Remembering some famous Quebecers who died in 2020
Maman Dion, Pocket Rocket, Norton, Lockwood among Quebecers who died in 2020
Some had a knack for bringing Montrealers together. Others steadfastly defended minority rights or changed the face of the city. Still others are fondly remembered for entertaining us and raising money for good causes.
Here's a look at some prominent Quebecers who died in 2020, among them community leaders, philanthropists, politicians, artists, journalists and sports greats.
COMMUNITY LEADERS KAPPY FLANDERS, 81
Flanders became a tireless palliative-care advocate, after her husband, Eric, died of lung cancer in 1991. She was instrumental in establishing Mcgill University's Chair in Palliative Medicine, the first in North America. The Montreal General Hospital credits her philanthropic efforts for helping “revolutionize lung cancer treatments and palliative care.”
FATHER JOHN WALSH ,78
One of Montreal's best-known Catholic priests, Walsh was a pastor in parishes in Notre-damede-grâce and Lasalle, hosted a radio show on CJAD and was known for his ability to reach out to different religious communities. Such was his standing with other faith communities that Walsh was warmly remembered at an interfaith memorial service as well as at a Catholic funeral.
JACQUES MÉNARD, 74
A longtime Bank of Montreal executive and director at several Quebec companies, Ménard was a prominent proponent for revitalizing Montreal. Skilled at rallying people around issues and causes, he was an engaged philanthropist and a champion of the arts. As chair of the Expos, he worked to keep professional baseball in Montreal.
TED WRIGHT, 70
A determined tenants' rights advocate for 35 years, Wright helped countless Montrealers with lease issues via the Housing Hotline, the Westmount Legal Clinic and a show on CINQ-FM.
INDIGENOUS LEADERS JOE NORTON, 70
A former ironworker, Norton was first elected to the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake in 1978 and was grand chief for almost 30 years. As a key negotiator, he helped defuse the 1990 Oka Crisis. Norton was remembered for his “efforts to unify diverse First Nations and perspectives to create a common front.”
MAX GROS-LOUIS, 89
Grand chief of the Huron-wendat First Nation, near Quebec City, for more than 30 years, Gros-louis was known for his work to expand the nation's territory and raise awareness of Canada's mistreatment of Indigenous Peoples.
POLITICS HERBERT MARX, 88
A justice minister under Liberal premier Robert Bourassa, Marx resigned in protest in 1988, saying he could not accept the “suspension of fundamental civil liberties.” The issue: the Liberal government's use of the Canadian Charter of Rights' notwithstanding clause to make French the only language allowed on outdoor commercial signs. In 1989, he was appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec.
MARC-ANDRÉ BÉDARD, 85
A founding member of the Parti Québécois and one of the first to be elected under the sovereignist party's banner, Bédard served as justice minister under Premier René Lévesque. Among his accomplishments: making discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation illegal under Quebec's Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.
YVON LAMARRE, 85
As chairman of Montreal's powerful executive committee, Lamarre was mayor Jean Drapeau's right-hand man in the 1970s and 1980s. Lamarre contributed to the creation of the Lachine Canal park, Montreal's first bike paths, the Maison de la Culture network and the métro Green Line's western extension.
LOUISE ROBIC, 85
A Liberal MNA and minister from 1985 to 1994, Robic is best remembered for organizing a pivotal rally during the 1980 sovereignty referendum. Nearly 15,000 women gathered at the Montreal Forum to counter a Parti Québécois minister's suggestion that female No supporters were “Yvettes,” the name of a submissive character in an old school textbook.
CLAUDE CASTON GUAY, 91
Remembered as the father of Quebec health insurance, the creator of the Quebec Pension Plan and an architect of the Quiet Revolution, Castonguay served as a provincial Liberal minister in the early 1970s and later a Progressive Conservative senator.
REEDS COWEN, 88
A steadfast defender of Quebec's anglophone community, Reed was a Liberal MNA from 1978 to 1987. A former businessman, he went on to become Quebec's delegate general to London and then New York. The author of two books about Quebec politics, he was chairman of anglophone-rights group Alliance Quebec in the early 1990s.
LEO KOLBER, 90
A business leader and top federal Liberal fundraiser, Kolber served in the Senate from 1983 to 2004. A longtime adviser to Montreal's Bronfman family, he established Cadillac Fairview, the real estate behemoth, and was a prolific philanthropist.
JOAN DOUGHERTY ,93
A two-term Liberal West Island MNA in the 1980s, Dougherty was a former chair of the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal who was a lifelong advocate for public education.
