ALEXANDER JOHN (JACK) MACIVER A

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ALEXANDER JOHN (JACK) MACIVER A Daughter Remembers in memory of her father Alexander John (Jack) MacIver who passed away on May 11, 2008 in Winnipeg. Some people say Why do you get married? You get married to have someone tell your story and you have children to leave your lasting legacy. My father had many children; Charly; Ivan; Laura-Lip; Magoo; Trigger; Kimo and me, Hamish. For 63 years, my father had a great wife, Mary Butchart. She could tell his story better than anyone, but this is my story. I would like to celebrate his life; a great life of a great generation. Jack, my father was a part of the greatest generation. A generation made of sacrifice, a generation of looking after others. We live our lives with many titles and my father was a man of many titles; son, brother, loving husband, father, grandfather, veteran, car dealer, community leader, philanthropist, mentor, sports fan and by that I mean sports fanatic. There was nothing better than those Thanksgiving weekends, he and Mom would come and visit us, whether it was in Windsor; Moncton; Calgary or Oakville, all four major sports were in full bloom and it will always hold a special place in my heart. One weekend in particular comes to mind when they visited us in Calgary and Thanksgiving dinner culminated in my Dad appearing at the table in Mike's football helmet. (I think secretly, he always wished he had played ball.) He certainly had the intensity and desire). The betting was furious and continued throughout the year. On any given Sunday, the phone would ring at pre-game, half-time or when Tiger had a great shot! The response was always the same: Hey, kid...did you see that! There was no sport my father didn't love. I am not sure if the bets ever got cleared up but that's ok because it always came down to just heartfelt fun! My DAD loved his sports. Nothing made him prouder than in 1984 when my brother Doug walked off the field at Commonwealth Stadium, Grey Cup in hand. But enough of sports and titles, as the titles could go on and on. The only title that matters to me is that of FATHER. As a young child we spent all our summers at Falcon Lake. Before my parent's built our cottage, we had many fond years in Blk 10. He taught me how to drive a little fishing boat that could not exceed 5MPH. At nine, he thought I had mastered that craft as he instructed Mom to throw the keys to our 285 in-board/out-board to drive across the lake in a storm. It was either that or replace the dock. He believed in me and I rose to the challenge. There was nothing he did not think I could do! He believed in me. Years later, after he lost his eyesight, I took him in the boat along with Mike (who incidentally is not a lover of water). Dad wanted desperately to drive the boat, so I provided his eyes. He opened that boat as wide as it could go and I yelled Dad, boat at 6 o'clock, 3 o'clock.' He had the time of his life. I am not sure which he enjoyed more, the thrill of the water or seeing Mike turn green. Dad had a love of restaurants, but only a few. Rae and Jerry's, The Manitoba Club, St Charles Country Club and Haynes Chicken Shack! As a child, there was nothing I loved more than to go with him and Mom down to Lulu Street and smell the aroma of Percy's wife's homemade biscuits and listen to Percy play the piano. Years later, that same piano provided the music for many a joyful night at our cottage. There were always plenty of people around and my mother never once balked at having to throw another potato in the pot. Everyone was welcome. We shared a love of politics. I think he was very proud of me when I worked for the PC Party of Canada and he always loved a great debate. He used to tell me that I could be Premier of Manitoba...I never had the heart to tell him that the pay would not have kept him in those black suits and shiny shoes he loved so much. But, he believed in me. I was fortunate enough to work with him and witness first hand his leadership and ability to instill loyalty within his employees. He was loyal to them and they in turn were loyal to him. He was well respected by his peers and as he called it the Factory . Over the years, as I moved to the dark side (as he called it) I learned from corporate leaders how truly he was respected. Even in these last few weeks, emails and phone messages flooded in reconfirming what I already knew. Words like leader, fighter, visionary, strong, tenacious, sharp and tough were used to describe the man I knew as Dad! He LOVED the car business. He would ask Mike about sales and market share all the time. Cars ran through his veins. Anywhere he went, he would ask what kind of car do you drive, do you need a new one? no stone was left unturned in the pursuance of a car sale! One of his greatest gifts to me was that of the introduction of my husband, Mike. And through this union we have two beautiful sons Jonmikal and Seth, whom with their long limbs and bodies will be my legacy to my Dad. They too will tell a story one day! That story will include my father. A story of ball hockey and a smoke filled arena...better known as our garage. Grandpa, come watch me play! My father taught me many things: compassion; a strong work ethic; to thine own self be true, to love immensely; to live intensely; to strive to be the best; never quit and to never let them see you sweat! Though my words are brief and cannot possibly describe what you meant to me and my family... Dad, I will miss you greatly, the lessons you taught me will be forever with me. Rest in peace Dad, you deserve it. Enjoy your drink with Uncle Bruce! You guys probably have a lot to talk about. Jackie Dragojevic is Alexander John ( Jack ) MacIver's youngest daughter and lives in Oakville, Ontario with her husband Mike and two young sons, Jonmikal and Seth.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 22, 2008