As friends, family and admirers of Irving Grundman mourn his passing at the age of 92, please allow me to share a story for which I will always be grateful for a time when he stood up for me when it was not even his job.
Grundman was general manager from 1978 to 1983, winning a Stanley Cup with the team at the tail end of its four straight championships in 1979. When he took over I did not know him personally. In 1980, at the age of 18, I was hired to work at the now defunct
Sunday Express Newspaper. Published by Quebecor, it was noted for a strong sports section.
âThanks for the memories, Irving, rest in peace,â says a statement by the Canadiens.
His obituary recounts that Grundman âwas born in Montreal on July 23, 1928 to the late Morris and late Bessie (Epstein). He had an exceptional business career He worked alongside his father in the meat industry, founded Laurentian Lanes in 1959 with his lifelong friend the late Jack Prehogan, elected City Councillor in 1968 serving St. Laurent citizens for over 35 years while taking a leading role in the development of the St Laurent Technoparc as executive chairman, appointed President of the Montreal Forum in 1972 experiencing five Stanley Cup wins including one as General Manager of the Montreal Canadiens in 1979.