Phillip Bemis French was born on December 2, 1910 in Kentucky to Roger and Amy French, both from Massachusetts. They immigrated to Montreal shortly thereafter when Roger was appointed professor of Civil Engineering at McGill University. They lived near the university and Phillip went to Montreal High School. He spent a year in northern Quebec working as a timber cruiser for a paper company before beginning Mechanical Engineering at McGill. Graduating in 1934 he began a lifelong career in the bearing industry. He met Marian and they married in 1935. Michael was born in 1937, Susan in 1943 and Trish in 1949. Phil was very proud of his profession as a salesman. Until 1947 there was no company car. The streetcar and especially the train took him to every engineering company in Montreal and to most of the mines, shipyards and mills from Newfoundland to Manitoba. He sold bearings for and rode in Armand Bombardier's first snowmobile in the 1930's. Fifty years on he could describe the exact location of the train station with respect to the hotel and the liquor store in each of a hundred or more small Canadian towns. Three of every four weeks were spent out of the town and began with a train ride mid-day Sunday, and ended with paperwork at the office the following Saturday morning. This travelling had an unintended benefit in marital terms. Years later when asked how she managed to live with someone as opinionated and assertive as Phil, the mild-mannered Marian confided "oh well, he was away a lot". Fortunately, he also had a robust sense of humour, and could laugh at many things, including himself. He worked for Lyman Tube in sales management until he created Phillip French Sales at the age of 48. This enterprise was successful from the outset, icluding a name change to RotoPrecision Inc. He retired in 1970 and remained Chairman until 1986. This still prosperous company will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary in 2008. Sailing was a lifelong passion starting as a Sea Scout in the mid 20's. His first cruising boat was made possible by a non-typical bank manager who insisted on lending him the money at prime, arguing that life was about more than just work. The manager became an executive VP of the bank and PBF gratefully went on to own four more boats during the ensuing 30 years. Phil had a strong appreciation of the aesthetic pleasures in life. He liked a good painting, a nicely designed boat, a snappy bowtie, a fine meal and a good martini. He read widely, subscribing to more than a dozen publications at age 95. He appreciated poetry, and wrote some of his own. Phil and Marian moved to Brockville in 1975 after 25 years in Dorval, and began an active and fulfilling retirement. Fly fishing, which he learned as a boy from his father, became a shared interest with Marian. Many happy days were spent on the famous salmon rivers of eastern Canada where she usually managed to outfish him. He then worked successfully to keep her happy, functional and at home, for several years after she developed Alzheimer's. His superior empathy, acting ability, negotiating skills, common sense and self discipline that served him so well in business also helped in personally throughout these retirement years. Phil suffered a stroke in the mid 1990's from which he substantially recovered. He resumed and continued driving even after moving to assisted living, but retired voluntarily in his late 80's. He brought his alert and engaged perspective to life at the Rosedale, lobbying for improvements, and cheerfully displaying his certificate of ownership in the income trust of the Rosedale's parent company to bolster his cause. Latterly he was slowed by multiple ailments including congestive heart failure. He was ably supported and encouraged by his doctor Coleman Mansworth who considered him a highly successful geriatric project as well as a good friend. He also taught the doctor how to fly fish. Fortunately Phil's mental acuity and sense of humour remained in full measure. He allowed as how the only merit in becoming very old was that there was no peer pressure. He always maintained a laissez-faire style towards family and his many friends. He allowed everyone their space, successfully reasoning that whoever needed him would ask and he would be there - and he was.