Gary Maavara has passed away.   So did Jack Shoone - who was the partner of Irving Zucker.  Schoone and Zucker owned at one time Maritime Broadcasting, as well as (many) stations in other markets.

GARY AKSEL MAAVARA May 2, 1953 - May 24, 2021 Broadcaster, lawyer and family man, Gary died in Toronto after five challenging years with cancer. He leaves his wife Lisa (née Ruttle), children Taylor, Scott, and Alec, sister Mariitta and her husband Michel Jaffré, and cousins in Finland. He was born in Montreal to Aksel and Tyyni Maavara. He graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in communications from Boston University, and a J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School. Gary started the practice of law with Borden & Elliot, Toronto, but he soon found his career in broadcasting. His broadcasting career spanned over 40 years, including ten years at CTV, positions including VP Office of the President, Executive Producer of the Official Film of the 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter Games (for which he and his team won an Emmy), Chief of Engineering (during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics), VP Sports (notably during CTV's production of the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics), Chief Legal Counsel, VP Operations and Engineering, and Group VP Programming. He moved to CanWest Global in Toronto and then Winnipeg, where he spent six years in a variety of executive and operating roles, which included Director of Special Projects at Global TV, COO Interactive, and Senior VP Specialty Television. In 2004, Gary returned to Toronto as Executive VP and General Counsel for Corus Entertainment, overseeing all legal and regulatory affairs associated with the company's extensive operations in radio, television, children's books, and more. One of Gary's passions was photography, which he pursued at a professional level his entire life. His varied portfolio included 70s rock concerts in Montreal, motorsport racing, birds and landscapes, family and friends. He especially loved photographing seabirds at sunrise on Lido Key in Sarasota, and his backyard garden wildlife. Gary loved nothing more than waking in the early morning hours to watch sportscar racing, and an extra inning Blue Jays-Red Sox game would keep him up past his bedtime. He promoted the teaching and commemoration of Canadian and Finnish history throughout his life. He spent summers hiking, canoeing, and camping across Canada and the U.S. from coast to coast with his family, and hiked nearly every trail in the Grand Canyon. Described by a close friend and colleague as 'a great friend and advisor to many,' Gary's network of friends was prolific. His family laughed as he bumped into people he knew anywhere in the world. His essay Some Thoughts on Living with Cancer was widely shared by many whose lives were impacted by cancer. He leaves too many Gore-Tex jackets and camera bags. Grampa Jack, your pinch runner is coming to base. A small family gathering will take place, and a reception for family and friends will be planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation would be appreciated.

Jack Schoone, 82, on April 5. Schoone’s first foray into radio was in 1959 following his discharge from the Canadian Armed Forces. He joined Irving Zucker’s Kitchener stations as a controller and quickly became manager of CKCR AM and FM at the age of 23. Schoone soon took on responsibility for CHIQ Hamilton, and arranged the sale of the three stations. In 1969, he embarked on a career as an owner with the purchase of CKNB Campbellton, NB, marking the birth of Eastern Broadcasting. The company expanded rapidly with the addition of CFCY Charlottetown and CKCW Moncton, and in each market added an FM frequency even though AM was still dominant. Eastern soon acquired the Roy Thomson group of stations in northern Ontario and later the Countryside group in southern Ontario. Telemedia eventually purchased the Ontario operations, while MacLean Hunter acquired Eastern’s Atlantic stations. Announcing his retirement in 1988, by 1993 Schoone had returned to broadcasting under the Radiocorp banner with the purchase of K Lite FM and CKOC in Hamilton, as well as CJBX FM and CJBK in London. Once again, his ability to lead turnarounds saw Telemedia come knocking to acquire the stations in 2000. Schoone was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) Hall of Fame in 2003

Last edited by tvguy (May 27, 2021 9:35 am)