It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Northcott's Director and Owner, Peter Kantor. Peter had been in the company for almost 60 years, and those of you who knew him will no doubt remember his warmth and ability to light up any room with his presence. He will be greatly missed by the Northcott family.
Peter was born in 1942 in Lódz, Poland. After the war he moved to Frankfurt, Germany with his mother Irene and his grandmother. His mother met and married Anzel Kantor and as a family they emigrated to Toronto in 1952. His mother emphasized the importance of learning English to assimilate as quickly as possible. On his first day of school he wore his best lederhosen and after school he explained to his mother that if he wanted to fit in he should wear blue jeans.
Peter began work as a shipper at Northcott Silk in 1959, at the age of 17. He worked hard and his acumen for numbers soon became obvious to his boss. He was soon promoted to warehouse manager, and then operations manager. In the early 1980s his continued hard work and dedication paid off when he was offered the opportunity to become part of the ownership group of Northcott.
For many years, Peter learned everything he could about the fabric business as the Vice-President of purchasing. Peter was later promoted to President of the company, where he took charge of Northcott’s direction for 10 years. During that time, and the years that followed, he never stopped passing on his vast knowledge to the current management team.
Until his passing, Peter remained a Director of the company, and for 59 years he surrounded himself with his Northcott family. Business was important, but a good relationship with his colleagues, customers and suppliers was the key to his success. As hard as Peter worked, he always took a few weeks each year to travel with his wife Dyrun to exotic places around the globe. They immersed themselves in the cultures and traditions of other countries, and were able to see and experience many of the world's most beautiful places. Peter lived a full and rewarding life, leaving his mark on the world. He will be fondly remembered in the hearts of all his family, friends and colleagues.
Stories and memories may be shared at www.wardfuneralhomes.com. If desired, donations can be made to the Salvation Army or a charity of your choice.
