Wall of Fame Recipient November 2005

Clarabeth (Mahaffey) McIntosh

Clarabeth Mahaffey graduated from Guelph Collegiate in 1954.  She participated enthusiastically in school activities and excelled in academics.  She displayed leadership qualities and was well liked by her classmates. In her final year, she was awarded the Laird Ring to acknowledge her achievements and participation in the school community.  Clarabeth continued her studies at Queen’s University, graduating with an honours B.A. in English and Latin. She trained as a teacher and taught at Bloor Collegiate in Toronto.

In 1959, Clarabeth married her high school sweetheart, Jack McIntosh, a student for the ministry at Knox College in Toronto. They applied and were accepted for overseas mission service in Japan to work with the Koreans living there.

Clarabeth was very active in her new community, while raising their own four children; she learned Japanese and Korean and the McIntosh’s house was known as the House of Reconciliation, a place of support for friends and neighbours. Clarabeth was called “samonim” or “honourable  pastor-mother”

155 Paisley Street Guelph, ON  N1H 2P3

519-824-9800 x491

GCVI ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

During their forty years in Japan, the McIntoshes were involved in many community projects. They joined the struggle against the Alien Registration Law, which required all aliens to be fingerprinted every three years; it was abolished in 2000. They also endured Jack’s battle with Hodgkin’s disease, leading to the difficult decision to slow down in their mission work and eventually return to Canada.  Since his passing, Clarabeth has continued to devote her time and energy to helping others.

There are many ways to describe this remarkable woman: compassionate, selfless and enthusiastic. Clarabeth has always shown a positive attitude through happy and difficult times. She has said that she has “so much to be thankful for … I’ve been privileged to be called to the life and the wonderful partner God gave me.”

Karen Griffioen

June 2005

The Wall of Fame plaque was presented to Clarabeth's daughter at the GCVI Commencement Nov 4/05 by Bob Hohenadel, president of the Alumni Association,