Obituary for John Gordon "Jack" Farr
“Captain” Jack Farr, the host of The Radio Show from its debut in 1983 to its end in 1992, died this week in Windsor, Ont., where he had been at an assisted living facility for some time. He was 81.
Farr’s off-beat sense of humour and the cast of characters he assembled for The Radio Show made it a Saturday afternoon favourite for Canadians from coast to coast.
Born in Winnipeg and educated there and in Toronto (where he earned a law degree at Osgood Hall) he hung up his robes and followed friend and fellow lawyer Danny Finkleman to the CBC. He appeared for a time as the archetypal Joe Fan on Finkleman’s weekend morning show and on This Country in the Morning with Peter Gzowski.
Setting aside Joe Fan’s habit of pluralizing words without adding the required “s”, the character mirrored Jack’s deep love and knowledge of many sports, with a particular fondness for horse racing.
He also loved after-work socializing with colleagues and friends every Friday -- first at the Union Centre across the street from CBC Winnipeg, then later at the St. James Hotel further down Portage Avenue and, finally, The Grove, a neighbourhood pub a little closer to home. Wherever he went, he made new friends. That included San Miguel de Allende in Mexico where he spent his winters and his cottage at LacLu where he escaped in the summer.
He had moved back to Winnipeg, where The Radio Show was produced, and retired there but had to leave his beloved home in River Heights and move to Windsor when mobility issues made it better to be near family.
Jack leaves behind wife Bonnie Bisnett, son James “Jamie” Farr from a previous marriage, cousin Janet Farr Parks (David), nephews Steve Bradley and David MacPhee, niece Tracy MacPhee, sister-in-law Goldie MacPhee and legions of friends and fans in Canada, Bermuda, and Mexico.
Honouring his wishes, there will be no formal ceremony but family and a few friends will be saying farewell next year at a private event in northwestern Ontario cottage country, where Jack spent many happy years.
For those who wish, donations in Jack’s honour to the Winnipeg Humane Society (winnipeghumanesociety.ca) or a charity of your choice, would be greatly appreciated by the family.
Arrangements entrusted to Families First Funeral Home, 3260 Dougall Ave., South Windsor 519-9639-5841. Share memories, photos or make a donation at www.FamiliesFirst.ca
Farr’s off-beat sense of humour and the cast of characters he assembled for The Radio Show made it a Saturday afternoon favourite for Canadians from coast to coast.
Born in Winnipeg and educated there and in Toronto (where he earned a law degree at Osgood Hall) he hung up his robes and followed friend and fellow lawyer Danny Finkleman to the CBC. He appeared for a time as the archetypal Joe Fan on Finkleman’s weekend morning show and on This Country in the Morning with Peter Gzowski.
Setting aside Joe Fan’s habit of pluralizing words without adding the required “s”, the character mirrored Jack’s deep love and knowledge of many sports, with a particular fondness for horse racing.
He also loved after-work socializing with colleagues and friends every Friday -- first at the Union Centre across the street from CBC Winnipeg, then later at the St. James Hotel further down Portage Avenue and, finally, The Grove, a neighbourhood pub a little closer to home. Wherever he went, he made new friends. That included San Miguel de Allende in Mexico where he spent his winters and his cottage at LacLu where he escaped in the summer.
He had moved back to Winnipeg, where The Radio Show was produced, and retired there but had to leave his beloved home in River Heights and move to Windsor when mobility issues made it better to be near family.
Jack leaves behind wife Bonnie Bisnett, son James “Jamie” Farr from a previous marriage, cousin Janet Farr Parks (David), nephews Steve Bradley and David MacPhee, niece Tracy MacPhee, sister-in-law Goldie MacPhee and legions of friends and fans in Canada, Bermuda, and Mexico.
Honouring his wishes, there will be no formal ceremony but family and a few friends will be saying farewell next year at a private event in northwestern Ontario cottage country, where Jack spent many happy years.
For those who wish, donations in Jack’s honour to the Winnipeg Humane Society (winnipeghumanesociety.ca) or a charity of your choice, would be greatly appreciated by the family.
Arrangements entrusted to Families First Funeral Home, 3260 Dougall Ave., South Windsor 519-9639-5841. Share memories, photos or make a donation at www.FamiliesFirst.ca