A salute to The 62
Andy Donato, a Scarborough-born 1955 Danforth Technical School grad, has been entertaining the masses with his award-winning and often controversial editorial cartoons for more than four decades. The former Eaton's layout artist's first print media cartoon was published in the Telegram in 1968. Now, a day without a Donato cartoon in the Sun is a cloudy day. Freelancing since 1996, Andy, the architect of the Toronto Sun's original iconic logo and design, devotes much of his non-Sun time to golf, landscape paintings and art shows. Dianne Jackson, his wife and former Sun colleague, is also an artist. Andy's best-of books, published from 1974 to 1993 and featuring many of Canada's politicians and prime ministers, were sellouts. Here's to a 40th anniversary book with his all-time favourites.If you are a Toronto Sun Day Oner and have a bio or memories to share, please email with a photo.
If you are one of the hundreds of men and women in all departments who followed The 62 and want to share your memories of the Toronto Sun in the next few weeks, email TSF.
We want to give everyone the opportunity to mark the 40th anniversary.
I have all the respect in the world for "day-oners", but I always enjoyed the sign John Kryk put atop his desk as another anniversary approached: "I'm a Day 1,565er" (the exact number escapes me.) The point being, his contribution, and those of many others, was no less significant to the history of the Sun than those 62 so mythologically revered here and elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI agree. The Sun sports dept. was never better than it was in the mid-to-latter part of the '90s. As far as I know, we were the only Canadian sports section -- ever -- to be recognized as one of the top 10 in North America by APSE. Great leadership, great columnists and writers, and the best desk I have ever had the pleasure to work with. Unmatched then, and now. And we likely would have made the cut a few more times during that era if not for the U.S. bias in judging.
ReplyDeleteBish
Do you not credit George Gross, a Day Oner, for establishing that standard of excellence? The Baron's touch impacted the sports department for decades and is no doubt still felt around the sports desk today. Most of the Day Oners set the pace, thus our tribute to The 62. Those who followed The 62 are invited to tell their own Sun stories over the next few weeks by emailing TSF.
ReplyDeleteIs it not a little sad that someone has to whine that they (or their friends, peers, etc) are not being recognized when someone else is? It strikes me that The 62 are quite worthy of the recognition and while they might be the only ones who are, recognizing them doesn't take away from anyone else. Just a thought.
ReplyDelete@ Anonymous 2:38 p.m. - Then I guess this isn't a "blog for former and current employees of the Toronto Sun and siblings to reflect on 39 years of life in a word factory." Neither Pat, nor I, were whining. This forum has served a great purpose through some god-awful, turbulent times for all of us, no matter when we served. George was a friend, mentor and father figure to us all. Andy is an incredible artist. Without Doug, we wouldn't be having this conversation. Compared to some of the ill-tempered raging against all the perceived nostalgia here, I thought were we being polite. We're all nostalgic, just for different eras.
ReplyDeleteAre there any Tely originals left ?
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