Family, friends say farewell to Gary Dalliday
‘The Diller’ remembered as a key player in sports scene
A local sports icon and broadcasting legend was laid to rest Saturday.
Gary Dalliday, 76, died of cancer on Aug. 10.
His funeral was at Sacred Heart Church, where Fr. Bill Moloney delivered mass. It was followed by a reception at the Evinrude Banquet Facility.
Church pews were overflowing with family, friends, dignitaries, and many faces from the media and sports community.
Mr. Dalliday leaves behind his wife Donna, his three children, Tim, Krista and Pete, and six grandchildren.
Affectionately known as The Diller, Mr. Dalliday was a fixture in the local sports scene for more than 50 years.
He was a sports director at CHEX-TV for nearly 35 years and was inducted into the Peterborough and District Hall of Fame for his dedication to sports. He was also inducted into Peterborough’s Pathway of Fame for his media work.
Graham Hart, who recently retired from CHEX-TV, worked with Mr. Dalliday for about 40 years. Although Mr. Dalliday didn’t have any formal training in the industry, Hart said, he was a natural.
“He was a storyteller and he knew sports inside out,” Hart said after the funeral Saturday.
Ted Eason also worked with Mr. Dalliday at CHEX from 1979 to 1998.
Eason was in accounting, but said Mr. Dalliday was in charge of Eason’s first love: Sports.
“I probably spent more time talking to Gary about sports than I did doing accounting working,” Eason said with a smile.
Eason said Mr. Dalliday was “first class” and “a lot of fun.”
He also knew local sports like no other.
“He knew the sports community so intimately,” Eason said.
George Ellis played oldtimers’ hockey with Mr. Dalliday.
Many years ago, Ellis, Mr. Dalliday and their wives travelled to Ottawa for a tournament. A fellow player on the team said he could get the two couples a good deal on a hotel room.
When they checked in, they noticed their wing of the hotel was blocked off and there wasn’t any heat.
“We had to sleep with our clothes on,” said Ellis.
Mr. Dalliday coached Len Powers, also known as Smokey, in midget hockey.
Powers said his former coach always had a good quip in store but was also serious about the way things should be done.
Above all, Mr. Dalliday was encouraging.
“He’d always give you a pat on the back,” said Powers.
Powers, a board member for the Peterborough Century 21 Lakes, said Mr. Dalliday built the local sports community.
“I think that will be his legend,” Powers said.
Mr. Dalliday was the voice of the Peterborough Petes when Ron Tugnutt played for the team.
He said he still has some old VHS tapes with Mr. Dalliday calling the plays.
Tugnutt, a Toronto native who now calls Peterborough home, said he’d often run into Mr. Dalliday on the golf course when they weren’t at the rink.
“He always had a smile on his face. He was always willing to talk and honestly, he bragged about Peterborough,” said Tugnutt.
The retired NHLer said Mr. Dalliday was a hard worker, who didn’t just have the scope on local players, but on all the visiting players, too.
“He worked extremely hard, but he always promoted our team first – he was definitely a homer broadcaster,” said Tugnutt.
He described Mr. Dalliday as a great person who always seemed to have time for everybody.
“When the city hall flag is at half-mast, you’re a special person.”