Kathy Bergen feted by many friends

An event took place on Sunday that demonstrates the kinds of special bonds that can sometimes be forged in magazines. It was a "tea" held at the Toronto home of Bev Topping for Kathy Bergen the Editorial Director of today'sparent.com, stricken by cancer and honoured by her many friends and associates. Bergen has become well-known for her expertise in online publishing and, before that, as a skilled production manager in print.

About 100 people attended, including Today's Parent Group (TPG) colleagues old and new and members of Bergen's family, including husband Scott and 17-year-old daughter Franny. Guests had been asked to bring cookies, and they did, to be consumed along with sandwiches and hot hors d'oeuvres.

There was a brief and emotional presentation of a memory book signed by the guests and of a gift to which everyone contributed with contributions at the door: a Florida holiday, including two days at Walt Disney World. The memory book had pages for photographs and room for Kathy's 8-year-old son Timmy to get autographs from the various Disney characters.

According to someone at the party, Kathy -- and virtually everyone else -- teared up when she accepted the gift and reminded everyone that someone had once said it was wrong to think of TPG as a family when it is in fact a business -- but if this isn't family, she said, she didn't know what was.