Fonds - Max Patzelt fonds

Gernot "Max" Patzelt was born in Benwaldau, Sudentenland. Trained as a machinist in Germany, he immigrated to Canada in 1954. He began working at a photo studio in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. He remained there for 2 years, before answering an Alcan newspaper ad about work at Kitimat Works. He arrived in Kitimat in June 1956, and was hired on at Alcan as a stud puller in smelter potlines 3 and 4. He assisted in the start up of potline 5 before resigning in 1957. After leaving Kitimat Works, Max joined the Fred Ryan Ltd. photo studio as a roving photographer. In 1959, fire destroyed the Fred Ryan Ltd. studio, and the business became defunct. In 1960 Jim Condon, the owner of the Kitimat Photo Supply Ltd., took Max and Hazel Hatton on as partners in his photo studio and retail photographic business. Mr. Condon retained fifty-one percent of the business, and Max and Hazel co-owned the other forty-nine percent. In 1961, Max and Hazel bought out Jim Condon. They ran the business together until 1967, when they split the business in half. Max retained the photo studio, and Hazel took over the retail outlet. Max renamed his business Maxs Photo Studio Ltd. In addition to the work he produced at his photo studio, Max also provided photo coverage for Alcan public relations of all dignitaries visiting the smelter, as well as processing and printing the majority of the photos used in the Alcan publication The Ingot. He continued working in his photo studio until 1986, when he officially closed Max's Photo Studio Ltd. He continues his work with the Ingot to this day. Throughout his life, Max has been an active community member. He was a member of the Kitimat Volunteer Fire Department from 1957-1972, president of the St. Johns Ambulance Association, and a member of the first aid team which placed well in province-wide competitions in 1961-62. Max has also been an active member with the Kitimat Kiwanis Club, the Kitimat Recreation Commission, the Christ the King Catholic Church, and the Knights of Columbus. In 1972, Max was elected to the Kitimat municipal council, serving on many special committees and regional boards. He retired from council in 1982. Max met and married his wife, Isobel, in 1963. They continued to make their home in Kitimat where they raised two daughters, Susan and Erica.