In memoriam

Colin Joseph Sweet
May 2, 1947 - April 27, 2004

Everyone will have their own private memories of Colin, the messenger for the Admissions, Recruitment and Registrar's Office (ARR). For some it will be the sight of him doing his deliveries on the McGill campus (who can ever forget his newspaper bag or his lost handcart). For others it will be his infectious laugh after he heard a joke or was told an anecdote.

I will remember a man who prided himself on living with and overcoming a handicap that would have defeated a less motivated person.

Colin worked at McGill for what seemed like forever. I do not remember when I first met him, but it must have been at least 20 years ago. I got to know him five or six years ago when I came from the Macdonald Campus to the ARR, where I saw him on a daily basis.

An enormous number of people around the university knew Colin, or at least knew who he was. His duties took him to every faculty and office at McGill at one time or another. He made deliveries not only on campus, but also to every corner of the city. If I wanted to know where something was in Montreal or how to get there, Colin was the one to ask. He also knew how to get around Canada - a by-product of his activities with conferences for the handicapped. From his earliest days in Drummondville, he travelled from one end of this country to the other.

Colin was particularly proud of making his own way. He was a graduate of the McKay Centre, and the education he received there served him well. He learned how to get a job - and hold on to it - how to manage his money and, most important of all, how to care about people. He later graduated from CEGEP and kept up-to-date with current affairs.

But don't ever imagine he didn't care about himself - who could forget the Regal catalogue business he operated for many years? I wondered on more than one occasion if my order would arrive in time, and I don't remember any of them being late.

I do not know how to say goodbye to Colin properly. I never imagined I would have to be trying to so soon after he asked me to be one of his witnesses at his wedding. Colin's wife of nearly four years, Trudy, and her family have been so supportive of Colin. I can only wish they could have had more time together.

Colin routinely said his quiet goodbyes to many people over the years; now it is my turn to say goodbye to him.

Colin, thank you for being my friend and for letting me be yours. I am a better person for it.

Steve Olive
Associate Registrar, ARR