Obituary of Fay Matthews-Garcia

Fay Matthews–Garcia Journalist, Feminist and Best Friend. Passed away peacefully at home with her beloved husband of 43 years Carlos by her side the morning of January 10, 2014. A Celebration of Fay will be held at George Darte Funeral Home in St. Catharines, January 24, 2014 at 11 am (visitation with Carlos 10-11 am). Fay was born and educated in Toronto where she attended Branksome Hall –at the time one of the top private girls’ schools in the world. She had an interest in journalism from early on and worked at CBC before becoming Head of the New York Bureau for the Granada Group of Companies (a British conglomerate that included Television, Publishing, Theatres and Motorways subsidiaries). Her focus was on TV and she was responsible for the assignments of Granada TV’s World-In-Action team that travelled the world to film the top developing stories. These assignments included, among others: filming the Vietnam War marches and riots in Washington D.C. (where she was almost clubbed and gassed); working with David Frost on some of his famous interviews and; the death of Che Guevara in the Bolivian jungle. We still have a one-of-a-kind photo relating to the Che story hanging on our wall. She met husband Carlos early in 1971 in Toronto shortly after returning home from New York, and they instantly fell in love. Later that year, she left her current job to move to England with Carlos who was pursuing post-graduate studies in International Monetary Economics there. In London, she was promptly re-hired by the Granada Group to be Group Press Officer, responsible for media relations for all companies in the group. In 1972, the two returned to Toronto after an extensive tour of European countries travelling on Five Dollars a Day (you literally could do it then!) She joined the Global Television news team at their original offices at the Lord Simcoe Hotel in Toronto and then at the Don Mills Studios. At Global, she became Canada’s first female TV Producer and produced a number of shows including: Be My Guest (talk show); The Number to Call (phone in show) and Point Blank (a weekly public affairs show). Her shows were all Live-to-tape (no editing) and Point Blank, hosted by renowned journalist Warner Troyer, was her pride and joy. The shows were in-depth reviews of current news on topics such as Native Rights, Quebec Separation, Acid Rain, Drug Legalization, Gay Rights, etc. She was always an ardent feminist and made every effort to give opportunities to women in a business dominated by men. In 1987, Fay and Carlos decided it was time to move from the big city to a more relaxing environment and after a wide search, they fell in love with Port Dalhousie and settled there. Her work then included editing a number of books and she also assisted Carlos editing and providing creative concepts for the many business plans he was hired to develop. She was instrumental in founding the Port Dalhousie Conservancy (initially PROUD Port Dalhousie) when she noticed one of the original Muir homesteads up for sale near us. She worked hard to support the Conservancy in its successful effort to get historic Port Dalhousie designated as a Heritage Conservation District and was always Carlos’ inspiration and sounding board. Fay was highly-intelligent, quick-witted and had a wonderful sense of humour. She was always extremely generous and willing to part with any material possessions if it would make someone else happy. She was also an avid environmentalist and long-time supporter of Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund. She loved to dance and grew up with music in her life. Her cooking skills were extraordinary and she had such a sixth sense for what to add or how to change a recipe. Her personal passions were travelling and the cottage which she bought from her parents in the late sixties. The cottage, North of Mactier and just East of Georgian Bay, also became Carlos’ passion and they would travel there most weekends for over 30 years. The road wasn’t plowed in winter and she would walk in the 3 ½ miles with Carlos in deep snow – sometimes caring a 24 of beer in her knapsack for Carlos. Together with Carlos she spearheaded the lengthy process that culminated with Burnt Lake becoming one of fewer than 10 lakes in Ontario (out of 250,000) with a legal motor boat ban on the full lake. Her interest in travelling was heightened by our Europe on Five Dollars a Day trip and, we never stopped travelling since. Together we have been to most corners of the world- from the Balkans and Soviet Union under communism, to the Far East, India, South and Central America, Alaska, Africa and Australia. In recent years we travelled mostly by ship and have taken many cruises including the fascinating cruise around the bottom of South America by Cape Horn. She was loved by many and made wonderful friendships everywhere she went. This includes a group of friends from childhood who for many years have come together as part of a Bridge Club (really an excuse to get together, drink and party). Over the past 10 years or so, the women in the Bridge Club had been getting together annually for a 3-day stay in Niagara Falls (to party, drink and gamble) –something Fay would help organize. Fay was predeceased by parents Ferne and Harold Matthews and brothers Robert and David. In addition to great friends, Fay is survived by Carlos, our miniature schnauzer Chica, her sister-in-law Marion, nephew Craig and nieces Leslie and Kim -as well as special cousins Sharon, Gary and Penni. On Carlos’s side, she is survived by sister-in-law Maria, nieces Carmen, Jenna and Brooke and nephews Edward, Bruce and Wayne. She will be missed by so many! In lieu of flowers, Fay would have appreciated donations to Greenpeace, the Canadian Kidney Foundation or your favourite charity.