ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — A lot has changed in the 22 years since Noreen Golfman was The Telegram’s first subject of 20 Questions.
In 1998, she was an English professor at Memorial University, teaching courses in film studies and literature. She went on to become one of the university’s top senior administrators, as provost and vice-president (academic).
Although she has announced she is stepping down on April 30, having been in the position since 2014, she looks forward to having more time to spend with family and friends, and to travel.
Looking back at the previous 20 Questions piece, another thing that has changed is her choice of preferred dinner dates. Back then, she chose Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, Liam Neeson, the Dalai Lama, along with Shakespere, Tony Blair, Germaine Greer and Monica Lewinsky. These days, she’d rather have dinner with George Clooney, Meryl Streep and Leonard Cohen.
Some of the questions have even changed from her first 20 Questions — including the one about social media, which didn’t exist back then.
Yet, so much about Golfman has remained the same, including her passion for the arts, travel and life.
Golfman — who was named the 2019 Woman of the Year by the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists — is still an aerobics instructor, still adores her downtown home she purchased decades ago and one of her favourite movies is still Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini’s “8 ½.”
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1. What is your full name?
Noreen Golfman.
2. Where and when were you born?
Montreal, 1952.
3. Where do you live today?
Downtown St. John’s, same house. That’s one of my most treasured possessions.
4. What is your favourite place in the world?
I would say anywhere south of Spain, Italy or France — the Mediterranean. That’s where I’m drawn like a hummingbird every year, if I can do it.
5. Who do you follow on social media?
I think I follow about 500 or 600 thinkers, politicians, artists, writers, journalists, people who are funny and have wit. My bubble is left-leaning. I am kind of right-wing avoidance on social media and troll avoidance. I try to block people who are evil and mean. The world is full of them. … I’m proud to say I do not follow Justin Beiber or Donald Trump.
Sometimes Twitter is just a great big giant embrace of love and good will. Today was one of those days. 🙏❤️🤗💃
— Noreen Golfman (@ngolfman) February 4, 2020
6. What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I’ve been an aerobics and fitness instructor since the 1980s. I’m still doing it. See? You’re surprised. I’m one of the first people who have been certified in this country. Jane Fonda and I were like that (crossing fingers) — same leg warmers and same big hair. She’s on her, like, eighth relationship and I’m still teaching aerobics.
7. What’s been your favourite year and why?
That would be 1996. That’s when I met my current husband (Stephen Bornstein).
8. Can you describe one experience that changed your life?
I would say it was when I agreed to work as the media co-ordinator for Dr. Henry Morgentaler in the late 1980s, helping him set up the abortion clinic here. It was one of the scariest, if not the scariest, experiences I’ve ever had because we confronted hundreds and hundreds of people who had been bused in from away, mostly lunatic men who were raging out of their minds, violent. We had police protection just to get from the sidewalk into the clinic. Henry was on the floor. That was followed by just streams of hate mail — before social media, thank God — death threats. …
That was life-changing because I felt protected by Dr. Morgentaler. He’s an Auschwitz concentration camp survivor. So, my view was if he survived that and he’s here working for women and women’s safety, I don’t have to be afraid. I can confront anything, too.
9. What is your greatest indulgence?
Movies, movies, movies.
10. What is your favourite movie or book?
It’s impossible to answer considering all the gazillions of footage of celluloid behind my eyes, but I tend to incline toward (Italian filmmaker Federico) Fellini’s “8 ½.” It’s a film touchtone for me. I taught it. I love it. It was kind of my formation as a film studies student. As for books, anything by Michael Crummey just transports me.
11. How do you like to relax?
Gardening, cooking and Netflix, just like everybody else.
12. What are you watching or reading right now?
I love “The New Pope." It’s on HBO, Crave. It’s not for everybody, but it’s outrageous, irreverent, gorgeous. I just finished reading for a Canada book prize jury, so I had to read and rank about 50 social science and humanities texts, so my mind is absolutely desperate for fiction or trashy magazines. Seriously!
13. What is your greatest fear?
Ill health, just like everybody else.
14. How would you describe your personal fashion statement?
Classic with funky edges.
15. What is your most treasured possession?
My 1982 Cochrane Street house. Been in that since almost the day I got here 35 years ago. It’s been a labour — or money pit — of love.
16. What physical or personality trait are you most grateful to a parent for?
From both parents, sociability — being present in the world with people. That sounds corny, but I learned a lot from their own joie de vive. They had a great lust for life and that was inspiring for me and my brother.
17. What three people would join you for your dream dinner party?
George Clooney, Meryl Streep and Leonard Cohen. Everybody says Barack Obama, so I’ll say no. George Clooney knows Barack Obama, so I’ll take George Clooney.
18. What is your best quality?
Sense of humour.
19. What is your worst quality?
That one was hard, so I asked my husband, who thinks, of course, I’m perfect. He said, “You’re stubborn.” I said, “Yeah, that’s true, but I’m only stubborn with you.”
20. What’s your biggest regret?
That I didn’t meet my current husband sooner.
