* PONTJC è BUICK # CADILLAC è GMC presents * III * un .LIIAT NA!! 11111 Photo, by GRAHAM PAINE VFighting Mother Nature Mike Nikias (1011) and son George tackled the big dlean-up lob as a teamn afler th18 past week- end's wicked winter blast. Historian and community activist --'Charlton passes away at 84 By IRENE GENTLE The Champion After a long illness, one of Milton's leading lights in history has passed away. John (Jack) Charlton succumbed to cancer December 27 at Milton District Hospital. He had just tumned 84. He is survived by his wife Evaline and son Theodore, as weII as nieces Lourie and Leslie. A former Tpunicipal counicillor, Mr. Charlto;'à also worked for 28 years at Milton's P.L. Robertson company. In 1963 he began serving as assessor for Milton. Even after that duty switched to a provincial responsibility, Mr. Charlton kept at il until 1978, when he retired. History dear to his heart In bis later years he turned his impressive energies to a subject dear to his heait - history. As a member of the Milton Historical Society he was instru- mental in a program that provided plaques for historical properties. He wrote the text for the now out of print book Historic Homes in Milton. He also devoted time to help research Moments in History, a book written by local historian Jim Dilîs. His labour was rewarded when he receivcd the Ontario Heritage Jack Charlton Foundation Community Recognition award earlier this year. A talent for remembering details and a prodigious perseverance when it came 10 gatbering the facta helped make Mi. Charlton a valued contributor to the Historical Society. 'His memory constantly astounded me. He was always able to remember details of properties, wbicb is a priceless treasure," recalled Mr. Dilîs. Natural curiosity Mr. Charlton loved history for the same reason he was a member of municipal council in the 1950s and 1960s, said Mr. Dilîs. "He had a natural curiosity. I think he was always interested in what was happening and why." Even when his nose wasn't to the grindstone doing research or writ- ing text for historical books, Mr. Charlton's fascination witb old local atonies continued. "I knew him best in his laser years," said Mr. Dilîs. "I'd visit him in his bouse. He loved 10 talk about history."1 AIex Cooke, who also belped research Moments in History, had more than a love of old limes in common with Mr. Charlton. The pair were raised in the samne Milton neighborhood. "He was a bock of a nice guy, Jack," recalled Mr. Cooke. "I grew up with him." Good partner That long-term friendship inten- sified wben the pair collaborated on projecta for the bistorical soci- ety. "We were a good team," said Mr. Cooke. "We started working at it about 12 years ago. We put in a lot of work.- Sister-in-law Kay Timbers saw another side of the quiet man. who married ber sister, Evaline. "He was very kind and thought- fuI," she said. "He was a goed per- son." wOTA e wLC ADLA *