Boris Mather was fond of pointing out that, in a history of left-wing politics published in the 1960s, his name can be found in the index between "Marx" and "mayhem." He merited a mention in the book because he was instrumental in defeating Communist MPP Joe Salsberg in the 1950s when he ran for the Ontario riding of St. Andrew as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation candidate.
Although he lost, he took enough votes away from Mr. Salsberg to allow the Conservatives to win. "In other words," Boris would say, "I put an end to Marxism in St Andrew's, but mayhem unfortunately followed."
Raised in Waterloo, Ont., by his mother Winifred Sherk and grandparents after his father returned to Bulgaria, Boris had a lifelong passion for justice. He joined the navy in 1943 while still a teenager and served in the most dangerous days of the Second World War as a gunner protecting merchant ships. In later years he proudly marched in Remembrance Day parades, but he also regularly showed up at peace demonstrations, walking beneath the "Veterans for Peace" banner.
After the war, Boris settled in Toronto and worked as a telephone equipment installer and then a TV technician at the CBC. His strong social conscience led him to become active in his union and he held a number of positions, first with the Canadian branch of the Communications Workers of America, then the Canadian Communication Workers' Council. In 1973, he became the federal chair of the Canadian Federation of Communications Workers, which moved to Ottawa in 1977.
Returning to Toronto in 1986, Boris spent five years with the Ontario Office of the Worker Adviser and the Pay Equity Commission before retiring in 1991.
Boris had always been a keen outdoorsman and in his retirement devoted himself to hiking. He believed loving nature wasn't enough. "You can't just enjoy it," he said, "you've got to organize to protect it." He was an active member of the Toronto Field Naturalists, the Friends of the Spit, the Bruce Trail Association (Beaver Valley Club) and Citizens for a Lakeshore Greenway, and served on several city working groups concerned with the environment.
Boris was married twice, and was the proud father of two daughters, Glyn and Betsy. Although they live in Sydney, Australia, and Groningen, the Netherlands, he frequently visited them and his three grandchildren. He was survived by his partner of recent years, Pauline Whitton.
On a rainy afternoon in early May, Boris's friends - neighbours, social activists and hiking companions - gathered at Ashbridge's Bay Park and took a long walk in his honour.
Tim Nau is Boris's friend.