Missing a Great Detroit Legend
Today, all of us who knew George Cantor are mourning the loss of a great friend, amazing writer and genuine Detroit man.
Cantor, a longtime Detroit News column writer, passed away Friday at age 69. His obituary highlights his love of the Detroit Tigers, the University of Michigan and all things Detroit. I had the privilege of sitting with the man at lunch for many years when I worked at The Detroit News. He was generous with his laughter, always quick with a quip and a keen observer of everything. I admired him greatly.
Here is a link to a story he wrote about the city's great heat wave of 1936. A highlight:
...This disaster of 1936 is almost forgotten. Ask Detroiters who lived through it and they probably could not recall the dates or even the year. Those too young to have firsthand recollection very likely have never heard of the July when the summer turned killer. There was no great destruction of property, no visible aftermath, as is the case with most disasters with a death toll that high. Heat depends upon a cumulative impact to make an impression, not one quick and terrible strike that is seared into the memory. After it has passed, it blends in with all the other hot spells of a lifetime.
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Well-said, Karen. I also enjoyed every contact with George and learned from his storytelling skills.
His genuine warmth, grace and dignity were like rare gems amid the crass climbers, pompous poseurs and brash blowhards the profession seems to attract or create. George was the real deal, a stylish craftsman without need for pretense.
Yes, we and readers were privileged indeed.
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Beautiful comments both.
It seems that we are losing some of the local greats lately.
I hope that it's not the pressure of the recession.John Buechel was an absolutely wonderful artist with a very light touch. In a sense he was our Norman Rockwell without a maudlin touch. His work was sensitive and delicate and happy. I think that he is far greater than realized. Such a deft touch.
And Nelson House, who initiated the Dream Cruise. Somehow he touched a nerve and created an event in great homage to Detroit and the Automobile.
Bill
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I had the misfortune of being on the end of many of George's angry rants and nasty emails... I onced lived in West Bloomfield near George he got so angry with me over some commentaries I had written that he hand delivered a letter to my home that was pretty vile I returned the letter to him and he contacted me later with an apology..
George was a super writer he wrote many books including a book on the historical landmarks of Black Americans...
He was a a good man..I forgive you George...RIP
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Very interesting! Strange how our lives cross sometimes. Thank you for sharing this story.
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Great sports writer with a wry wit. I got the feeling he never was the same optimist after the terrible and senseless loss of his daughter at the U. of M...A decent human being.
- TheDetroitHouse After a year of learning, observing and understanding, TIME says goodbye to Detroit. Podcast: All Good Things... http://shar.es/0V3I7 - 1 year ago
- TheDetroitHouse Our Donation to Detroit http://shar.es/0FX2T - 1 year ago
- TheDetroitHouse Read Kristy Erdodi's "How Detroit Became My Sexy City" http://bit.ly/9zG13z - 1 year ago
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