and with the loving support of her husband, Phil, she continued to pursue her education, obtaining her MA (double masters of Arts and Education) from McGill University in 1968, and her Ph.D (psychology) from the Université de Montréal in 1977. Along the way, she was appointed to a Quebec government school commission and served as chairman (as was the designation at the time) of the board of governors of Vanier College. 

At the 50th anniversary reunion of the Baron Byng high school class she taught, she was honoured for her dedication and ability to teach, to instill a love of learning, and to motivate others. One of her students recounted that Mildred was the only teacher who ever believed in her potential and credited her with being the one who motivated her to pursue and ultimately realize her career dreams. To paraphrase a piece of Jewish wisdom: “One who changes a life changes the world.” Mildred did this hundreds of times over during her career as a teacher, guidance counsellor, and later professional psychologist, focusing on helping teenagers and young adults. 

She always pushed her children – and later grandchildren – to pursue higher education, and was very proud of her grandchildren Meryl (Artsci’12, Ed’13) and Robert (MPA’12, JD’14) for following in her footsteps at Queen’s. Meryl lived in Ban Righ Hall, just as Mildred had done 70 years before, and continues to wear Mildred’s Queen’s ring today. 

In later years, Mildred moved to Toronto to be closer to her children and grandchildren, and took great joy in getting to know her great-grandchildren, Samuel (named after her father), Liam (named after her mother), Miriam, Philip (named after her husband), and Jordan. 

Always eager to learn, she continued to take many courses in various areas of interest. Creative writing became a special passion for her, and she began to document her family history by writing short stories about events that shaped her life and some short fiction stories – all told, over 400 stories! Her stories, along with her love of family, are part of her legacy. 

Within just a few hours after the announcement of her passing went up on the Papermans website in Montreal, student after student after student posted tributes that made Mildred’s experiences as a teacher come to life. They describe her in these words: “outstanding teacher”, “a tribute to her profession”, “dynamic manner”, “incredible woman”, “a role model of intellectual rigour and comportment”, “an inspiration to those of us who knew her”, “a force of nature”, “I owe much of my rich vocabulary to her”, “an inspiring educator”, “I loved her”, “she was the best”, “formidable and wonderful lady”, and “left no stone unturned in advancing the education of each of her students.” These are tributes from students she taught over 60 years ago – she truly had an incredible impact on a generation of students! We all miss Mildred terribly, but know that she truly lived a beautiful and full life.