From: "Gary & Beverley Fleming"
Date: Wed Jul 2, 2003 12:46:19 AM US/Eastern
To: "Olaf Storaasli"
Subject: Bio of Gary Fleming
Hi Olaf and the Brunskill - CPCI Gang,
I was aware of the up-coming Brunskill - CPCI Reunion but unfortunately my wife and I
will not be able to attend this year. I certainly look forward to making arrangements
to show up in 2007.Ê By then we will be retired and dates will not matter. They tell
me that Cyber Space is unlimited so there should be enough room for this Bio. Here goes.
I did not graduate in 1961 with the rest of you as I "Loved School" so much that I took
two years to do grade 9 and then decided that at Easter time in grade 10 to leave school
and drive a truck for $1.25Ê per/hr. Great money then? The principal of CPCI made me
promise that I would return in September to finish High School.Ê I kept my promise and
went back and nearly finished.Ê Missed the Math final so only graduated with a partial
HS Diploma.Ê Finished the math course at adult education in Edmonton during the winter
of 69/70. Believe it or not I passed this time.
Met a gal by the name of Carolle Wiebe (Nutana) in 1962. Married in 1964 and had two
children.Ê Pamela in 1968 (Saskatoon) and Jeff in 1971 (Calgary). Pamela is married to
Brad and has two children Rayne and Tyler.Ê They live here in Calgary. Jeff is living
in Vancouver and is not married and I doubt that he ever will. By the way Jeff is named
after Jeff Howard as I really thought a lot of him and liked his name. Marriage lasted
until 1980.Ê Jumped from the frying pan into the fire and married a gal by the name of
Darlene.Ê Lost everything during the high interest rate times of the early to middle 1980's.
Divorced her in 1985. Met Beverley and after a somewhat lengthy courtship married her in
1989 and must say that I wish I had met her in 1962 instead of Carolle. I have never been
so happy and blessed as I am with her. As an aside, Bob Forrest is Beverley's cousin.
Bev's mom and Bob's mom are sisters.
Worked at a couple of things in Saskatoon, Bank of Montreal, Texaco Canada and Cominco
Potash at Vade, Sask. We finished construction. Was asked to go full time with Cominco
working with the 1968 Computer but could not see myself sitting behind a desk for the rest
of my life so said no. As I could not find any other work in Saskatoon in 1968 we moved
to Edmonton.Ê Worked at a desk for International Harvester Heavy Equipment Division doing
warranty work.Ê Was transferred to Calgary in June of 1970 and have been here ever since
except for two years 1994 - 1996 in Edmonton. Transferred back to Calgary.
Came back from holidays in 1970 to find out that the company had been sold and that there
were no guarantees that we would keep our jobs.Ê The branch manager suggested that I check
out an add he found.Ê Did so and was hired into the Financial Industry, there goes that math
again.Ê Industrial Finance is very interesting as we were lending money to the Construction,
Trucking, Air Craft, Commercial Boating and Office Equipment Leasing Industries.Ê Stayed in
the Financial Industry until 1987 and then switched to the Oil Field Industry selling
Advertising into the Canadian Oilfield Service and Supply Directory and the Construction
Directory.Ê On the road a lot so only stayed with that until 1994.Ê Moved over to selling
advertising into an up-scale Tourist Magazine.Ê They transferred me to Edmonton to open a
branch in November 1994.Ê February 1995 they closed the doors.Ê Went to work with a firm
that did WCB claims checks for companies to ensure that they were not being over charged
by the WCB.Ê An opening became available in Calgary and I asked to be transferred back
to Calgary as this was really home forÊBeverley and I.
Have done a few different things since being back in Calgary.Ê Am currently working at a
Recycling Depot so keep in top physical condition. The saving grace is that Beverley and
I have our own Private Franchising business on the side to make those dollars necessary for
our retirement.
I have been fortunate in that my health has been superb until 2001, when I discovered that
I was having trouble voiding.Ê Had a check up and my doctor suggested that I go forÊa PSA
test as my Prostate felt unusual to him.Ê Prostate?Ê What's a Prostate Gland?Ê Did not know
we men had such a thing.Ê Had the test and discovered the PSA level was up.Ê Went for a biopsy
- negative.Ê Further test in February 2002 - PSA level up again.Ê Another biopsy - Positive
this time.Ê Cancer.Ê Had surgery in May 2002 to remove the prostate.Ê All PSA tests since have
been .01 or great as they should be.Ê Some residual side affects since, but better that having
cancer.Ê Beverley's father died as a result of Prostate Cancer.Ê Not a pretty sight.
Any of you who wish to keep in touch with can do so by E-mailing me at gbflem@telusplanet.net
or by calling me at (403)-210-2291 in Calgary. My address is 2023 - 18 Avenue N. W. Calgary,
AB. T2M 0Y1
I note from your Bio David Jamieson that you are planning to visit your mother in Vancouver
in July.Ê If you are driving and happen to be passing through Calgary I would love a call and
a get together for coffee or supper with our wives to catch up on the history we have created
since the 60's.
By the way I understand that Bob Procyshyn joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and ended up
in Ottawa as a high ranking officer. He is probably retired by now but may still be living
in Ottawa or surrounding area.
Take care all and hope to see you all in 2007.
Regards, Gary Fleming
