Al Pontius
MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — Services were held here last week for Al Pontius, founder of the six-store Al's Supermarkets chain in Indiana. He died Jan. 6 of cancer at age 81. Pontius opened the first Al's location in Michigan City after returning from Navy service in 1946. His Lakeshore Foods company eventually added a location in Michigan City, as well as stores in LaPorte and South Haven, Ind., and a Barney's Market store in New Buffalo, Mich. Pontius' son Gil runs the company today, but Al remained active in the business, employees said.
James Skiffington Murchie
OAKVILLE, Ontario — Private services were held here last week for James Skiffington Murchie, a former chief operating officer at Sobeys, who died Jan. 4. Murchie spent more than 40 years in the grocery industry, including the last 20 with Stellarton, Nova Scotia-based Sobeys. He began his career with Dominion stores.
