Obit

Thursday June 9, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Thursday June 9, 2016 Michael Baldasaro, HamiltonÕs high priest of pot, dead at 67 Michael Baldasaro, a longtime marijuana activist and perennial candidate for office, has died in a Hamilton hospice after a short battle with cancer. Baldasaro, a Church of the Universe minister, died early Thursday morning, church member Rev. Juliet Boyd told The Spectator. He was 67. "It was very quick," said Boyd, noting Baldasaro had died of prostate cancer that had spread throughout his body. He leaves behind an uncle, sisters in Ohio and his son, Aaron, who lives in Vancouver. "And all the church members who adored him," Boyd added. Baldasaro, who'd only been in hospice for about week, made it his mission to help those who were ignored by others, she said. "He bothered with the people nobody else bothered with.Ó Mayor Fred Eisenberger said he was "saddened" to hear about Baldasaro's death. "Michael was true champion of Hamilton. His commitment to the City and his Church of Universe community was unwavering, but more importantly a genuinely nice man. I will miss his passion and good humour," Eisenberger said an emailed statement. "On behalf of the City of Hamilton, our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues. We are sorry for your loss.Ó Baldasaro, who ran for the Marijuana Party, sought office at three levels of government in Hamilton since 1984. In 2014, he ran for mayor. "I'm the common guy," Baldasaro told The Spectator. "It's about time we had someone who knows reality.Ó He wanted to term limits for the mayoral office and pushed for lower city councillor salaries. "I'll take half off the mayor's pay," he promised. "I'm encouraging all councillors to do the same thing.Ó Baldasaro also advocated for the well-being of drug users, sex workers and the homeless. "They shouldn't be in jails. They need help. The police have better things to do than go after these people.Ó Church m

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday June 9, 2016

Michael Baldasaro, Hamilton’s high priest of pot, dead at 67

Michael Baldasaro, a longtime marijuana activist and perennial candidate for office, has died in a Hamilton hospice after a short battle with cancer.

Baldasaro, a Church of the Universe minister, died early Thursday morning, church member Rev. Juliet Boyd told The Spectator. He was 67.

“It was very quick,” said Boyd, noting Baldasaro had died of prostate cancer that had spread throughout his body.

He leaves behind an uncle, sisters in Ohio and his son, Aaron, who lives in Vancouver.

“And all the church members who adored him,” Boyd added.

Baldasaro, who’d only been in hospice for about week, made it his mission to help those who were ignored by others, she said.

“He bothered with the people nobody else bothered with.”

Mayor Fred Eisenberger said he was “saddened” to hear about Baldasaro’s death.

“Michael was true champion of Hamilton. His commitment to the City and his Church of Universe community was unwavering, but more importantly a genuinely nice man. I will miss his passion and good humour,” Eisenberger said an emailed statement.

“On behalf of the City of Hamilton, our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues. We are sorry for your loss.”

Baldasaro, who ran for the Marijuana Party, sought office at three levels of government in Hamilton since 1984. In 2014, he ran for mayor.

“I’m the common guy,” Baldasaro told The Spectator. “It’s about time we had someone who knows reality.”

He wanted to term limits for the mayoral office and pushed for lower city councillor salaries.

“I’ll take half off the mayor’s pay,” he promised. “I’m encouraging all councillors to do the same thing.”

Baldasaro also advocated for the well-being of drug users, sex workers and the homeless.

“They shouldn’t be in jails. They need help. The police have better things to do than go after these people.”

Church member Karen Coruzzi said Baldasaro gave her a new lease on life after helping her get off the streets and hard drugs 25 years ago.

“He taught me to love myself,” she said. “He’s a great man.”

In 2014, he also ran federally for the Marijuana Party in Hamilton Centre. (Continued: Hamilton Spectator)

 

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Wednesday March 22, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Wednesday March 2016 Rob Ford, former Toronto mayor, dead at 46 Rob Ford, the Toronto city councillor who became the world's most famous mayor during a wild, scandal-filled term, is dead at age 46. The married father of two young children died after 18 months of treatment for a rare and aggressive cancer first diagnosed in the midst of his 2014 bid to be re-elected mayor. Ford would have turned 47 on May 28. Ford underwent surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in May 2015, what was then considered his last chance to survive pleomorphic liposarcoma. Though the surgery was hailed as a success, the discovery of two new tumours months later merited repeated rounds of chemotherapy that kept him away from the council chamber and his city hall office. In recent weeks, Ford entered a clinical trial aimed at finding a personalized treatment for his cancer. But the process, which involves implanting a tumour in mice and testing different combinations of drugs, takes four months to complete. As his health worsened, Ford's family set up a website for well-wishers to leave messages of support. "May you have a speedy and successful recovery. Be strong," said one post left Monday. "We need you as Mayor in 2018 to save Toronto." His earlier diagnosis forced Ford to abandon his re-election hopes in September 2014, even as polls suggested he remained a contender. He then coasted to victory in Ward 2 Etobicoke North, which he represented for a decade before his 2010 mayoral triumph. Last year, after learning multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation had shrunk the original tumour enough to allow surgery, a relieved-looking Ford told reporters: "I'm just lucky to be alive today, and I'm just lucky to get another chance at life . . . At least I have a chance." He also thanked people "from all over the world" who had inundated him with hopeful messages. The rumpled populist spent the months following surgery as he had

