Alfred, an only child, grew up under the care of his railroad blacksmith father, also Alfred, and his German mother, Waldburga Mader. His young teen years paralleled the wartime, and amongst the many stories he would recount, was the tale of bombers flying over their family apartment block on the way to neighboring Germany where one of his close childhood friend’s life was thus taken. Even in these early years, his passion for following news and world events was evinced by the fastidious practice of re-typing the daily war news of the Zurich

newspaper, to be bound neatly into a hardcover book. In his room on the wall he had a map posting the events of the war and apparently taxed his eyesight to the point of needing glasses due to reading under the bedcovers at night. Alfred, also known as Freddy or Alf or Al, studied business and trade at the Handelschule Zurich, where he established some long-lasting friendships and developed a greater sense of the big world he might one day explore. At the same time during these early years he met

Julia (Maria Naef) at a social club. He boasts but admits to not quite understanding why she fell for him while he gave a speech about the Panama Canal to the group. Juggling his new romance, military service and studies, he eventually graduated. It’s not really clear who followed whom to England, where Julia worked in Surrey as an au-pair girl and Freddy worked in the service department of Bolex cameras in London. In any case, at some further social event someone presented the idea of Canada as the place to go. Again it is not really clear who was the

motivator but after Julia got an address passed over the garden hedge by a neighbor, they found themselves together on a great adventure. It was the year 1952. Traveling by boat, as of yet not married, they were separated into male and female quarters , reuniting upon their arrival in Montreal. With only enough money for a boat trip back, Julia incredulously exclaimed – “What have we done!” They made their way to their final destination of Toronto and soon contacted the mysterious people belonging to the address

given to Julia over the hedge. It is as though they had been received by angels with the names of Ralph and Muriel Broad. These generous people helped welcome the couple to this new land offering caring guidance. Freddy and Julie each took up jobs at Simpson’s department store and settled into apartment areas of Toronto for the newly immigrated. It was not long before Mr. Broad suggested that Freddy propose to Julie so amongst other things they would live together. Freddy immediately did so, Julie said “you must be kidding”

and they got married in 1953. There would be another 6 decades plus of life together including the birth of their only child Peter in 1958, who would grow up to become a filmmaker - in retrospect a perfect amalgamation of the traits of both his parents. (and as you might have guessed, the author of this writing). During this great span of time, Alfred worked his way through employment at a variety of companies, eventually taking over one that he would call his own for most of the rest of his life. White Lamb Finlay was

an import company specializing in burlap coming from India. This occupation took him to many places, including the radically new culture of India itself. Freddy and Julie had a great love for their homeland of Switzerland and were eager to participate in anything Swiss while they settled into Toronto. They had many, many, Swiss friends and associates, while Alfred also founded the Swiss Canadian Chamber of Commerce in 1966 together with four other Swiss businessmen in Toronto. He became president and stayed a

director and executive officer for 32 years. He retired from the board in 1998 and remained a life long member (all in all he had 54 year of membership under his belt)! Not surprisingly, he also became editor of the Info/Suisse magazine. Throughout his entire tenure he participated in all events. His favorite ones were the Gala dinner dance, which he never attended without Julie, often captured in pictures waving with his hands and toasting to good times. They loved a good cocktail party offered in their home to both Swiss

and new friends living in Canada from a variety of places. Always ready to strike up a conversation with almost anyone, they were a well-liked couple throughout their various travels, whether back to Switzerland, India, or in latter years, Arizona. After a period of illness under Freddy’s care, Julia passed away in 2018. Freddy says he stuck around for a while to be with his son but really was hoping to catch up with his sweetheart soon. During his last years Freddy and Peter managed last pilgrimage-like visits to his homeland, a

Christmas in the desert of Sedona, Arizona, and an autumnal week in Killarney Provincial Park, Ontario. Ashes of his beloved Julia found their way into the ground of many of these places. Freddy charmed everyone in his path, from the salesperson selling him his favorite pair of pants to be, right up to the nurses who cared for him in his last days at the hospital. His friends near and far, will remember him as a generous, witty, always curious, and straightforward man who lived a great journey of life.