Farewell, Rob Ford
By Sam R on Mar 22, 2016
We’ve all just learned Rob Ford has died.
Our highly entertaining former mayor lost his 18-month battle to cancer at the age of 46, far too young by any standards. Love him or hate him, Ford was a character, bigger and brasher even than our last character, Mel Lastman. He certainly put Toronto on international radar, and if the attention wasn’t always positive, it's hard to argue that he wasn't inspiring.
A statement from his office said, “With heavy hearts and profound sadness, the Ford family announces the passing of their beloved son, brother, husband, and father, Councillor Rob Ford earlier today.” It called him a “dedicated man of the people” who had spent his life “serving the citizens of Toronto.”
Ford was a complex case. Vice magazine called him the crack-smoking mayor the world laughed at, but he also inspired hope in thousands of Torontonians. He made people believe that the city could be a better place, and even if he didn't fulfil that hope, he pointed us in the right direction.
He was also patriarch of a young family, and for their sakes, I hope he found some peace, some insight, in his last days, and I hope they find some in the days to come. The kids are still in elementary school, and that’s far too young to have to deal with the death of your father.
His relationship with his brother was a complicated one too. Losing a sibling is painful — there’s no one else who not only shares your gene pool but also your childhood experience — and I’ve no doubt his brother will miss him greatly.
As a man, he had flaws, like any other man. As a mayor, he lived for the people. He went door to door, he returned personal phone calls, he got involved in the community. It's true, Rob Ford’s story was as complicated as it was fascinating, but there's no denying he was larger than life.
RIP, Mr. Ford. We won’t see your like again.
***
Feature image: Screenshot from Toronto Star video.
