fajac Foundation much more than a golf tournament AMID THE flow of material that migrates across any newsman’s desk, an innocuous looking press release quietly informed that Mel Zajac’s annual golf tournament had raised $183,000 for charity. The presentation was both bashful and beaming with gratitude toward those who made it possible. This inspired me to think of car keys. We'll let the Rorschach Test psychologists ponder this a while, as we pass on some elements of Mel’s story. There are now hundreds of charity golf tournaments in British Columbia each year. Mel Zajac’s raises substantially more money than any of them. It trails only the Sandy McLeod Tournament in size. In 1990 a record $200,000 was raised. The fluctuation in the gross number is a reflection of bids at the event’s charity auction and has little bearing on the suc- cess of the competition. One gen- erous patron bid $56,000 for a hockey stick signed by Wayne Gretzky. Since there are more “Gretzky-signed"’ hockey sticks around than limited edition prints of Woolco seascapes, we presume charity was the exclusive motive. It’s just about impossible for latecomers to get in. The event is always fully subscribed. Mel was on the waiting list this year, but there was no cancellation to create an opening. For the first time in 27 years, it rained. Zajac only in- vites accusations of ‘‘fix’? when one of his celebrity friends enters the field: Bob Hope, Leslie Neilson, et. al. ero Mel Zajac’s parents emigrated to Canada from the Ukraine in 1906. Mel grew up in the rough and tumble of Winnipeg’s north end before striking out himself for the west coast in 1949. Stilla teenager, he got a job in a build- ing supply house. In his spare time he built and sold a house. Soon he was _ building nothing but houses, woodframe apartment blocks and finally con- crete highrises. Between 1966 and 1969 the three towers of Pacific Pallisades became his landmark achievement. For most of its life, two of the Pacific Pallisades buildings were dedicated apartment blocks and one was exclusively hotel. But, prior to Expo, Zajac moved his centre into the big time with one of the most lavish dining and lounge complexes in Vancouver and he converted a second tower to hotel use. For well over a decade, he held court with the most famous show business people to visit Van- couver. If they weren't actually staying at Pacific Pailisades, they knew that they had to go see this guy Zajac. ‘‘Bob’s friend.”” A guy who knew all the little touches to care for show biz types. The goif tournament was not originally designed as a charity event. For 12 years, it was just a happy get together of his staff, suppliers and business associates. During the mid-1970s, it was decided that if there was an excess of money beyond that necessary for prizes and dinner, perhaps a charity could be involved. The group was proud to present $1,700 that first year. And now, the key chain. Mel's business was for his two boys. There are three daughters in the family, and they have happily pursued other interests. One Friday in July, 1986 — at the height of Expo ’86 — Mel sat down with his budding hotel ex- ecutive, 29-year-old Mel Zajac Jr., Gary Bannerman OPEN LINES and he advised the son that the following Monday, a public an- ncancemeni would be made that he had been appointed vice-presi- dent of Hotel Operations. Mel Jr. drowned that weekend in a Chilliwack River kayaking adventure. Deeply in shock, an identifiable reaction to many who have suf- fered tragic loss, Zajac determined to spend much more time with his second son Marty, a 27-year-old who was starting to blaze a few trails in real estate. ‘*We became very close,"’ the father remembers, In March, 1987, Marty Zajac was among those killed in a heli- skiing avalanche in the Bugaboos. Mel tried again to pick himself up in the months that followed the second nightmare, and he would occasionally succeed in put- ting on a calm face, but he now says: “*T was a very sick guy. I walk- ed around for months in a daze. People cannot imagine. It’s the worst thing that can ever happen to a human being; to lose a child.’’ His heart went out of the business. Eventually, he and his insurance company partners sold the Pallisades. When he told friends he was going to devote his life entirely to charity, most couldn’t imagine how he might improve upon what he had already done. Throughout his Vancouver life, Mel Zajac was known as one of the softest touches in town for any charitable fundraiser, particularly the Variety Club. Early in 1988 he created the Mel Jr. and Marty Zajac Foundation as a registered society. If you visit the Vancouver Children’s Hospi- tal, you will see delightful wall murals and elevator decor courtesy of this charity and, in Mission, there is an $800,000 community facility and pre-school for special needs children. The foundation has more recently pledged that it will raise one million dollars cf the $4.1 million expansion of the Van- couver Neurological Cenire. The foundation has become much more than a golf tourna- ment. An impressive board of directors presides over a growing fund. This year should see the de- velopment of the first professional (rather than purely voluntary) of- fice operation. I’ve never made it into the Za- jac golf event. Since 1988, however, my car keys have been on a chain that reads: *‘Mel Jr. & Marty Zajac Memorial Tournament.’’ ‘SRST ETO a 229 Lonsdale S North Vancouver 687-7223 “A Place To Go When you're Pregnant And Need Support: | GIRTHRIGHT | Ecall 987-7513 » Free Pregnancy Test + in Vancouver Call § JUBILEE PLYMOUTH CHRYSLER PARTS & SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE NOW OPEN SATURDAY 30 am to 5:00 FFECTIVE MAY ath, (90 Service, Parts & Sales 980-8501 Direct Line te Parts 980-2055 1177 Marine Dr North Vancouver Sunday, June 30, 1991 - North Shore News - 9 43" Upright [ | ¢ $2895 48" Upright Young Chang Uprights Are Made Right. $3595 Ar the Right Price. MIST $n Handcrafted Qualiy © Prices you can afford Soe eae eae SS ener eh eh Baby Grand onty $6495 AINE $7us grands Can't Afford A Grand? 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