William Herzog

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• Interesting: business, charity, public service
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-226745

Notes:

Loblaw vice-president made friends with everyone

William Herzog born: in Kitchener 15 Jul 1939 Died: Aug. 7, 2005

BY VALERIE HILL RECORD STAFF

If Bill Herzog encountered a new person, he had a new friend. It didn't son, matter if it was a corporate president or the janitor, in Bill's eyes everyone was worthy of respect.

Of course, there were the occasion al lemons, those sour bits of misery that even Bill couldn't warm up to.... those people he simply ignored.

"He'd never say a bad word about them," said his daughter Wendy, who also noted her father was genuinely interested in people, asking about themselves and their interests, and remembering details years later.

"He was always happy, always smiling." Bill's wife Pat added.

It would have been easy for Bill to develop an elitist attitude, given he was senior vice-president of finance for Loblaw, responsible for all of Eastern Canada.

He counted Canadian business leader Galen Weston among his friends and was one of very few people outside the Weston family invited to serve within the family's philanthropic foundation.

In his eulogy, longtime friend Doug Ratchford described Bill as "a successful man but just an ordinary guy"

"An ordinary guy with an extraordinary lust for life, learning and laughter, combined with a boundless curiosity and a generous spirit."

But Bill also had his quirky side, keeping files stuffed with newspaper and magazine clippings of articles he thought friends and family would find interesting. During his retirement dinner from Loblaw in 2000, the speaker asked who in the room had been a recipient of Bill's clippings. Almost everyone stood up.

Doug joked that he was "the J. Edgar Hoover of Waterloo."

"He kept files on everybody and everything dating back, I think, to his conception."

His family added that the minute Bill heard someone was heading off on holiday, he'd be on their doorstep with a file stuffed with travel information delivered. Pat said that despite his reading up to six newspapers daily, she could rarely pick one up without discovering Bill had been at it with the scissors.

Bill was born to a family of four children. His father was a police officer, his mother a cashier. There wasn't much money, so Bill had to work hard. When they met, Pat for everything he achieved, including his education.

He had a lot of part-time jobs, including one as a newspaper carrier where he won a bicycle for the most papers delivered.

"He was so proud of that," Pat said.

His first job after earning his chartered accountancy designation was with a Kitchener accounting firm. From there, he moved into the grocery business, first working in finance for Zehrs Markets and later Loblaw companies.

When they met, Pat was a court reporter and Bill was conducting an audit for the police. "I was cute and he was cute," she joked of their instant attraction. They were married in September 1964 and had two girls, Wendy and Lori.

Bill was always a busy guy and loved to be with people. "He was a joiner. It seemed everything he joined, he became president of," Pat said.

As a long-time member of Rotary, Bill was awarded that club's highest honour, the Paul Harris Fellowship.

Outside the structured world of charitable organizations, Bill show a generous and caring heart.

"No one had given him anthing (growing up) and I think he felt…he wanted to do for others what wasn't done for him," Lori said.

His family only learned recently about the young man who created a successful business after Bill loaned him $60,000,

"He just wanted to help" Pat added.

And that spirit of giving spread deep within his own family. No matter how busy, Bill never neglected his family and his daughters remember an involved and supported dad.

Two years ago, when he was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour, Bill's passion for experiencing life intensified. He took the family to Disney World.

Bill Herzog leaves behind his wife Pat, daughters Lori Madden and Wendy Kelly and four grandchildren.

vhill@therecord.com

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Beloved husband of Patricia (Nix) for over 40 years. Proud and loving father of daughters, Wendy and her husband Mike Kelly and Lori and her husband Tom Madden. Adoring and adored Papa to Kristin and Liam Kelly and Brynne and Ben Madden. Bill is sur vived by his mother, Claire Herzog and father-in-law, Robert Nix and his wife Ellen. Bill was a loving brother to Shirley (Charlie) Daub, Karen (Dave) Kowalski and Ron Herzog and his wife Jan. Also survived by sisters-in-law, Wendy Nix and Barbara Pitcher and brother-in-law, Ken Nix and his wife Cathy. His many nieces, nephews, cousins and surviving aunts and uncles, will lovingly remember Bill.

Predeceased by his father, Anthony Herzog and his mother-in-law, Helen Nix.

Bill had a long and revered career with both Zehrs Markets and Loblaw Companies, retiring from the position of Senior Vice President of Finance with Loblaw Companies East at the end of 2000.

Bill's name conveys many things to so many people. He was a proud man who loved his life, his family and his friends. He valued his community and worked hard to support the causes he was so passionate about. Bill was past President of the KW Racquet Club, Westmount Golf and Country Club and the Kitchener Conestoga Rotary Club, where he was presented with a Paul Harris Fellowship Award. Upon his retirement in 2000, he put his many talents to volunteering in the community and has served on many committees and boards including the St. Mary's Hospital Foundation, KidsAbility Foundation, Presidents Choice Children's Charity and the W. Garfield Weston Foundation in Toronto.

Bill took advantage of everything that life could offer him. He loved to travel and share his adventures and "finds" with those close to him. He was an athlete who excelled at every sport he tried and who followed sports with passion and enthusiasm. Bill loved to spend time with his friends. He valued his community and worked hard to support the causes he was so passionate about. Bill was past President of the KW Racquet Club, Westmount Golf and Country Club and Harris Fellowship Award. Upon his retirement in 2000, he put his many talents to volunteering in the community and has served on many committees and boards including the St. Mary's Hospital Foundation, KidsAbility Foundation, Presidents Choice Children's Charity and the W. Garfield Weston Foundation in Toronto.

Bill took advantage of everything that life could offer him. He loved to travel and share his adventures and "finds" with those close to him. He was an athlete who excelled at every sport he tried and who followed sports with passion and enthusiasm. Bill loved to spend time with his friends and embraced the opportunity to meet new people. He was an avid supporter of the Stratford Festival and enjoyed relaxing with dear friends over a wonderful bottle of wine.

Bill will be warmly remembered for his clipping and sharing of newspaper and magazine articles. To receive an envelope of clippings from Bill was to know that this incredibly special man was thinking of you. For many, those envelopes will be sadly missed.

Visitation will be held at Edward R. Good Funeral Home, 171 King Street South, Waterloo, on Tuesday and Wednesday from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. The funeral mass to remember and celebrate Bill's life will be held on Thursday, August 11, 2005 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Louis RC Church, 53 Allen Street East, Waterloo, with Rev. Bernie Haynes, CR, as celebrant. Following cremation, a private family committal will take place at Williamsburg Cemetery, Kitchener.

Following the mass, friends and relatives are invited to Westmount Golf and Country Club for refreshments