February 9, 1936 – March 6, 2013
Charles Thomas "Stompin' Tom" Connors
Charles Thomas "Stompin' Tom" Connors
(Photo credit; canadiandimension.com)
Connors died of kidney failure on March 6, 2013 at his home in Ballinafad. He refused to seek medical treatment, as he was skeptical of the benefits of medical technology.
On March 7, flags were lowered to half-mast at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, and also in Tillsonburg, in order to mark his death. Several members of the federal New Democratic Party caucus, led by former musicians Charlie Angus and Andrew Cash, performed a group rendition of Connors' signature song Bud the Spud in the foyer of the Canadian House of Commons in tribute.
On March 9, that following Saturday night, Hockey Night in Canada broadcast a special tribute to Connors at the opening of its broadcast.
(Photo; www.rcinet.ca)
A tribute appears to Stompin' Tom Connors on the scoreboard while the Toronto Maple Leafs play the Ottawa Senators in Toronto. His classic tune.
In addition to reports and obituaries published in the Canadian media, his death was also reported by the New York Times, BBC News and the Xinhua News Agency.
A memorial was held on March 13, 2013 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre in Peterborough, Ontario.
(Photo; www.cp24.com)
Tommy Hunter attended, and the celebration included speeches by former governor general Adrienne Clarkson and Ken Dryden. Testimonials were given or read from others, including Roméo Dallaire, Rita MacNeil and Liona Boyd.
(Photo; www.highlandparkfuneralcentre.com)
He was subsequently buried at Erin Union Cemetery in Erin, Ontario.The headstone contains these words:
The body has returned to sod,
The spirit has returned to God.
So on this spot, no need for grief,
Here only lies a fallen leaf.
Until new blossoms form in time,
The tree is where I now reside.
But with this poem, as you can see,
They haven’t heard the last of me.
For more see; Tribute To - "Stompin" Tom Connors
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