Thousands attend memorial for Barry and Honey Sherman

MISSISSAUGA, ON. (NEWS 1130) – Thousands of people attended the memorial Thursday for Barry Sherman, the founder of Apotex Pharmaceuticals, and his philanthropist wife Honey. Barry, 75, and Honey, 70, were found dead in their home last Friday.

During the memorial, which was attended by politicians from all levels of governments, Sen. Linda Frum paid tribute spoke of her long-time friends, while obliquely addressing the mystery of how they died.

Here is an excerpt from her speech:

Sen. Linda Frum: My name is Linda Frum. It is a privilege to say I was a friend of Honey and Barry Sherman’s. I stand here today among thousands of other friends. I will do my limited best to speak for all of us. Today we have heard many great things about the lives of Honey and Barry, their devotion to their family, their generous support for their community, Barry’s significant medical and scientific contributions, the colossal success of Apotex, and of Barry’s immense pride in providing meaningful employment to so many Canadians.

In my remembrance, I’d like to speak about what it meant to enjoy the precious gift of their friendship. Like their philanthropy, this was a gift they bestowed widely and unstintingly. In my case, my friendship with Honey began during a UJA mission to Israel. Honey and I were travelling together without our husbands as part of a small leadership team. At that time in my life, I was a very anxious flyer, and Honey intuited my fear. Though we were only new acquaintances, she made a point of sitting next to me. I can still picture how, during one of the numerous flights we shared together, Honey would be absorbed in the newspaper she was reading, but as the airplane started to speed towards liftoff, silently, without looking up, she would stretch out her hand for me to hold. I preserved this image of Honey in my mind because it is how I will always think of her: as a woman who, by natural inclination, extended an open hand of love, friendship and kindness out to the world.

Related article: Jonathan Sherman pays tribute to his parents Barry and Honey Sherman

Two coffins were prominently displayed as the memorial for the Shermans got underway at a convention centre in Mississauga, Ont.

The service began with mourners standing for a lengthy moment of silence.

The crowd remained silent as the Shermans’ loved ones filed in past a stage adorned with the flags of Canada, Israel and Ontario.
Hundreds of employees from Apotex, the generic drugmaker Barry Sherman founded in 1974, were in the crowd, with many wearing scarves in the company’s trademark bright blue and T-shirts saying “we will continue your legacy.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Toronto Mayor John Tory were among several dignitaries also at the service.

Police have released few details about their investigation, but have said an autopsy showed both died of “ligature neck compression.” They described the deaths as suspicious.

The Shermans have been widely celebrated for their philanthropic efforts on behalf of numerous causes.

To read the full speech, click here.

 

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