‘Bulldog’ journalist had passion for news
Former Waterloo Region Record editor found dead following heart attack
Don McCurdy went out Saturday to his favourite bar to pal around with friends and swap stories.
The retired newsman loved to hear stories and tell them, just as he loved to break news when he helped run the newsroom at the Waterloo Region Record.
Then, as he feared, his poor health caught up with him. McCurdy, 67, was found dead Tuesday, alone in his Toronto home. A coroner told his family that he suffered a heart attack.
Colleagues and friends remember a bulldog journalist who was frustrated by government secrecy and passionate about any story he thought might catch a reader’s interest. John McCurdy remembers his brother as a compassionate man who enjoyed debating and typically argued the other side.
Two decades ago, John gave Don a kidney. A decade ago, Don had heart surgery.
“His health has been difficult for him for a long time, but he never complained,” John said, fighting tears. “He always wanted to contribute. He did not want to sit on the sidelines.”
McCurdy joined the Record in 1974 and retired in 2007. Over 33 years he was a reporter, copy editor, Saturday editor, entertainment editor, news editor, assistant managing editor, managing editor and executive editor.
“I learned a long time ago to take the job seriously, but not myself. I simply had a lot of fun and I’ll cherish the memories,” he said upon leaving. “It’s going to take quite a while for me to adjust, but I look forward to the future.”
Adjust he did, involving himself more deeply in the newspaper industry to help shape it.
McCurdy went on to help lead the Ontario Press Council, which resolved complaints against newspapers. A highlight was helping to organize an unusual public hearing in 2013 into coverage of former Toronto mayor Rob Ford and his brother Doug Ford.
McCurdy later helped roll the Ontario council into the national council, to help provincial councils survive the financial turmoil roiling newspapers.
McCurdy taught journalism students at Conestoga College. He chaired the Ontario Newspaper Awards for many years.
“He loved journalism and he loved journalists, and I think he felt like a lot of us do that we often don’t tell our own stories enough,” said Howard Elliott, the Hamilton Spectator’s managing editor, who has also chaired the awards. McCurdy knew the end was near. When Fraser spoke with him in December, “he didn’t think he was going to last the year. But as much as possible, he was going to enjoy the year as much as he could.”
McCurdy was single with two grown children. His family, requesting privacy, has no immediate funeral plans.