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Gone at 78
Last edited by BeatleTeunis (February 1, 2025 11:14 pm)
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This is devastating news. John and I have been speaking to each other over the past few years, and I was well aware of his battles with various forms of cancer. But as recently as a few weeks ago, he was rallying and seemed to be doing much better.
I had been trying to reach John on the phone this week but could never get an answer. Now, sadly, I know why. My extreme condolences to his wonderful wife, who was by his side the entire time and never gave up hope, and his kids, some of whom are in town and others living elsewhere.
He was an enormously talented announcer, disc jockey and an expert on music unlike any I've ever known. And he was an excellent human being. I can safely say there will never be another quite like him.
This is not the outcome all of his friends and family were hoping for. But at the very least, I'm grateful he's no longer suffering.
So long Mr. Donabie. You truly were one of a kind. And I will miss our conversations and your amazing stories.
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So sorry to read this. John Donabie was an excellent broadcaster and a valuable contributor to this board. My condolences to his family.
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Very, very sad to hear about this.
JD was probably the most versatile announcer Toronto radio ever had. He did virtually every format possible.
But more important, he was truly a great guy.
Rest In Peace, John.
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Very sorry to hear this. My condolences to Mr. Donabie's friends and family.🙏
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Very sad. Great memories of him from his first stint at CHUM FM. His Sock hop program is where I first heard some of the oldies. Also remember that at 4 PM he used to feature one act. He is on that composite I sent last week of all of the 70's era free form jocks at CHUM FM. Now I know why he did not comment on Garth Hudson's passing.
I think I have a tape of the interview he did with John Lennon in 1974 but someone else has put it up on You Tube::
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OH my - so sad to read this. We had continued to chat....
Good Night Dear John. God Speed....
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I'm so sorry to hear this. I enjoyed his posts on this board and, of course, listening to him on the various stations he worked at. He seemed like a decent person.
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He really was the same guy that you heard on the air - likeable, smart and very generous with his time. He told me recently that of all the honours he's had over the years, being inducted into the Oshawa Walk of Fame last year was one of his favourites. It was his hometown and to be recognized in the place he grew up was very meaningful to him.
It was one of the last ceremonies he attended and I'm so very glad he got to see it.
I should also mention that John was one of the few people that actually had two profiles on SOWNY. He mostly filed under his own name, but when I took over, I discovered he was also registered under the moniker "AMFM" when he had something to say that he preferred to express anonymously. .
I will also miss his contributions here. They were always insightful and fun. Just like he was.
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I wasn't expecting to read this sad news when I logged in this morning. My condolences to all who loved him.
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I remember john on CFRB on weakend mornings when I was a little boy in the 2000s.
His show was very entertaining.
Lots of musical guests.
John, you will be missed on the radio.
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If anyone wants to hear John and me talking about his career in radio for 2 hours, including his memories of The Last Waltz and interviewing John Lennon, I've shared our amazing chat in this memorial episode of Toronto Mike'd.
He was a sweetheart. Here's the Apple link if you'd like to hear his amazing voice sharing details of his stops at CKFH, CHUM-FM, Q107, CJCL, CFGM, CFRB, CKFM, CKEY, CISS-FM, Jazz-FM and CIUT.
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As of this posting, John's passing is the lead story on Broadcast Dialogue. Given his stature in the industry and the sheer breadth of his musical knowledge, it's exactly where he belongs.
Radio Veteran John Donabie Dead At 78
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Here's some JD from Aug 1973 with a bit of Sock Hop at the end.
JD 1973 CHUM FM
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Here's a link to great pic of Donabie, sitting with some of his heroes - Bob Dylan and Ronnie Hawkins.
Talk about the company you keep!
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My condolences too. He was down to earth and professional. I used to love his weekend morning show duties on CFRB. May John R.I.P.
He did well.
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Found another long lost :30 sec. promo from his CJCL days, and this one illustrates what made him such a great musical mentor. He would often have performers on his show doing live tunes, something few radio stations ever attempted.
The voiceover guy is another late great radio hero: Tom Fulton.
You can hear this one here.
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Details on the funeral, which will be livestreamed.
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Nice to hear CFRB pay tribute to John on their morning show. Often in radio, it's off the air, out of mind. He worked there for a while, and he deserves to be remembered.
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Veteran music journalist Larry LeBlanc remembers his old friend, along with comments from a few other well known radio types including Duff Roman, who worked with John at both CKFH And CHUM-FM.
Canadian Radio Icon DJ John Donabie Has Passed Away
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Nice touch showing photos of how John's appearance changed as he went through life. My only knowledge is from his occasional shot of him fronting the CKFH charts.
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This line in the obit bio is incorrect. He was only at CIUT for two years not six.
He retired in 2018 after hosting for six years the weekly “Mixed Bag” show on the University of Toronto campus station CIUT-FM.
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John's official obit has been published in the Toronto Star. It lists some of the 17 stations he worked at, along with the years he was there. It shows just what an amazing talent he was, with most of the places encompassing different formats, including Top 40, prog rock, jazz, country and even talk.
I'm not sure I've ever met anyone with such an extensive radio resume or with so many stations on it. And outside of two instances where he trekked off to Montreal and Vancouver, all the positions were in the GTA.
The copy contains one other eye-opening bit of news I never knew and I'm guessing most here didn't either - how close we came to never hearing him at all.
"We were incredibly blessed to have John on this earth for 78 years, considering he was given his last rites and not expected to survive on the day he was born."
Wow. I had no idea.
Rest In Peace John. You have signed off, but your voice will echo through the corridors of local radio for a long time.
John Donabie Official Obit
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I just received a nice thank you from John's family for a donation I made in his name. Included was a small card, and I thought the back of it was especially appropriate. It features a verse from Bob Dylan, John's all time favourite musician.
I'm sorry he never got to see the Timothee Chalamet flick "A Complete Unknown," which he told me he was looking forward to. Perhaps wherever he is now, he can get a front row seat.
Anyway, I thought some here might like to see the memorial card his family made. I know John would have really appreciated it.
Miss you buddy!
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John's first show at CIUT on March 19, 2016 was a work of art, and I'm glad a procured a copy.
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Last edited by Dale Patterson (March 13, 2025 1:10 pm)