Letters

To the Editor:

The recent passing of Joseph Zatzman turns yet another page of our Dartmouth history, a page that few members of our community could ever hope to have written for them and whose lives have left such an enduring legacy behind.

There have been individuals that we have been blessed with that have spent their lives serving others in our community. One such individual was the late Charles Keating and now another senior member of our community Joe Zatzman has begun the next part of his journey.

It is fitting that the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission is located on the site of Joe's first grocery store and that from the seed of that entrepreneurial venture the business commission has grown to more than 400 members and the future for downtown Dartmouth has never been brighter. Joe envisioned a business climate in Dartmouth that was much different than the one he inherited in 1956 as president of the Dartmouth Chamber of Commerce.

He dedicated himself to the growth of the larger Dartmouth Community and his vision of a major commercial centre in Dartmouth.

Not to be distracted by anti-development interests he forged forward and our community has boasted for many years since that time that we have the largest and most efficient Industrial Park east of Montreal.

He was a true visionary and his vision then has opened the door now to what is becoming the most modern shopping experience east of Montreal. All this from a humble man with a big heart and clear vision for a better world and our place in it.

Joseph Zatzman's passing will leave a vacuum in the hearts of his family and his friends, he will leave a legacy in Dartmouth that will live on forever and for that Joe we will be eternally grateful. Our sincere sympathies go out to those left behind, who I know are as proud of you and your commitment to our community as are all the members of the business community that you laid the foundation for in Dartmouth.

God be with you old friend.

Tim Olive

Downtown Dartmouth

Business Commission