Honey Harbour, Ontario — Rodion "Rod" Monster, who had a decadeslong career in plastics compounding and distribution in Canada, died Oct. 30 at age 75.
Monster was born in The Hague, Netherlands, during the last few months of World War II. He was born on the dining room table, and his father, who was hiding under the floor of their home during the Nazi occupation, used a bicycle pump to generate light.
His family moved to Canada when Monster was 4 years old. His father, Jack, brought a plastics molding machine to Canada in 1949 and built a plastic machinery and materials distribution business.
Monster helped out at his father's business, Wilmod Manufacturing, after school and while earning a business degree from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.
Monster started his professional career at Greenline Plastics, then moved on to found Albis Canada Inc., the Canadian division of a Germany-based plastics compounder. After 19 years, Monster and his wife, Sterling, a lawyer, founded resin trader and distributor Monster Polymers Inc. in 1990.
Rod and Sterling, who were married for more than 31 years, were avid and accomplished sailors. They also supported many organizations, including the Royal Canadian Yacht Club's Canada Cup Team Championship Challenges, Toronto Brigantine Inc., Canadian Youth Sailing Program, Broadreach Foundation, Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, Uxbridge Cottage Hospital Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian Kidney Foundation, Mercy Ships Canada, Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation, Royal Victoria Regional Health Center Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, Honey Harbour Volunteer Firefighters Association and the Honey Harbour Association.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a celebration of life will be held in the summer of 2021 at their home in Honey Harbour and at their winter home in Delray Beach, Fla.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Canadian Kidney Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society.