Gerry Pencer
Encyclopedia
Gerald Norman Pencer was a Canadian
business executive who helped the soft drink manufacturing company, Cott
, become what it is today.
His parents met as students in Aberdeen school in Montreal
and married very young. Gerald was born on April 26, 1945 at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal. He and his family lived on a walk-up on Dolland Avenue out in Outremont
. He grew up learning Judaism.
When Gerald went to school he was always told he was a very good listener and was a very bright and smart student. By grade 7, he never had to study for any of his tests because he had the ability to remember and to model what he learned in class.
As a boy, Gerald Pencer was not very fit. Growing up he ate 4-5 meals a day and a bunch of snacks in between. Since he always ate that much, he was nicknamed Round Little Gerry. He hated that nickname but liked and kept the name Gerry.
Gerry Pencer had a lot of perseverance. He believed it came from his mother. When his mother was 42, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Gerry's father was very supportive with her and was always taking her places. The doctor said that she would only survive about 4–5 years. She had a long struggle and managed to survive 17 years.
When Gerry was 44 he took over a business called Cott
, at the time it was an unknown soft drink manufacturer. Now, its the worlds largest producer of retailer brand pop and its worth over $1 billion. It's made a lot of people very rich. Gerry says, "Even if you've never heard of Cott
, you have probably seen or tasted one of our products. But what Cott
did was bigger than money, we grew very fast and made Coke, Coca-Cola, and Pepsi blink."
Gerry Pencer took Cott
to its biggest high. He made it a fast selling company and helped it with its publicity and money making. Unfortunately, 8 years after Gerry took over Cott
(1997), he was diagnosed with cancer. 1 year after that, Gerry died a slow death at his house with his wife Nancy Pencer, and his children.
Gerry will always be remembered for his great perseverance and for what he did to make Cott
what it is today.
On May 23, 1997, Gerry Pencer was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme
, an advanced-stage extremely aggressive cancerous brain tumour. Thereafter he and his wife Nancy became significant philanthropists of brain tumor medicine and research. Glioblastoma has no known cure and only 2% of patients survive 3 years after diagnosis.
Gerry Pencer died in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
at the age of 53. He was buried in the Holy Blossom Section of the Pardes Shalom Cemetery in Toronto, Ontario.
Sponsored projects include:
As a young boy, Mr. Pencer started a vending route selling gumballs in retail stores and malls.
He was also associated with a capital company in the 1980s that was plagued with scandal (possibly called Fairfax or Fairfeild).
In 10 years, he built Cott Corporation from a small cola business operated by his father into a worldwide multinational. They had a cola called RC Cola. He moved into private labelling and eventually secured deals that resulted in Master's Choice Cola, President's Choice Cola, Sam's Choice and many others. By 1993, Cott was a billion dollar company with products in countries around the world.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
business executive who helped the soft drink manufacturing company, Cott
Cott
The Cott Corporation is a leading supplier of private label carbonated soft drinks distributing to Canada, the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Europe. In addition to producing many private-label beverages for retailers, Cott also has a large and growing portfolio of its own brands...
, become what it is today.
His parents met as students in Aberdeen school in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and married very young. Gerald was born on April 26, 1945 at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal. He and his family lived on a walk-up on Dolland Avenue out in Outremont
Outremont
Outremont may refer to:*Outremont, Quebec - a borough and former town in Montreal*Outremont - a Canadian federal electoral district*Outremont - a Quebec provincial electoral district...
. He grew up learning Judaism.
When Gerald went to school he was always told he was a very good listener and was a very bright and smart student. By grade 7, he never had to study for any of his tests because he had the ability to remember and to model what he learned in class.
As a boy, Gerald Pencer was not very fit. Growing up he ate 4-5 meals a day and a bunch of snacks in between. Since he always ate that much, he was nicknamed Round Little Gerry. He hated that nickname but liked and kept the name Gerry.