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday March 22, 2016

Rob Ford, former Toronto mayor, dead at 46

Rob Ford, the Toronto city councillor who became the world’s most famous mayor during a wild, scandal-filled term, is dead at age 46.

The married father of two young children died after 18 months of treatment for a rare and aggressive cancer first diagnosed in the midst of his 2014 bid to be re-elected mayor. Ford would have turned 47 on May 28.

Ford underwent surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in May 2015, what was then considered his last chance to survive pleomorphic liposarcoma.

Though the surgery was hailed as a success, the discovery of two new tumours months later merited repeated rounds of chemotherapy that kept him away from the council chamber and his city hall office.

In recent weeks, Ford entered a clinical trial aimed at finding a personalized treatment for his cancer. But the process, which involves implanting a tumour in mice and testing different combinations of drugs, takes four months to complete.

As his health worsened, Ford’s family set up a website for well-wishers to leave messages of support.

“May you have a speedy and successful recovery. Be strong,” said one post left Monday. “We need you as Mayor in 2018 to save Toronto.”

His earlier diagnosis forced Ford to abandon his re-election hopes in September 2014, even as polls suggested he remained a contender. He then coasted to victory in Ward 2 Etobicoke North, which he represented for a decade before his 2010 mayoral triumph.

Last year, after learning multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation had shrunk the original tumour enough to allow surgery, a relieved-looking Ford told reporters: “I’m just lucky to be alive today, and I’m just lucky to get another chance at life . . . At least I have a chance.”

He also thanked people “from all over the world” who had inundated him with hopeful messages.

The rumpled populist spent the months following surgery as he had the previous 15 years — immersed in politics. He attacked Mayor John Tory’s positions at city hall, gathering ammunition for a declared 2018 mayoral comeback. (Continued: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Monday, January 11, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Monday, January 11, 2016 How David Bowie told us he was dying in the 'Lazarus' video Bowing out with typical style, David Bowie didnÕt just release his last album ÔBlackstarÕ to coincide with his 69th birthday last week, on January 8 Ð he was using it to say goodbye to the world. An 18-month battle with cancer that hardly anyone knew about came to tragic end yesterday (January 10), but Bowie provided bleak hints about his terminal condition for his fans and followers in what was to be the final music video of his that was to be released in his lifetime. Released only four days ago, the video for single ÔLazarusÕ was BowieÕs parting shot, opening with a blindfolded, fragile-looking Bowie laying in bed. His first words Òlook up here, IÕm in heaven/IÕve got scars that canÕt be seenÓ are now obviously an admission of his ill health, rather than just a fantastical musing on mortality. It soon becomes obvious that the bed he's in is a hospital one and Bowie begins to float above it, signifying his transmutation to the other side Ð whatever, or wherever that may be. Watching it now, itÕs a statement as bold as it is bleak. As Bowie writhes around on the bed, trying to break free, another Bowie then appears, a Bowie clad in black and stood upright, a Bowie who can still pose, pout, pick up a pen and create. Inspiration hits him and he scrawls at speed in a notebook, while the other Bowie continues to convulse. As he writes, we see a skull sitting ominously on his writing desk, the spectre of death looming over Bowie and his final creation, before he steps backwards into a wooden wardrobe, a fitting kind of coffin for an icon of style and fashion. "His death was no different from his life - a work of Art," explained Bowie's producer Tony Visconti, in tribute. "He made 'Blackstar' for us, his parting gift. I knew for a year this was the way it would be. I wasn't, however, prepared for it." Creative to the ve

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Monday, January 11, 2016

How David Bowie told us he was dying in the ‘Lazarus’ video

Bowing out with typical style, David Bowie didn’t just release his last album ‘Blackstar’ to coincide with his 69th birthday last week, on January 8 – he was using it to say goodbye to the world.

An 18-month battle with cancer that hardly anyone knew about came to tragic end yesterday (January 10), but Bowie provided bleak hints about his terminal condition for his fans and followers in what was to be the final music video of his that was to be released in his lifetime.

