Thanks to an unforgettable male mentor, WHG!

Although my male teachers were extremely important, male supervisors in summer, part-time work were also significant, as they are to the development of most young men. Dominion Stores provided store managers, who were both demanding and fair. Canada Packers offered more money for a summer sales job, under the supervision of two exemplary salesmen, one covering the "Muskoka" side of central Ontario, the other the "Georgian Bay" side.
And then there were four summers in a local law office, supervised by one of the most intelligent, compassionate and respected human beings of my life, until then and since then. William Howell Green distinguished himself sartorially with red plaid shirts, high-cut winter boots, a cocked hat and a permanent pipe (using a permanent supply of Wakefield tobacco) and smile. He not only smiled in his face, but his voice smiled too. He was open to others, kind to all, supportive of children whose lives had been less than "wonderful," and brilliant.
Never did I notice him miss a specific detail in a file, although his demeanour would indicate his disdain of the finer points. There were times when he would, with both sarcasm and restraint, poke fun at other barristers whose courtroom deportment was excessively micro-managing, because to "Bill" this indicated a failure to distinguish "the forest from the trees."
Fortunately, he employed an outstanding senior secretary who kept his books, and diarized every single date and detailed appointment for his diary, long before anyone had ever heard of Blackberries, except those growing among the rocks along the shores of Georgian Bay.
A life-long Liberal, no doubt he would be chagrined at the current state of the Liberal Party of Canada, whose leaders included St. Laurent and Pearson in the 50's and 60's, but they were always supported by a significant team of competent, and perhaps even outstanding cabinet ministers whose egos did not prevent their seeing the big picture. Men like Mitchell Sharp, Paul Martin Sr., Edgar Benson Paul Hellyer, Robert Winters were not only competent; they were also focussed on the needs of the country, and three future prime ministers came from Pearson's cabinet. Before the days of the 24/7 news cycle, and the press's self-reduction to gossip and platitudes, the news did not have to be reduced to a 30-second sound bite. And there were opportunities to learn, at least the basic outline of a party's platform, without all the noise about silly, and inconsequential incidents, like the breakdown of Liberal Leader Ignatieff's bus on the first day of his summer tour, yesterday.
Back to Bill: he once took a case of an accused murderer, for the purpose of both defending the man and of potentially appearing before the Supreme Court of Canada, something most small-town lawyers never get the chance to do. He served as counsel to the town, to the local general hospital and as chair of the local "Yes" committee on the town's plebescite to permit alcohol to be served with meals in public dining rooms. Parry Sound was, I believe, the last town to hold such a vote, the results of which were favourable to the 'yes' side.
It was Bill Green who unceremoniously hired an excellent secretary from the local first nations band, demonstrating his conviction to social justice, to equality of opportunity and to the local band council.
His home was only a few feet on the mainland side of the 'swing bridge' connecting Rose Point with Parry Island, the first nations reserve. Bill never attracted or sought the limelight and never fell victim to the anger of racist bigots who would consider him an appropriate target for their venom.
A progressive, in what many have called "the most conservative town in Ontario," Bill Green epitomized decency, integrity, good humour, intellectual rigour and vigour, maturity of both mind and spirit and left a legacy of friends/clients/colleagues, of all groups in the community. His capacity to embrace all individual members of his community was unmatched by many in his profession, while he practiced. I have no idea what my life might have been without his understated influence. To all the members of his family, I owe deep debt of gratitude, humility and reverence for sharing this man who fathered, husbanded and shepherded all whom he met.