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Frey, Marv (d. 2008)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2008 Nov 3 p. 10
Birth date:
text of obituary:
By MCC Canada and Ten Thousand Villages Canada staff
NEW HAMBURG, Ont. — Marv Frey, a leader with a long-standing commitment to Mennonite Central Committee and Ten Thousand Villages, died at his home Oct. 19.
Most recently, Frey was the chief executive officer of Ten thousand villages Canada, a program of MCC Canada.
Frey joined Ten Thousand Villages in 2002 and oversaw the retail organization's growth from 35 to 50 stores. Under his leadership, sales tripled from $5.5 million to almost $15 million. His vision was to reach $30 million in annual fair trade sales at Ten Thousand Villages — roughly one dollar per Canadian.
In September 2007, Frey was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. Despite failing health, he continued to provide input on projects and plans for the organization.
"Marv leaves a legacy of integrity, humility and compassion," said Bev Hiebert, director of sales at Ten Thousand Villages. "He was completely committed to providing a better life for artisans and would always remind us that we're not just a retail organization — our stores provide a market for people who have few opportunities, creating an environment where their products can be sold and their stories can be shared."
At a recent gathering of Ten Thousand Villages staff, volunteers and business partners from across the country and overseas, Frey was described as someone who always thought of the big picture, dealt kindly with people and respected everyone.
Prior to joining Ten Thousand Villages, Frey served as the program director with Canadian Foodgrains Bank, executive director of MCC Canada and coordinator of MCC Canada overseas services. Between 1971 and 1988, Frey served as an MCC service worker in Jamaica, Swaziland, Somalia and Lesotho.
"He was a great hands-on practitioner who was willing to serve others as a leader," said Don Peters, MCC Canada executive director. "We will miss him."