Business leader "Was A Giver"
MORGAN FIRESTONE 1930-2009
Morgan Firestone did his bit to support local charities and then some.
The Ancaster millionaire, grandson of the founder of the famous tire company, helped support 35 charities -- and those were the ones people knew about.
His friend Colin Millar said on many occasions, when a fundraiser or charitable event was shy of its financial goal and an anonymous donor would swoop in to help, that anonymous donor was Firestone.
"So many times he didn't ask for any recognition at all," the former Hamilton police chief said last night. "He was just the mortar between the bricks."
Firestone died yesterday from complications from corticobasal degeneration (CBD). He was 78.
He was diagnosed with CBD, a Parkinson's-like disease, in 2002. He died at his Wilson Street home with his wife Julie and a caretaker present.
Firestone had been involved in all types of organizations in the city, from McMaster University to the Hamilton Hunt Club. But he was perhaps best known for founding and fundraising for what is now called the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health. He brought such people as former U.S presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, former British PM Margaret Thatcher and actress Sophia Loren to town for fundraising dinners.
"He was someone who loved nothing more than to do things for other people," his wife said last night. "He took the greatest pleasure in giving. The biggest joy in his life was to do things for others and to surprise them. He was a giver."
Born in Akron, Ohio, Firestone was the grandson of Harvey Firestone, who founded the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. in 1900. The father of five graduated with an economics degree from Princeton University in 1953. He came to Hamilton in 1965 to become vice-president of Firestone's Canadian operations.
He became president two years later, but left the company in 1969 and founded his own company, the Firan Corporation, in 1970. It went on to make electronics for air traffic controls and became Canada's largest producer of recreational vehicles. Firestone sold the business (now called Glendale International Corp.) to his management team after he became ill.
Firestone, who became a Canadian citizen in 1971, counted among friends from the high and mighty to the colourful. He was a big supporter of the Liberal party and knew former Liberal prime ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin. He gave money to Chrétien's 1990 leadership campaign and once chaired the big fundraising prime minister's dinner in Toronto.
He also counted Tim Hortons co-founder Ron Joyce and flamboyant hockey great Eddie Shack as friends, and went on golf and ski trips with Shack in his Lear jet.
Former Liberal MP and cabinet minister Stan Keyes said his spirit will be sorely missed. His most recent joy was having his three-year-old colt, Mike Fox, win the 2007 Queen's Plate.
"For all his wealth, he was such a down to earth guy," Keyes said. "He was just so generous and had such a kind heart."
Besides numerous golf outings -- where Firestone's effortless swing hit the ball down the middle "most of the time" -- Keyes laughs over the notoriously long breakfasts and coffee strong enough "to stand a spoon in." He said Firestone loved Canada, and Hamilton in particular.
"He would say 'I was born an American, but was a Canadian by choice,' " Keyes said.
He won countless honours, including Hamilton Citizen of the Year in 2001 and was inducted into the city's Gallery of Distinction in 1996.
Firestone is survived by his wife, Julie, and five children: Amy, 52, Jeff, 49, David, 51, Cindy, 40, and Debbie. He is also survived by three ex-wives, Nancy Reynolds and Anna Jewel Firestone, who both live in Texas, and Bente Firestone, who lives in Oakville.
His funeral is Saturday at 11 a.m. at Central Presbyterian Church, 165 Charlton Ave. W.
Hamilton Spectator, The (Ontario, Canada) - January 14, 2009
Author/Byline: Jackson Hayes and Daniel Nolan, The Hamilton Spectator
Edition: Final
Section: Local
Page: A01
MORGAN FIRESTONE 1930-2009
Morgan Firestone did his bit to support local charities and then some.
The Ancaster millionaire, grandson of the founder of the famous tire company, helped support 35 charities -- and those were the ones people knew about.
His friend Colin Millar said on many occasions, when a fundraiser or charitable event was shy of its financial goal and an anonymous donor would swoop in to help, that anonymous donor was Firestone.
"So many times he didn't ask for any recognition at all," the former Hamilton police chief said last night. "He was just the mortar between the bricks."
Firestone died yesterday from complications from corticobasal degeneration (CBD). He was 78.
He was diagnosed with CBD, a Parkinson's-like disease, in 2002. He died at his Wilson Street home with his wife Julie and a caretaker present.
Firestone had been involved in all types of organizations in the city, from McMaster University to the Hamilton Hunt Club. But he was perhaps best known for founding and fundraising for what is now called the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health. He brought such people as former U.S presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, former British PM Margaret Thatcher and actress Sophia Loren to town for fundraising dinners.
"He was someone who loved nothing more than to do things for other people," his wife said last night. "He took the greatest pleasure in giving. The biggest joy in his life was to do things for others and to surprise them. He was a giver."
