Anthony Francis Wilde

Anthony Francis Wilde “Tony” August 23, 1941 - August 15, 2024 Tony’s life began in a dramatic fashion: he was born on his Grandmother’s dining room table, in Hayes, Middlesex, England, during the Blitz. His father, Harold Dixon Wilde, heroically escorted the doctor through the enforced blackout, by trudging ahead of his car with a flashlight. His Mother, Annie (Fitzpatrick), bravely did her part. Some of Tony’s first memories are of sitting with neighbours in the local bomb shelter or hiding under the stairs with his Mom. He also remembers gathering with his friends, drinking lemonade in the backyard of the local pub, while the parents socialized inside. He grew up in a house with several lodgers, which both enriched his life and encouraged him to go out and engage with his community. He fulfilled his duties as an altar boy and on weekends, travelled by coach into London, where his Aunt Alice welcomed him with cheese rations saved especially for him. Tony loved cheese! He attended Gunnersby Catholic Grammar School, enjoyed the camaraderie of the all- boys school, and often recounted jogging around 10 Downing St for physical education. He greatly appreciated the architecture and museums of London. It was a shock then, when at the age of fifteen, the family immigrated to Scarborough, Ontario! Tony enrolled in the Ryerson Photo-Electric Arts program in his early twenties, where he found his best friends for life, John, Richard and Karl, and his vocation in the media. He also said goodbye to the love of his life - his blue Harley Davidson motorcycle, which he sold to help pay for everyone’s tuition until the student loans came through. After a variety of jobs, including working on Rocket Robin Hood, Tony went on to be a News Editor at Global Television for twenty-five years. He could often be seen at the back of the broadcast studio dropping off tapes during the 6 o’clock news. The highlight of his career was travelling to Florida to witness the launch of the Space Shuttle. Loved for his generosity and wicked sense of humour, Tony could always be counted on for a good story. He had at heart a sense of justice and welcomed opportunities to share his views, starting with being Student Council President in High School and at Ryerson, and going on to initiate the union at Global Television. Tony was the original DIY guy: renovating houses, fixing cars, and building trellises. He loved his tools! He could always be relied on for his great Halloween costumes and for a supply of fireworks on Victoria Day and Canada Day. Tony was a family man and a wonderful father. He is survived by his wife, Liz, sons Dorian, Christian (his wife Adele), and Nolan (his wife Michelle), and grandchildren Wren, Meave, Silas, and Harlan. Sadly he is predeceased by his beloved daughter Naomi, who died of Cystic Fibrosis at age 29, 1997, and his younger brother Paul, who died in 2010. Cremation has taken place and a private burial will be held at Mount Hope Cemetery. Celebration of Tony’s life will take place in early October. We would like to thank the staff at Michael Garron Hospital for their dedication and kindness, and the Palliative Care team from Temmy Latner at Mt. Sinai for their support. If you would like to make a donation in Tony’s memory, we would be grateful for donations to Michael Garron Hospital (https://www.mghf.ca/ways-give) or Cystic Fibrosis Canada (https://www.cysticfibrosis.ca/get-involved/donate-today).