MICHEL GAUTHIER, 70
A Bloc Québécois MP from 1993 to 2007 and party leader in 1996, Gauthier became a political commentator. In 2018, he renounced sovereignty and threw his support behind the federal Conservatives.
ALINE CHRÉTIEN,84
As a confidante and adviser, she played an important behind-thescenes role in the political career of her husband, former prime minister Jean Chrétien. She was praised for her unflappability after a knife-wielding intruder confronted her outside the couple's bedroom in the prime minister's official residence one night in 1995.
ALFONSO GAGLIANO, 78
A longtime federal Liberal MP and minister, Gagliano's department was in charge of the scandal-plagued sponsorship program created by Chrétien's government to promote federalism in Quebec. As the scandal engulfed the Liberals in 2004, Gagliano was dismissed as Canada's ambassador to Denmark. He later ran an Eastern Townships vineyard that bears his name.
SPORTS HENRI RICHARD, 84
Winner of a record 11 Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens, Richard was a Hall of Fame centreman. At five-foot-seven and 160 pounds, “Henri didn't have the size, but few of his peers could match him in terms of the passion he brought to the game,” according to Gazette sportswriter Red Fisher. Nicknamed Pocket Rocket, he was the little brother of another distinguished Hab, Maurice “Rocket” Richard.
PIERRE LACROIX, 72
A former player agent, Lacroix was general manager of the Quebec Nordiques and the Colorado Avalanche, guiding the latter to two Stanley Cups.
DEREK AUCOIN,50
A pitcher, Aucoin played two games with the Montreal Expos in 1996 and was later a sports broadcaster with 98.5 FM and TVA Sports.
RÉGIS LÉVESQUE, 85
A legendary boxing promoter, Lévesque popularized the sport in Montreal in the 1970s and 1980s.
ARTS/BROADCASTING RALPH LOCKWOOD, 80
A zany and popular Montreal radio morning man in the 1970s, American-born Lockwood was a fast-talking, cigar-smoking wisecracker whose tag lines caught on with Montrealers. How's your bird? That's what she said at the Bell Canada picnic. Don't forget to put on your Côte des Neiges.
FLORENCE RICHLER, 90
Beloved wife and “editor in residence” of the late Mordecai Richler, she was a former actress and model who was the Montreal novelist's first reader.
JOEL YANOFSKY ,65
An award-winning author, journalist and teacher, Yanofsky was a longtime Montreal Gazette literary columnist and book reviewer who taught many writers via the Quebec Writers' Federation and Concordia University.
ANDRÉ GAGNON, 84
A pianist and composer, Gagnon rose to international fame in the 1970s thanks to records such as Neiges, and won a Juno award for best-selling album in Canada in 1977.
GEORGE ELROY BOYD, 68
Halifax-born, Boyd became Canada's first Black national television news anchor in 1992 as co-host of CBC Morning Newsworld. He was later a groundbreaking playwright who spent time as writer-in-residence at Montreal's Black Theatre Workshop.
THÉRÈSE TANGUAY DION ,92
Known as Maman Dion, she was the mother of Quebec superstar Céline Dion, and was a TV personality in her own right, hosting a cooking show.
BILLY GEORGETTE, 85
Dubbed “the dean of Montreal club piano players,” Georgette was a veteran Montreal jazz musician. A fixture in Montreal's nightspots for decades, he played at the legendary night club Rockhead's Paradise in the 1960s.
JOURNALISM MICHEL AUGER, 76
A trail-blazing investigative reporter, he plowed ahead even after the Hells Angels motorcycle gang ordered him dead. In 2000, as he arrived at the Journal de Montréal, Auger was shot six times in the back. His exposés continued, and he became a symbol of resistance against biker gangs and intimidation.
WILLIAM JOHNSON,88
A former journalist with The Globe and Mail and Montreal Gazette, Johnson was an author and staunch defender of minority language rights, leading anglophone-rights group Alliance Quebec with an uncompromising style between 1998 and 2000.
BOYCE RICHARDSON, 91
New Zealand-born, Richardson moved to Montreal in 1957 and worked for the Montreal Star, including a stint as London correspondent. He went on to become a renowned author and filmmaker, focusing on Indigenous issues.
ANNABELLE KING, 97
A longtime home editor at the Montreal Gazette, King had previously worked at Chatelaine magazine and Decormag's English edition.
PETER RAKOBOWCHUK ,71
Better known by his radio moniker Peter Ray, Rakobowchuk was a veteran Broadcast News/ Canadian Press reporter known for his fearlessness, enthusiasm and booming voice.