Yesterday I attended a wealth management seminar at the King Edward Hotel. It was arranged by my financial advisor who thinks it's a good idea for anyone within ten years of retirement age to stop down and think about a few things.

The seminar was conducted by a guy named Barry LaValley and he didn't talk so much about money as he did mind set. Not only do you have to be prepared for retirement financially, but you also have to be ready emotionally.

Over-all it was a positive experience and it also allowed me to meet two fantastic women who have recently lost their husbands - men I admired very much.

Sitting at the table with me were Teri Ann Marsden and Bernie Wadsworth. Teri Ann was married to legendary Toronto sportscaster Pat Marsden, and Bernie was married to Mike Wadsworth who accomplished so much in his 60 short years it's almost too hard to comprehend.

Pat Marsden is a man I only met a couple of times and never really got to know, but like most people my age Pat Marsden was in my living room every night while I was growing up. He was sports director at CFTO for many years before getting fired, going to CFRB, retiring, then coming out of retirement and working at the Fan.

He died last year of lung cancer and he's sorely missed by Teri Ann and his children, but they can hold on to the image of a man who was larger than life and loved by everyone who knew him.

Bernie Wadsworth lost her husband Mike to bone cancer in the spring of 2004. In his short life Wadsworth attended the University of Notre Dame where he got his law degree, he played pro football with the Argonauts and then became one the best radio and television football analysts in Canada. If that wasn't enough, he became Canada's ambassador to Ireland before heading back to Notre Dame to become athletic director. And shortly before he died the way was cleared for him to become a judge. How's that for a resume?

Nobody was looking for sympathy yesterday but I have to be honest, I felt sorry for both women.
There they were at the seminar planning the rest of their lives alone because the men they loved had been scooped up by a cruel disease long before their time.

But I'll tell you, if it's possible for the deceased to look down upon their families both Pat Marsden and Mike Wadsworth feel pretty good today because both their wives are immensely proud of their legacies and that was beautifully conveyed yesterday.