Remembering Max Magder

Dog breeder, exhibitor, All Breed Dog Judge, designer, inventor and successful businessman; Max Magder leaves a large void not easily filled. Our thoughts and prayers go to his family, especially his daughter Lori and son Richard from whom his famed kennel name LORRICBROOK originated.
 
Max was born in Austria in 1927 and immigrated at a young age to Canada with his parents and two older sisters.  The family settled in Hamilton, Ontario, where another brother was born shortly thereafter.
 
He won international awards for furniture design, and IKEA and Eaton’s carried his lines. Max was also the zesty boss of Du Barry Furniture Ltd., and in his professional career built a multi-million-dollar business out of affordable well-designed furniture.
 
In addition to owning a great number of different breeds, he bred and showed Greyhounds and Whippets to top wins in Canada and the United States.  A Whippet of his breeding, Can., Am., & Br. Ch. Lorricbrook Winning Streak set a record of best in shows for the breed in Brazil, and a Whippet of his breeding won the Hound Group at the Windsor Championship Show in England. The dog's name was Can., Am., Eng., Dutch, German and Int. Ch. Lorricbrook Runaway, who at that time was the only Whippet from North America to win an English title.  "Pip" later went on to win Best of Breed and place second in the Hound group at the World Show in 1992. He was also the owner and breeder of many of Canada's top winning Whippets—Can. & Am. Ch. Dondelayo Buccaneer, Can. & Am. Ch. Lorricbrook Spellbinder, and Can. & Am. Ch. Lorricbrook NV Us, to name just a few.  As well, he was the breeder of top winning Greyhounds.  In the early nineties, Can., Am. & Ber. Ch. Lorricbrook Sporting Chance was the top winning greyhound in Canada.  In 1998, Can. & Am Ch. My Christmas Rider was purchased from Slovenia and became one of the top winning greyhounds in Canada with 39 Best in Shows. Another famous top winning Greyhound bred by Max Ch. Lorricbrook Sporting Chance, owned by Wendy Keller Weitzman, shown by Harold Butler also with 39 best In shows. 
 
Max was a CKC Life Member of 55 years having joined the Club in 1965. Judging since 1978, he had a busy schedule in Canada and the United States, and his judging experience abroad led him to adjudicate dogs around the world.  He judged Whippets multiple times in England, including the prestigious Hound Show.  He also judged at Skokloster in Sweden.
 
In 2004 he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Professional Handlers’ Association of Canada in recognition of his many years of service and dedication to the sport of purebred dogs. In April 2006 he was invited to join a panel of judges to judge the Top Twenty Whippets in the United States at the American Whippet Club National Specialty in Boston.
 
Max lived a full life and touched many as a friend, mentor and fellow judge; too many to name all. I remember how fond and kind he was to my kids, especially Jody who became a Whippet breeder with his encouragement. One of his best friends was Phyllis Laventhall Wolfish.  Their friendship spanned many decades, and both are together now reminiscing about old times. Phyllis’ son Peter remembers Max as a second father and smiles every time he thinks about his robust laugh.
 



Max was also very fond of the late Carol Hollands who handled many of his dogs.  Also, Barbara Wilton-Clark of Shalfleet Kennels in England with whom he bred Greyhounds and Whippets and Peggy Newcome of Pennyworth Whippets in the States. He also co-bred with Jenny McCartney of McCartney Whippets who remembers him as a tough but fair mentor. His best advice to her was “Breed the best to the best and hope for the best, but it's not like baking a cake.... you never know what you will get.”  Max touched so many of us... too many to name them all.

 


Max Magder.  Respected gentleman—legend, zesty, robust, artsy, friend—you will be missed and remembered by many. 
 
Rest in Peace my friend.
 

 

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