Tribute to a Fine Gentleman
I am saddened by the death of D. Aubrey Moodie just two months shy of his 100th birthday. Many were looking forward to paying tribute to his accomplishments one more time at his upcoming birthday party and we are sad for his family, friends and the City on his passing this weekend. He was a good man and we will miss him.
I had the honour of meeting Mr. Moodie for the first time when I was campaigning at the Richmond Fair in the summer of 2006. One of my campaign staff suggested I should chat with Mr. Moodie when we saw him sitting behind the wheel of his Cadillac watching the livestock judging. After introducing myself, he invited me into his car for a chat about politics and eventually I summoned the nerve to ask him who he was supporting in the up-coming mayoralty race. He reflected that he had not been asked to support anyone and I detected certain sadness in him that, at 98 years old, he felt he was not as important to some of the local candidates as in his earlier life. Not that he said anything to that effect, but it was the sense that I most remembered on our first meeting that summer.
There were a few additional meetings and conversations before I built up the courage to ask this fine gentleman for his endorsement for my candidacy as Mayor of Ottawa. He agreed and I had my first official endorsement in a campaign that still had me below 10% in the polls. We arranged for CBC to meet us at his retirement home and announce the endorsement. I was not sure what this meant, but one thing for sure Mr. Moodie enjoyed being interviewed and sharing his valuable insights again, even if it was for a long-shot candidate who had zero political experience.
We met numerous times after I won the election and I always approached him to thank him again for his endorsement and to make sure the plans for his 100th birthday were coming along fine. We never spoke in any great detail about current events at City Hall, but he was always interested in how I was doing and how the transition from business to politics was going. It is seldom in life you meet a man of grace and a man that reflects the history of our City so well. Aubrey we will all miss you.
Larry O’Brien
Mayor-City of Ottawa
Tags: My Story