WUTKE o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-06-17 published
McLENAGHEN,
Murray
A.
Loving husband of Persis
McLENAGHEN, Richmond, Ottawa. Much loved
and missed father of Tara (Drew) and D'Arcy (Nick), and grandfather
of Olivia and Alex
LAHAIE, and Nicole
HATELY, all of Toronto.
Uncle of Joan
BECK, Harold
McLENAGHEN and the late Donna
WUTKE,
and many cousins in Western Canada. Devoted friend of Walter
and Ruth FAHRIG, and enthusiastic honorary uncle of Kristen,
Lenore, Martha and Rebecca. Born in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba,
on November 13, 1925. Splashed in prairie sloughs, sweated in
the mines, went to war with eyes open, returned in peace time
to a career designing the interiors of Canada's embassies - and
took from it all the stories from which we clamoured and from
which we learned the value of the view from another's shoes,
and the essential soul-saving skill at laughing at oneself. With
you we found richly textured summers, exploring backroads and
wild places. We encountered no subject that was not ripe for
inspection and lively debate. With you we flourished - had room
to grow and make mistakes, but were always wrapped safely in
your unabashed love and affection. We love you more than words
can say, and will miss you. A memorial service will be held at
St, John's Anglican Church (67 Fowler Street, Richmond) on Monday,
June 20th, 2005 at 3 p.m. followed by a reception from 4-7 p.m.
at the family home. In lieu of flowers, memorial charitable donations
would be appreciated.
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WUTTUNEE o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-06-18 published
Couriers honour mentor
City's oldest messenger dies on job
More than 100 attend impromptu wake
By Sikander Z.
HASHMI,
Staff
Reporter,
Page B3
He was their mentor, their "grandfather."
They were his life.
More than 100 bike couriers working in the city's core came out
to remember Bob
BYERS, who died Thursday while on the job. He
was 58.
"I'm blown away," said Jim
BYERS, "
Biker
Bob's" younger brother,
as the crowd gathered on the sidewalk in front of the Duke of
Richmond on James St.
BYERS died on Thursday afternoon of what
his Friends believe was likely a massive heart attack.
John, a courier who didn't want to give his last name, recalls
passing BYERS at the corner of Queen St. W. and James St. that
afternoon and saying "Hi." About 10 minutes later,
BYERS reportedly
turned purple and collapsed. He died soon after.
The crowd of couriers, dispatchers, drivers and walkers gathered
to pay their respects to
BYERS and to have "a beer for Bob."
"We're gonna... send him off peacefully to heaven, where he belongs,"
said Eric WUTTUNEE, one of the organizers of the wake for
BYERS,
who had been a courier for 18 years.
There's no question that
BYERS was a giant in the courier community.
A gentle giant.
"He was a great guy all around," said
WUTTUNEE.
"He was always more compassionate to younger guys coming on the
road, always trying to give them the lowdown of the do's and
don'ts as a courier.
"No matter what age you were, he'd always talk to you as if you
were the same age as him."
It's believed that
BYERS was the oldest courier in town.
"I will forever be a rookie to this guy," said a courier, who
didn't want his name used.
"He was always in a good mood," said another.
"Fiercely independent" is how Jim described
BYERS. "He was the
family hermit."
But that didn't diminish his fondness for his brother.
"He was completely invincible till yesterday," Jim
BYERS said.
Kip GORDON said his uncle's biggest fear was to become incapacitated
before he died.
"He just wanted to ride."
But there was no riding or driving on Queen St. for a couple
of minutes as the couriers took to the street and lay down their
bikes in memory of
BYERS.
"It was a hero's goodbye, I guess,"
GORDON said.
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