Giller Prize founder Jack Rabinovitch was a 'loyal and loving' friend, says Florence Richler
Jack Rabinovitch is being remembered as a patron of the arts who boosted the profiles of countless Canadian novelists — but to Florence Richler, he was also a "loyal and attentive friend."
Richler met Rabinovitch through her late husband, novelist Mordecai Richler, who helped Rabinovitch found the Giller Prize in 1994. The award was created in honour of literary journalist Doris Miller, Rabinovitch's wife, who had died a year earlier.
Long after both their spouses had passed away, Rabinovitch and Richler remained close friends who leaned on each other for support. Richler spoke with As It Happens guest host Rosemary Barton about her friend.
Here is part of their conversation:
I'm very sorry for the loss of your friend, Jack Rabinovitch.
Florence Richler: Yes, we're all profoundly saddened by it.
Tell me how you two met.
Well, of course, through Mordecai. They were school chums.
He wanted to commemorate his wife. What do you remember about what you and your husband heard or uncovered about why he wanted to do it this way?
He was, of course, quite distraught after Doris' death. And so were all the close friends and family. He was well aware that Doris probably would have enjoyed a literary prize — perhaps for journalists, perhaps for short story writers — and I think it was Mordecai's suggestion that he do it for novelists. I think he was partisan [laughs].
From what I've read, Mr. Rabinovitch sort of used these awards, this gala every year, as a big party that he also loved and enjoyed.
Oh yes, he was quite gregarious. Most of all, I recall that from the beginning, he was inordinately generous — not only to his judges and the authors, but the hundreds of people that he invited every year.
There was a cocktail party, generous amounts of wine and, well, alcohol generally, and food, a formal dining room — the whole thing was rather grand.
What did it mean to you and your husband Mordecai when he won the Giller in 1997 for Barney's Version?
Well, some of us thought it was inevitable [laughs].
You're husband, for one.
But we were very proud, yes. Very proud of him and of Jack, yes.
It must have had special meaning, because he had been behind the creation of it, too.
Yes, exactly. Oh, it was rather wonderful that so much attention was being paid to Canadian writers. And as you know very well, that has not always been so. So Jack's contribution is really quite gargantuan.
When was the last time you saw Jack Rabinovitch?
Jack and I were to have had lunch on Saturday. Sadly, it didn't happen.
How often did you see him?
Oh, we were in touch regularly. He was a very loyal and attentive friend. There was always a call to find out were you coping, was there anything you needed. Even if it were a loaf of bread, he would drive over and bring it to me.
Being visually impaired, it was difficult for me to get out and shop on my own, and he was the most thoughtful and generous and unobtrusive friend.
And do you think the fact that both of you had lost your partners...
Yes, yes. With little need to talk about it, we both shared this very deep sadness for both people.
Were you a foursome — when Mordecai was alive and Doris was alive — did you get up to trouble at all?
Not serious trouble. There was no jail sentence, but we could be mischievous, yes. [laughs]
He created that prize as a tribute to his wife, who he so adored. What would be a good tribute to him?
I don't know what I would do except continue to appreciate and advertise how fine and loyal and loving a friend he was, not just to me — I mean, obviously, to all of us who were close to him. He was a very caring, unostentatious person.
What will you remember about him?
The generosity, the modesty, the pleasure in other people and the great appreciation of anyone with serious artistic ability.
And he'll be missed.
He'll be sorely missed.
With files from Associated Press. This story has been edited for length and clarity. For more, listen to our interview with Florence Richler.