Swanwick Star Issue Nr. 11 (2018)

In Memoriam

Anne McPherson was half the teaching team (along with identical twin “Cappy”) of English literature for a short time at Wolf Lake School. She was a dynamic teacher with a terse sense of humor, who really relished imparting personal insights on Shakespeare (whether King Lear or Macbeth) to her students. She was always keen to take students on field trips to the theatre so that they might absorb some local color & culture on the subject matter. And, surely, she was able to enrich her students’ lives by giving them an appreciation of art & Shakespearean drama. Sadly, she passed away this year in Toronto at the age of 84 after a long illness.

Sadly, long-time Vancouver Dialogue Group member, Steven Sallay succumbed to a bladder infection while in hospital in July at the age of 80. He shall be remembered for his relentless perseverance in pursuing the Unknown, a real spiritual warrior who was intent upon breaking through to the other side! We trust, now, he has found what he was always looking for – at least, the possibility is there that he has found some sort of peace at long last.

Our brave and beautiful neighbor and friend, Smythie, who pulled horse carriages in Victoria for many years, also succumbed to cancer earlier this year. He was one of the finest specimens of the equine species that could ever be found with the sweetest of temperaments and shall be sorely missed when we go to feed his friend, Bluie, carrots and apples in the evenings. Apparently, at one time, they spent a little time in the Swanwick Centre fields, too.

 

 

Steven Sallay (1937-2018)

Steven Sallay was born in Hungary and experienced both occupations under German as well as by Soviets. After the uprising against Soviet occupation, he immigrated to Canada and initially lived in Abbotsford and then moved to Vancouver.

He was an architect by profession, but lived the life of an artist. he has painted various paintings that are in possession of his family and friends.’

He started with ‘Fourth Way’ of G.I. Gurdjieff and P.D. Ouspensky and eventually got interested in the teaching of J. Krishnamurti. I met him in 1987 when he attended a Video showing of J.Krishnamurti in the West End.

In ‘Mundaka Upanishad’ we read about two birds, very identical, one dancing, singing, arguing fighting etc. A very busy one. While the other one sits and watches the first one.

Steven was like this, he was always very passionate about his understanding, views, opinions etc.  He defended them and fought for his views,

This one has departed us.

The other one?

How can we forget his other side like the second bird, sitting and watching.

Shanti

NR, October 2018

 

Throughout our 28 year friendship I had the privilege of discovering Steven the artist, the intellectual, and the man. I will remember the fascinating ‘Persistence of Memory’ lithograph by Dali in his living room, his acuarela cityscapes as well as his beautiful depiction of Michelangelo’s Pietà, which he made when young and presented to me when he found out I was once a Catholic.

As the intellectual, I will remember his passion for architecture, for Jiddu Krishnamurti, the Tibetan Book of the Dead, and his admiration for his uncle Elemér, who wrote “Mozgó Vesztöhely,” a book about survival and heroism in the Hungarian concentration camps.

And I will never forget the man who my children called Uncle Steven. On learning of his passing, my daughter Chantal shed tears for her adopted “Uncle.” My son Emmanuel has nothing but fond memories of him.

RB, October 2018

 

A more fun memory and a diversion from philosophy was when we used to attend the Fairview Club on Broadway that featured the creme de la creme of Blues musicians in Vancouver. There Steven would be out on the floor, solo dancing, uninhibited and in full force. He received many compliments and cheers from musicians and patrons alike and as one patron put it he was “a barometer for the band”.  I remember him saying you need to bring that same energy from self-inquiry into the movements on the dance floor. He also said that his performance would be increased if the band played a little more “happy blues”.

AS, October 2018