BARRY’S BAY – An amateur filmmaker from the Foymount area has captured a unique love story right here in Barry’s Bay.
Ben Hoffman, 64, grew up in Pembroke. In his senior years of high school at Pembroke Collegiate Institute, he began dating Ann, the daughter of the school’s vice-principal, Stan Suter.
The couple married and Ben eventually worked his way through university, earning himself a B.A. and M.A. in Psychology and a Ph.D., along with a specialization from Harvard University.
After a successful mediating career, which included a stint working directly for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Ben and Ann moved back to the area.
Around that time, Ann’s mom Margaret Suter, known as Marg to friends and family, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and moved to the Valley Manor in Barry’s Bay.
Stan, who was used to taking care of Marg throughout the years, would walk from his home on Mask Island every day to the manor to feed his wife at lunchtime. Ben said it wouldn’t matter if it was snowing outside, his father-in-law would find a way to Marg.
Shortly after Marg entered Valley Manor, Stan, too, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s as well as an aggressive form of dementia called vascular dementia.
Get your September 17, 2014 edition of The Valley Gazette to read more of this story.