Born in Akron, Ohio, Firestone was the grandson of Harvey Firestone, who founded the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. in 1900. The father of five graduated with an economics degree from Princeton University in 1953. He came to Hamilton in 1965 to become vice-president of Firestone's Canadian operations.
He became president two years later, but left the company in 1969 and founded his own company, the Firan Corporation, in 1970. It went on to make electronics for air traffic controls and became Canada's largest producer of recreational vehicles. Firestone sold the business (now called Glendale International Corp.) to his management team after he became ill.
Firestone, who became a Canadian citizen in 1971, counted among friends from the high and mighty to the colourful. He was a big supporter of the Liberal party and knew former Liberal prime ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin. He gave money to Chrétien's 1990 leadership campaign and once chaired the big fundraising prime minister's dinner in Toronto.
He also counted Tim Hortons co-founder Ron Joyce and flamboyant hockey great Eddie Shack as friends, and went on golf and ski trips with Shack in his Lear jet.
Former Liberal MP and cabinet minister Stan Keyes said his spirit will be sorely missed. His most recent joy was having his three-year-old colt, Mike Fox, win the 2007 Queen's Plate.
"For all his wealth, he was such a down to earth guy," Keyes said. "He was just so generous and had such a kind heart."
Besides numerous golf outings -- where Firestone's effortless swing hit the ball down the middle "most of the time" -- Keyes laughs over the notoriously long breakfasts and coffee strong enough "to stand a spoon in." He said Firestone loved Canada, and Hamilton in particular.
"He would say 'I was born an American, but was a Canadian by choice,' " Keyes said.
He won countless honours, including Hamilton Citizen of the Year in 2001 and was inducted into the city's Gallery of Distinction in 1996.
Firestone is survived by his wife, Julie, and five children: Amy, 52, Jeff, 49, David, 51, Cindy, 40, and Debbie. He is also survived by three ex-wives, Nancy Reynolds and Anna Jewel Firestone, who both live in Texas, and Bente Firestone, who lives in Oakville.
His funeral is Saturday at 11 a.m. at Central Presbyterian Church, 165 Charlton Ave. W.
Hamilton Spectator, The (Ontario, Canada) - January 14, 2009
Author/Byline: Jackson Hayes and Daniel Nolan, The Hamilton Spectator
Edition: Final
Section: Local
Page: A01
Business leader "Was A Giver"
MORGAN FIRESTONE 1930-2009
Morgan Firestone did his bit to support local charities and then some.
The Ancaster millionaire, grandson of the founder of the famous tire company, helped support 35 charities -- and those were the ones people knew about.
His friend Colin Millar said on many occasions, when a fundraiser or charitable event was shy of its financial goal and an anonymous donor would swoop in to help, that anonymous donor was Firestone.
"So many times he didn't ask for any recognition at all," the former Hamilton police chief said last night. "He was just the mortar between the bricks."
Firestone died yesterday from complications from corticobasal degeneration (CBD). He was 78.
He was diagnosed with CBD, a Parkinson's-like disease, in 2002. He died at his Wilson Street home with his wife Julie and a caretaker present.
Firestone had been involved in all types of organizations in the city, from McMaster University to the Hamilton Hunt Club. But he was perhaps best known for founding and fundraising for what is now called the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health. He brought such people as former U.S presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, former British PM Margaret Thatcher and actress Sophia Loren to town for fundraising dinners.
"He was someone who loved nothing more than to do things for other people," his wife said last night. "He took the greatest pleasure in giving. The biggest joy in his life was to do things for others and to surprise them. He was a giver."
Born in Akron, Ohio, Firestone was the grandson of Harvey Firestone, who founded the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. in 1900. The father of five graduated with an economics degree from Princeton University in 1953. He came to Hamilton in 1965 to become vice-president of Firestone's Canadian operations.
He became president two years later, but left the company in 1969 and founded his own company, the Firan Corporation, in 1970. It went on to make electronics for air traffic controls and became Canada's largest producer of recreational vehicles. Firestone sold the business (now called Glendale International Corp.) to his management team after he became ill.
Firestone, who became a Canadian citizen in 1971, counted among friends from the high and mighty to the colourful. He was a big supporter of the Liberal party and knew former Liberal prime ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin. He gave money to Chrétien's 1990 leadership campaign and once chaired the big fundraising prime minister's dinner in Toronto.
He also counted Tim Hortons co-founder Ron Joyce and flamboyant hockey great Eddie Shack as friends, and went on golf and ski trips with Shack in his Lear jet.
Former Liberal MP and cabinet minister Stan Keyes said his spirit will be sorely missed. His most recent joy was having his three-year-old colt, Mike Fox, win the 2007 Queen's Plate.