Released only four days ago, the video for single ‘Lazarus’ was Bowie’s parting shot, opening with a blindfolded, fragile-looking Bowie laying in bed. His first words “look up here, I’m in heaven/I’ve got scars that can’t be seen” are now obviously an admission of his ill health, rather than just a fantastical musing on mortality. It soon becomes obvious that the bed he’s in is a hospital one and Bowie begins to float above it, signifying his transmutation to the other side – whatever, or wherever that may be. Watching it now, it’s a statement as bold as it is bleak.

As Bowie writhes around on the bed, trying to break free, another Bowie then appears, a Bowie clad in black and stood upright, a Bowie who can still pose, pout, pick up a pen and create. Inspiration hits him and he scrawls at speed in a notebook, while the other Bowie continues to convulse. As he writes, we see a skull sitting ominously on his writing desk, the spectre of death looming over Bowie and his final creation, before he steps backwards into a wooden wardrobe, a fitting kind of coffin for an icon of style and fashion.

Satirist William Hogarth used art to predict his own death in 1764

Satirist William Hogarth used art to predict his own death in 1764

“His death was no different from his life – a work of Art,” explained Bowie’s producer Tony Visconti, in tribute. “He made ‘Blackstar’ for us, his parting gift. I knew for a year this was the way it would be. I wasn’t, however, prepared for it.” Creative to the very end, the ‘Lazarus’ video is a heartbreakingly sad way to bid farewell, but a more than appropriate one. (Source: NME)

 

RIP Jacques Parizeau

Jacques Parizeau, the Quebec nationalist former Premier has died at the age of 84. He served for many years in the cabinet of René Lévesque before eventually becoming leader of the Parti Québécois. In 1995, he led the Oui force of the sovereignty referendum and narrowly lost by a razor thin majority.

For any cartoonist he was an absolute joy to caricature. For me personally, Parizeau was at his prominence while I was honing my skills as an aspiring editorial cartoonist. Several caricatures I drew of him are seen below which were all drawn in the mid 1990’s. The final cartoon is from 2013.

Thursday August 14, 2014

Thursday August 14, 2014By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday August 14, 2014

Pop-Culture President Fails To Issue Statement on Death of Hollywood Legend

President Barack Obama, whose opinions on entertainment are eagerly awaited by all Americans, has shocked the entertainment industry by ignoring the death of legendary Hollywood actress, and lifelong Democrat, Lauren Bacall.

Bacall, a movie legend whose career included work with filmmakers ranging from Howard Hawks to Douglas Sirk to Lars von Trier, died Tuesday, leaving behind a legacy that included many classic films, a youthful marriage (and early widowhood) to Humphrey Bogart, and a lifetime of activism for liberal causes. Bacall joined protests against the House Un-American Activities Committee, campaigned for two-time failed presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson in the 1950s, and identified herself as “anti-Republican . . . a liberal” in a 2005 Larry King interview.

Yet Bacall’s loyalty to the president’s party has not earned any recognition from the pop-culture-saturated commander-in-chief. Obama has spent much of his time in office taking selfies with cultural notables; giving his opinions on Downton Abbey, Orange Is the New Black, Mad Men, and many other popular television shows; texting with Jay-Z; and gracing the nation with his opinion of Kanye West’s interruption of Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Obama rarely leaves America in the dark about his media diet and pop-culture opinions.

Inconveniently, Obama’s pop connoisseurship is occasionally interrupted by details of national and global politics: Russia is on the verge of invading Ukraine; an area of Iraq the size of Belgium is under the control of a mass-murdering Sunni Islamist terror group; and the United States remains stuck in the longest period of economic stagnation since the Great Depression. But Obama has until now found ways to soldier through, most recently taking time during his Martha’s Vineyard vacation to issue a statement on the death of hirsute funnyman Robin Williams.

The cause of Obama’s Bacall snub is not known. It is possible that he is preparing to hug it out with his former secretary of state Hillary Clinton on the Vineyard tonight. The president may also share the view, held by a large minority of American men, that Martha Vickers, who played Bacall’s slutty younger sister in Hawks’s 1946 adaptation of Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep, was the real hot one. (Source: National Review)

FEEDBACK

Letter to the Editor, August 15, 2014

Poor taste in celebrity death cartoon

 I was disgusted by the lack of sensitivity in Graeme MacKay’s cartoon of Aug. 14, depicting the recent deaths of celebrities and asking who’s next. It was an utter lack of taste and poor decision-making on the part of the editor for publishing it. Shame on you.

 S. Skalko, Hamilton