- Walter Assef
Infobox Officeholder
name = Walter Assef
caption =
order = 2nd Mayor of Thunder Bay
term_start = 1973
term_end = 1978
term_start2 = 1981
term_end2 = 1985
predecessor =Saul Laskin
successor =Dusty Miller
successor2 =Jack Masters
birth_date =
birth_place =
death_date =
death_place =
constituency =
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spouse =
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footnotes =Walter Assef (
May 31 ,1913 –January 14 ,1988 ) was a Canadian politician, and formerVaudevillian ,Tronrud, Thorold J. & Nicholson, David (2005). " [http://www.thunderbaymuseum.com/publications.htm Thunder Bay Quiz Book: 101 Fascinating Questions about our History] ".Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society , pps. 19 (question) and 47 (answer) ISBN 0-920119-50-6.] who served as mayor of the city of Thunder Bay,Ontario . He was the first, and so far the only mayor, to have been elected for two discontinuous terms. He was first elected in 1973 and served until 1978. His second term began when he was re-elected in 1981 and lasted until 1985.Walter Melund Assef was born
May 31 ,1913 atSioux Lookout, Ontario to John Hunna Khaleefy Asseff, a native ofHasroun ,Lebanon , and Maria Rosa Bintado (variant spelling, Mary Penteado), a native of Brazil. He diedJanuary 14 ,1988 .He is famously known locally to have patted the behind of
Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Thunder Bay in 1973, although some sources believe it was merely a trick photo taken from an angle that appears to show something that was not real. However, he did officially introduce the Royal Couple to the city as "his Royal Highness and his lovely wife".Fact|date=February 2007Liberace dined at the home of Walter Assef before performing at theFort William Gardens on30 September ,1961 .As mayor, his nickname was "Jolly Wally". Reportedly,
Prince Phillip coined the term, referring to him as "that jolly little mayor from Thunder Bay". His predecessor as mayorSaul Laskin did not see him that way - he found him disruptive and uncooperative. By his second term in office, many observers deplored his behavior in council as abusive. [Chronicle-Journal 2 Feb 1982 City Hall column.]One of the issues he campaigned strongly against was the building of a stand-alone arts complex in the city. When the Community Auditorium (as it's now known) was built, Walter Assef vowed to never attend the grand opening or ever step inside.Tronrud, Thorold J. & Nicholson, David (2005). " [http://www.thunderbaymuseum.com/publications.htm Thunder Bay Quiz Book: 101 Fascinating Questions about our History] ".
Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society , pps. 10 (question) and 40 (answer) ISBN 0-920119-50-6.] Apopulist , Assef once campaigned with a cow.Tronrud, Thorold J. & Nicholson, David (2005). " [http://www.thunderbaymuseum.com/publications.htm Thunder Bay Quiz Book: 101 Fascinating Questions about our History] ".Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society , front cover (question) and inside back cover (answer) ISBN 0-920119-50-6.]Bibliography
* Peter Raffo, "Municipal political culture and conflict of interest at the Lakehead, 1969-1972," Thunder Bay Historical Museum "Society Papers and Records", 26 (1998), 26-45.
References
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