"For all his wealth, he was such a down to earth guy," Keyes said. "He was just so generous and had such a kind heart."
Besides numerous golf outings -- where Firestone's effortless swing hit the ball down the middle "most of the time" -- Keyes laughs over the notoriously long breakfasts and coffee strong enough "to stand a spoon in." He said Firestone loved Canada, and Hamilton in particular.
"He would say 'I was born an American, but was a Canadian by choice,' " Keyes said.
He won countless honours, including Hamilton Citizen of the Year in 2001 and was inducted into the city's Gallery of Distinction in 1996.
Firestone is survived by his wife, Julie, and five children: Amy, 52, Jeff, 49, David, 51, Cindy, 40, and Debbie. He is also survived by three ex-wives, Nancy Reynolds and Anna Jewel Firestone, who both live in Texas, and Bente Firestone, who lives in Oakville.
His funeral is Saturday at 11 a.m. at Central Presbyterian Church, 165 Charlton Ave. W.
Hamilton Spectator, The (Ontario, Canada) - January 14, 2009
Author/Byline: Jackson Hayes and Daniel Nolan, The Hamilton Spectator
Edition: Final
Section: Local
Page: A01
MORGAN FIRESTONE 1930-2009
Morgan Firestone did his bit to support local charities and then some.
The Ancaster millionaire, grandson of the founder of the famous tire company, helped support 35 charities -- and those were the ones people knew about.
His friend Colin Millar said on many occasions, when a fundraiser or charitable event was shy of its financial goal and an anonymous donor would swoop in to help, that anonymous donor was Firestone.
"So many times he didn't ask for any recognition at all," the former Hamilton police chief said last night. "He was just the mortar between the bricks."
Firestone died yesterday from complications from corticobasal degeneration (CBD). He was 78.
He was diagnosed with CBD, a Parkinson's-like disease, in 2002. He died at his Wilson Street home with his wife Julie and a caretaker present.
Firestone had been involved in all types of organizations in the city, from McMaster University to the Hamilton Hunt Club. But he was perhaps best known for founding and fundraising for what is now called the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health. He brought such people as former U.S presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, former British PM Margaret Thatcher and actress Sophia Loren to town for fundraising dinners.
"He was someone who loved nothing more than to do things for other people," his wife said last night. "He took the greatest pleasure in giving. The biggest joy in his life was to do things for others and to surprise them. He was a giver."
Born in Akron, Ohio, Firestone was the grandson of Harvey Firestone, who founded the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. in 1900. The father of five graduated with an economics degree from Princeton University in 1953. He came to Hamilton in 1965 to become vice-president of Firestone's Canadian operations.
He became president two years later, but left the company in 1969 and founded his own company, the Firan Corporation, in 1970. It went on to make electronics for air traffic controls and became Canada's largest producer of recreational vehicles. Firestone sold the business (now called Glendale International Corp.) to his management team after he became ill.
Firestone, who became a Canadian citizen in 1971, counted among friends from the high and mighty to the colourful. He was a big supporter of the Liberal party and knew former Liberal prime ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin. He gave money to Chrétien's 1990 leadership campaign and once chaired the big fundraising prime minister's dinner in Toronto.
He also counted Tim Hortons co-founder Ron Joyce and flamboyant hockey great Eddie Shack as friends, and went on golf and ski trips with Shack in his Lear jet.
Former Liberal MP and cabinet minister Stan Keyes said his spirit will be sorely missed. His most recent joy was having his three-year-old colt, Mike Fox, win the 2007 Queen's Plate.
"For all his wealth, he was such a down to earth guy," Keyes said. "He was just so generous and had such a kind heart."
Besides numerous golf outings -- where Firestone's effortless swing hit the ball down the middle "most of the time" -- Keyes laughs over the notoriously long breakfasts and coffee strong enough "to stand a spoon in." He said Firestone loved Canada, and Hamilton in particular.
"He would say 'I was born an American, but was a Canadian by choice,' " Keyes said.
He won countless honours, including Hamilton Citizen of the Year in 2001 and was inducted into the city's Gallery of Distinction in 1996.
Firestone is survived by his wife, Julie, and five children: Amy, 52, Jeff, 49, David, 51, Cindy, 40, and Debbie. He is also survived by three ex-wives, Nancy Reynolds and Anna Jewel Firestone, who both live in Texas, and Bente Firestone, who lives in Oakville.
His funeral is Saturday at 11 a.m. at Central Presbyterian Church, 165 Charlton Ave. W.
Hamilton Spectator, The (Ontario, Canada) - January 14, 2009
Author/Byline: Jackson Hayes and Daniel Nolan, The Hamilton Spectator
Edition: Final
Section: Local
Page: A01
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