brokenengine on June 28, 2005 at 4:53 PM

Ben was an incredible man.

I had the honour of talking at length with him one evening a few years back. I told him about my bands show that evening at The Vox(used to be young and Dundonald, now a body building supply place), and he actually showed. We spoke more about his life, and he autographed a copy of his book "The Cayenne Pepper Cocktail Does It All".

He used to be harbour master(or a president or VP of the Harbourfront commision? I haven't read the book in awhile, so I might be a little off here). He was a staunch anti-smoker and was at the vangaurd of the movement to ban smoking in the offices of Toronto. He ran across the US wearing a gas mask to get publicity for his cause(and to promote a country song that he wrote, "Boots keep on Walking"). He was an accomplished songwriter.

You MUST get a copy of his book. It's a light read, but fascinating, if only for the fact that it reminds you that there is much more to people than what meets the eye. He will certainly be missed.

Goodbye Ben. May your "Boots Keep On Walking".

jim peterson on June 18, 2007 at 1:09 AM

I was in the RCAF with Ben in the early 1960's. This was at Whitehorse, YT.

I often where he got to. Very sad to hear of his passing.