In Memoriam "Blessed are the peacemakers"
	John Richard Belcarz 1952 ~ 2003

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Memories & Tributes
from friends, family, colleagues

Linda Foley President The Newspaper Guild / CWA Vice-president	John was the kind of leader you wish you could replicate in every local union. Personally, he was always pleasant, yet always professional. He was always optimistic, yet always practical. Most important, he understood that the union is about "us" and not about "me." John never showed up to a union meeting by himself. He made sure Montreal Guild members were exposed to their Guild — at all levels. Despite his good nature and easy-going personal style, John was a fierce fighter for union principles and causes. And he was smart about how he fought for those causes. No matter what the issue or its scope, John always focused on "How does this affect my members at the Gazette?" He fought for the Guild and its members as hard as he fought the terrible disease that eventually took him from us. A recent personal story about John illustrates how this man approached his union work and the people connected to it. At a recent TNG Canada meeting in Ottawa, John, who had just finished a round of chemotherapy treatments, was really upset about something involving the Montreal Guild and the international union. He had been stewing about it for several days. Instead of confronting me with the issue when I walked into the hospitality room, he waited until I had said my hellos and got a glass of wine. He came over quietly and asked if he could talk to me privately before the evening ended. A few minutes later as we were huddled in a corner of the room, he told me how angry he was, all the while apologizing for 1. being angry 2. appearing to be angry (which for John meant he wasn't smiling as much) and 3. for being blunt about being angry. Turns out, he had a right to be angry (it was a miscommunication) and deserved an apology from me, which he got. John then apologized again for expressing his anger to Guild headquarters personnel earlier. (Who, by the way, didn't realize he was angry at all.) I relay all of this to illustrate that John understood what matters most about the union: relationships. He also respected all people with whom he had relationships, even passing ones. And, that's why we all respected John so much. That's why we all will miss him so much. That's why we'll never forget him and the significant contributions he made to our union and our lives.
Aidan White General Secretary International Federation of Journalists	Letter from Brussels
Jack Wilson, President Local 30400 Media and Communication Workers of Alberta-TNG/CWA Luis Rufo, secretary-treasurer Joanne VanBuskirk, assistant secretary-treasurer Mark Schandor, vice-pesident Gord Stobbe, past-president Donovan Hattori, past-president	It is with deep regreat and sorrow that we learned of the passing of John Belcarz. John's unique ability to listen and his caring attitude for all his brothers and sisters will truly be missed on the labour front in Canada. The executive and rank and file members in Alberta send their sympathy to John's family, his co-workers and his brothers and sisters in the Montreal movement.
Mary Lamey Montreal Newspaper Guild	A good man and a great union leader is gone and I can't help but think how fortunate we were to know him, though his time with us was too short. Ten to one John's getting the angels to sign their Guild cards and keeping an eye on the pearly gates, in case any robber barons try to sneak their way in. Rest in peace, John, you were one of a kind.
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