I would like to express my condolences to the Baldree family for your loss.
My Mom sent me a note that Mr. Baldree had passed on and I felt great sadness and and also great thanks for having known him and worked for him at the A+P in Gananoque.
I had just graduated from Grade 10 when my parents walked me into the A+P store to the upper office just past the pop bottle drop off area to fill out a job application to work as a Stock Boy. Mr. Baldree handed me the job application and asked me why I wanted to work at the A+P and I have no idea how I replied but he gave me an opportunity.
Over the three summers I worked for him I learned about the importance of work ethic and being committed to a job. He cared about his business and his employees and was always firm but kind to his staff. These learnings were very important for me as a young man and has helped me through my career. Thank You Mr. Baldree!!
A funny story: One day I was clearing out glass bottles from the bottle return bin at the front of the store and was stacking them into the shopping carts to take them to the back. For some reason (possibly a party the night before) I dropped several bottles that smashed into other bottles (near many customers) and Mr. Baldree got the microphone, looked at me said "Do you need a hammer"? I felt terrible but within minutes he walked down from his office and said "Jonathan, I was just kidding around...good job."
Mr. Baldree was a good man and he will be missed my many people.
Jonathan Abrams
