Celebrated Sault Ste. Marie writer and humorist Morley Torgov, now 98 and living in Toronto, has a knack for turning even the most serious of occasions into a lighthearted moment. Upon receiving the city's Medal of Merit, the highest honor, he quipped, 'I assume I'm getting this award for the simple miracle of longevity.'
Torgov's sense of humor is as sharp as ever, and he doesn't shy away from poking fun at himself. When asked about his reaction to the award, he humorously replied, 'I thought it was a joke, and she happened to call me while I was in the john. I thought this was somebody playing a trick on me.'
This is not the first time his wit has shone through. When he was awarded the Order of Canada in 2015, he had a similar reaction, saying, 'I thought it was a joke.'
Torgov's journey to becoming a renowned writer began in Sault Ste. Marie, where he dreamed of being a journalist. However, his father had other plans, wanting him to become a doctor. But Torgov's love for writing prevailed, and he found his niche.
Despite not being an athletic prodigy, he found solace in writing. He said, 'I was a lousy athlete. I wasn't a good skater, skier, tennis player, or swimmer.' Writing became his way of compensating for his lack of athletic abilities.
He started his career at The Sault Star in the early 1940s, earning $17 a week. He loved it so much that he considered it some of the happiest days of his life.
Over time, Torgov found a balance between his father's dream of him becoming a doctor and his own dream of writing. He became a career lawyer and published numerous award-winning books, including two that earned him the prestigious Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour.
Despite a challenging childhood, losing his mother and stepmother at a young age, Torgov always found joy in making people laugh. He said, 'It's pretty wonderful if you can make a person laugh.'
At 98, Torgov reflects on his life and wonders if his father's career advice was not so far off the mark, even though he loved his career as a writer and lawyer. He said, 'I nearly died, and I watched medicine being practiced like I've never seen it before. God damn it, maybe my father was right.'
