By Phil Egan for the Sarnia Journal

Sarnia’s Phil Gamester had a miraculous voice. It was one of those that God gave only to special people.

When lifted in song, it could enthrall and entertain. It had the power to touch your soul.

When making a sales pitch, it was equally irresistible. Phil’s showroom at 108 Christina Street, the office of his company, Gamester Advertising Specialties, was filled to the rafters with the balloons, matchbooks, pens and calendars that were Phil’s stock and trade. And – if you couldn’t come to him, he’d happily roll into your driveway with his similarly-stocked showroom-on-wheels – a 30-foot trailer towed behind his Chrysler New Yorker Deluxe.

My father, who, operated an electrical contracting company in Sarnia, was one of Phil’s constant customers. He loved it when Phil came to call, and bought pens, glassware, tape measures and dozens of other items from Phil, all emblazoned with Dad’s corporate logo.

Phil had founded his company in 1954, one year after my Dad started his own company. It was another common denominator that drew the two together.

Business aside, the two men were genuinely fond of each other. Born only one week apart in 1922, they had both served their countries at sea – Phil as a British sailor, Dad in the Canadian navy. In the dangerous Battle of the Atlantic, they were allies and brother warriors.

Phil had a warm, engaging personality that drew people naturally to him.

Also a talented writer, his monthly columns in First Monday were thought-provoking and reflective.

Phil Gamester had another claim to fame. He may have been the only Sarnian to ever appear on the cover of Life – a hugely popular weekly magazine published from 1883-1972.

Life was known for the quality of its photographs. One of these, snapped in New York City in 1941, captured a boyish, Mickey Rooney-like British sailor tackling an ice-cream sundae. Millions were delighted when Phil’s charming face appeared on the cover of a June, 1941 issue.

Still in uniform in 1946, Phil married Helen – the love of his life – and the pair emigrated from Britain to Sarnia in 1947. Helen was a trained musician and singer. Phil and his talented pianist bride would become stars in a host of Polymer Glee Club productions – two golden voices that could bring a smile to the hardest heart.

I have many distinct memories of Phil Gamester, who died in Sarnia in 2013 at age 91. My favourite involves the look of pure pleasure on my father’s face at Dad’s 80^th birthday party in 2002, as he listened to Phil sing, Danny Boy.

They’re both gone now, but, for almost four decades, they were close friends as well as business associates.