A sad duty to report the death of Fin Anthony, who inhabited the radio & TV frequencies of Vancouver for over 50 years, invariably transmittting good humour. He died July 16 at age 87. His family published the following obituary in the Vancouver Sun & Province:
“Gladly lived and gladly died, on July 16, 2017, leaving behind my 3 wonderful loving children: John (Debbie), Patsy (Bill), Bruce (Lisa), and 5 superb grandchildren: Thea, Ellen (Nick), Kristen (Stuart), Brian (Shelby) and Brooke (Andrew). Audrey, my beautiful wife of 50 years ‘went on ahead’ in 2002. My life was a Great One – Great family, Great friends, Great fishing and Great God.”
Dad was a creative, passionate man of diverse talents and interests. After leaving a brief teaching career at Gilmour Avenue School, he began working in radio at CKMO, later to become CFUN. He was a news announcer, “Kiddie’s Show” co-host, play-by-play football broadcaster and a late-night disc jockey. Following this, he worked for CKNW in sales and announcing, became an advertising director of the Vancouver News Herald, and a partner in Foster, Young, Ross, Anthony and Associates. He was well-known for his Woodward’s Department Store and Food Floor ads, which he produced for over 20 years. He created the world’s first and largest Salmon Derby in 1958 to celebrate B.C.’s Centennial and was the Director of Rick Hansen’s Man in Motion Tour. He hosted the television show ‘Fishing with Fin’, became the President of Save Our Salmon Society, Save the Fish Foundation, and the Pacific Salmon Society, and led many a fight against the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Ottawa. He lived up to his name, striving to protect the oceans and streams for salmon to survive, and creating a book, entitled “Fins”, about his unique experiences fishing all over British Columbia.
Dad was a compassionate, creative, intelligent, curious, fearless, rebellious and strong-minded role model with an unforgettable sense of humour. But most of all, Dad was a devoted family man, one who gave unconditional love to us all. It was with overwhelming love and sadness that we said goodbye.
As a tribute to Dad, a Celebration of Life will take place this fall when the salmon have returned to our rivers and the cutthroats are back at our beaches. In lieu of flowers or donations, Dad simply wanted to encourage people to express love to those around them.
(picture courtesy of Gord Lansdell at Vancouver Broadcasters)
RIP Fin. You will be missed.
Fin the Friday lunch bunch will miss your candour and wit.. on behalf of the FLB
and early inspiration for the 36 years I’ve been in the advertising business. Who will ever forget “an appealing special – Bananas 59 cents a pound at Woodward this week”
Well done, Fin. I always admire self-written obituaries. As I recall, artist manager/impresario Roger Schiffer penned one. Ditto journalist-turned-spokeswoman Avrill Peters. Who better to write a farewell than the soon-to-be dearly departed?
Fin was a key component of the grand era of ad geniuses that did Vancouver proud for about a quarter century, starting in the late’60s. Vrlak-Robinson, Palmer-Jarvis and other agencies sustained scores of mad-men copywriters, artists, jingle composers, producers and engineers, singers and session players, plus sales/support staff and freelancers.
Fin helped to make it a Golden Age. RIP.