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I got this mail from Glady Gates-Seawind Keeshond, Nova Scotia, Canada : IN MEMORY OF EILEEN CURRIE - BRIALIN KEESHONDEN (35+ years in the breed) My first contact with Eileen Currie was in June 1979. She was the breeder of Ch. Brialin's Schipper, sire of my Chinook. Dolores Hull, Schipper's owner told me that Eileen was holding a Keeshond Booster in Ontario so I sent her a donation for the trophy fund. Of course, I told her all about my wonderful boy and that he was a son of her Schipper. She promptly wrote back to thank me for the donation and to inquire about one of her Schipper's offspring. We corresponded by mail almost monthly and finally, in June 1980 we met in person when she and her husband, Howard, made a trip to Nova Scotia. Our next meeting was in 1983 at the Group 6 Specialty in Pine Ridge, Ontario. Eileen was always so pleased to see the dogs from the Maritimes and enjoyed her trip down east. She was also very impressed that so many of the Maritimers attended the Group 6 Specialty; Maureen Clements, Kathy Steward and myself with about 12-14 dogs. Eileen was always interested in viewing pedigrees and finding out about different lines. She was always more than willing to give me advice and answer questions about the breed. She had sent a number of Kees to this area in those days and was always glad to hear how they were doing so I tried to keep her up to date as best I could. In 1983, her Ch. Brialin's Regal Knight, known as Captain and sired by Ch. Brialin's Schipper was awarded Top Keeshond in Canada. This pleased her so very much as Eileen did not show on Sundays, and lived so far North in Ontario that it was hard for her to go to many shows. She was also active in Obedience and was a firm believer that the dogs should have their C.D. degrees if nothing else. Eileen always commented about the lovely dogs she saw but did not criticize those she did not care for. As the years passed on, our letters became less frequent but there was never a Christmas that went by that we did not correspond; I shall miss those letters. It is so sad that another Keeshond enthusiast has left us. In one of her letters in 1997, she said, "I did get the Keeshond Newsletter again all this year for which I was thankful. It is interesting to see how many new people starting up who will never remember me. Hard to believe I started over 30 years ago in Kees; 45 years ago in Sams." My heartfelt sympathy to her husband, Howard. Glady Gates (One who will remember) |
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