Leonard passed away suddenly, Saturday June 26, 2010 at St. Joseph ’s Hospital in Elliot Lake Ontario
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Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2011 2:17 PM
ReplyDeleteSubject: Passing of Lenny Johnson
Hi Russ
I got this today from Wick up in Elliot Lake. I had no idea Lenny was living up there and no idea he had died.
I had not seen Lenny since the summer of 1959 but recall that he was a troubled Dude on and off throughout his life. When he came to Alberta with Al Hepburn Lenny worked on a cattle ranch down at Gem. He loved the booze in those days and may have over the years. The last I heard was that he was working as a waiter at the A so my knowledge is very scant indeed.
His younger brother was a great friend of my mother's and of my brother's Charles and Michael. The younger brother was an outstanding guitar player but the name escapes me at the moment.
Not sure what to think of the 'very close friend of Walter Blight' but do recall Al Hepburn giving him a bad time for hanging out at George Letrow's in Toronto back in the Fifties. I think Al said Lenny was George's driver at one point. Letrows was the only Gay Bar that I had ever heard of in those days.
He certainly was an interesting guy. I first met him when he as the delivery guy for Elliot's Drug Store. He'd borrow smokes and share them with Johnny, Ryan and I in our old underground fort on Norton just across and up from the Ryan house.
I always regret the "No Services" thing when people die. Even if the guy was an asshole - people should be given the chance to say that. Slipping out without notice is just not fair.
All the best
Richard Dowson
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2011 2:36 PM
ReplyDeleteSubject: Re: Passing of Lenny Johnson
Well, that's such a shame - as for a gay hangout let us not forget the St. Charles - I think that's what it was called - but, then again, no - it became that later in the 60s -
You didn't attach the email but I suspect that there was no service - I always thought there should have been a service for Sal and a party after. Somebody always wants to say goodbye to the dearly departed...
- Marry Harris
Sometime in the late 50s Lenny and I were in the Gonks having some beers. We were both out of work and Len suggested we go down to the Toronto Harbor to see if we could get jobs working on the docks. We were just buzzed enough to think that was a good idea. I had a TR3 at the time so we bombed down to the Toronto Harbour Commission seeking employment on the docks. We were told that we had to go to Pier 24 if we wanted work. Before we left I asked the Receptionest if there were any openings in the Data Processing Dept. There was and I got the job (thats a whole other story). If it wasn't for Lenny's suggestion my whole life would have been different.
ReplyDeleteRest in Peace Lenny
Ken Pittam Jan 23/2011
As far as Len being gay...no way and being a driver for G. Letros, no way.
ReplyDeleteIn the fifties a lot of the Willowdale lads would go down to Letros, it
was an adventure and certainly opened our eyes to a side of life that was unknown in those days. I recall that one night Dale Fulton went down with some of the lads and almost caused a riot, stampede ,what ever. ( Dale was a good looking chap ,very masculine looking in those days) As far as I know none of the lads joined in to that way of life.
One thing about it we all had a good laugh at some of these pathetic
people but the novelty wore off quickly.
I could fill a book with stories of Len. Here's one: Len and I were
invited to a party in the city somewhere and as was normal with Len he had a few drinks before going to "put him in a party mood". On arriving he had a "Few" more and at one point in the evening stood up and lost his balance, he stumbled backwards arms flailing to keep his balance and knocked over a table, through a room divider still stumbling backwards and ended up crushing a coffee table. When he did get up, picking pieces of wood and arborite out of his clothing he said " I guess I got a bit of a weave on.
That was so Lenny.
Dave D.
I talked to Wick this morning on the phone he did not have much information about Len other than he ran into him several times in Elliot Lake. He said that Len was using a walker and had a colonoscopy.
ReplyDeleteWick seems to be very happy up there, just loves the area and seems quite content.
D.D.
My early love life.......
ReplyDeleteMany years ago during the dawning of our teen years many outdoor events took place. These were termed “BEER ROASTS” as apposed to weenie roasts. A favorite remembered location was the “TRESTLE” also spoken of in fond terms as “BARE ASS BEACH’. This was area of the Don River was spanned by a railway bridge hence the name of The Trestle.
One of these events I recall in particular. One Friday evening I remember -we entered the path leading to the Trestle from the east – Leslie st. via a farmer’s field, the other entrance was from Shepherd ave. through the Miller paving yard. The field and Millers yard have long since gone.
As we trudged through that field in single file with many cases of 24 beverages balanced on our heads it looked an African Safari heading into the sinking sun and the presence of some noisy hyenas would have completed the picture.
Once arrived at the east bank of the Don River several of the young gentlemen partook of the beverages, well, in fact we all did and amid laughter, gaiety, off color jokes and much fraternization among members of opposite genders (I hope) we celebrated the rites of youth, cold beverages and the birthday of Lenin.
Here it is important that we discuss the geography of the Trestle area: the west bank of our gathering spot had a small beach area that gently sloped in the babbling and gently flowing waters of the polluted Don river While the east side was a steep sandy cliff and at the top of this was our gathering spot of that evening.
Present that evening was a young lady named Jane who had set my heart on fire over the preceding months and while the sun set, darkness fell over us I, filled with beverages, seized the moment to have a few seconds alone with my hearts desire. Boldly taking her hand I murmured in my best impersonation of James Dean after 12 beverages “ Let us step into the trees together Jane”. My heart took wings as Jane followed me and then in a curious moment I felt myself floating through space followed by a large splash as I landed in the river. Whether blinded by love or beverage I had stepped off the edge of the cliff and landed in the river while leaving Jane’s hand still attached to her body and safely still on firm ground. This was the cause of much laughter at my expense and also cooled my ardor for the time being. Several of the gentlemen present assisted me in climbing up the steep cliff, which allowed my soaking clothes to collect many many grains of sand both inside and out. It appears that Jane and I were not meant to be as later that summer I took her to see the James Dean movie “Rebel Without a Cause” and later that night with my ardor regained I again seized a moment to plant a kiss on her lips which was reciprocated, alas disaster struck again and as our lips engaged so did our teeth with a most unromantic but very audible clack. My thoughts were ‘How would James Dean handle this” and I resolved to see the movie again and observe his kissing techniques.
Very soon after this Jane and her family moved to the city and she was lost in the sands of time but, however, not the sands of the Don River.
Dave D.