Gerry Pencer had a lot of perseverance. He believed it came from his mother. When his mother was 42, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Gerry's father was very supportive with her and was always taking her places. The doctor said that she would only survive about 4–5 years. She had a long struggle and managed to survive 17 years.
When Gerry was 44 he took over a business called Cott
Cott
The Cott Corporation is a leading supplier of private label carbonated soft drinks distributing to Canada, the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Europe. In addition to producing many private-label beverages for retailers, Cott also has a large and growing portfolio of its own brands...
, at the time it was an unknown soft drink manufacturer. Now, its the worlds largest producer of retailer brand pop and its worth over $1 billion. It's made a lot of people very rich. Gerry says, "Even if you've never heard of Cott
Cott
The Cott Corporation is a leading supplier of private label carbonated soft drinks distributing to Canada, the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Europe. In addition to producing many private-label beverages for retailers, Cott also has a large and growing portfolio of its own brands...
, you have probably seen or tasted one of our products. But what Cott
Cott
The Cott Corporation is a leading supplier of private label carbonated soft drinks distributing to Canada, the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Europe. In addition to producing many private-label beverages for retailers, Cott also has a large and growing portfolio of its own brands...
did was bigger than money, we grew very fast and made Coke, Coca-Cola, and Pepsi blink."
Gerry Pencer took Cott
Cott
The Cott Corporation is a leading supplier of private label carbonated soft drinks distributing to Canada, the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Europe. In addition to producing many private-label beverages for retailers, Cott also has a large and growing portfolio of its own brands...
to its biggest high. He made it a fast selling company and helped it with its publicity and money making. Unfortunately, 8 years after Gerry took over Cott
Cott
The Cott Corporation is a leading supplier of private label carbonated soft drinks distributing to Canada, the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Europe. In addition to producing many private-label beverages for retailers, Cott also has a large and growing portfolio of its own brands...
(1997), he was diagnosed with cancer. 1 year after that, Gerry died a slow death at his house with his wife Nancy Pencer, and his children.
Gerry will always be remembered for his great perseverance and for what he did to make Cott
Cott
The Cott Corporation is a leading supplier of private label carbonated soft drinks distributing to Canada, the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Europe. In addition to producing many private-label beverages for retailers, Cott also has a large and growing portfolio of its own brands...
what it is today.
On May 23, 1997, Gerry Pencer was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme
Glioblastoma multiforme
Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and most aggressive malignant primary brain tumor in humans, involving glial cells and accounting for 52% of all functional tissue brain tumor cases and 20% of all intracranial tumors. Despite being the most prevalent form of primary brain tumor, GBMs...
, an advanced-stage extremely aggressive cancerous brain tumour. Thereafter he and his wife Nancy became significant philanthropists of brain tumor medicine and research. Glioblastoma has no known cure and only 2% of patients survive 3 years after diagnosis.
Gerry Pencer died in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
at the age of 53. He was buried in the Holy Blossom Section of the Pardes Shalom Cemetery in Toronto, Ontario.
Sponsored projects include:
- The Gerry & Nancy Pencer Brain Tumor Centre at Princess Margaret Hospital.
- The Gerry & Nancy Pencer Brain Trust
- the Gerry Pencer Golf Tournament
See also
As a young boy, Mr. Pencer started a vending route selling gumballs in retail stores and malls.
He was also associated with a capital company in the 1980s that was plagued with scandal (possibly called Fairfax or Fairfeild).
In 10 years, he built Cott Corporation from a small cola business operated by his father into a worldwide multinational. They had a cola called RC Cola. He moved into private labelling and eventually secured deals that resulted in Master's Choice Cola, President's Choice Cola, Sam's Choice and many others. By 1993, Cott was a billion dollar company with products in countries around the world.
External links
- http://www.uhn.ca/About_UHN/programs/pencer/index.asp University Health Network: Pencer Brain Tumor Centre
- http://www.pencerbraintrust.com/index.html The Gerry & Nancy Pencer Brain Trust
- http://chealth.canoe.ca/columns.asp?columnistid=7&articleid=2233&relation_id=3224 Chealth.ca