As a CBC radio host, Arthur Black had a knack of finding the funny in people’s behaviour while never laughing directly at them.
He could point out life's head-shaking absurdities and revel in the quirkiest stories and yet never, in all of his decades of hosting and writing, was he ever mean about it. There was a humility about him — or maybe it was a there-but-for-the-grace-of-God-do-I go-stumbling-over-my-own-stupidity quality.
It’s a trait that helped endear Black, who died at the age of 74 on Wednesday, to his legions of fans.
In January, Black was even able to report on his diagnosis of late-stage pancreatic cancer with humour.
“This blog is about my (cringe) 'journey' as it unfolds,” he wrote on his Basic Black website.
“And it needs a title. I thought of Dead Man Blogging, but that sounded a little dark. And prejudicial. After all I could be cranking out this blog twenty years from no
“I was about to give up when I heard from Bob Rush, a friend and neighbour whose Puckish sense of humour seldom fails.
"Why don't you call your blog 'Last Writes'? asks Bob.
It was pure Arthur Black.
Woke up to the sad news that Arthur Black passed away last night. We called him Art, as in "work of". Adored him as a colleague and as a friend. He, and his singular brand of humour, will be deeply missed. RIPArt https://t.co/yco8HbO7xR
— Shelagh Rogers (@RogersShelagh) February 22, 2018
"It will come as no surprise to those who have been fans of Arthur's work that he faced it all with his own unique combination of defiance and good humour," Chris Straw, Black's longtime producer, said in a statement on behalf of the family on Thursday morning.
"The family is very grateful for the overwhelming messages of support and good wishes received during his struggle with pancreatic cancer."
Going to miss the visits with Arthur Black. Last note I had from him earlier this week included a joke... and a reminder to go hug someone right now. Thanks for the laughs. pic.twitter.com/Xfo2X0WA4t
— Madeline Green (@madelinegcbc) February 22, 2018
Black started with the CBC in Thunder Bay in 1972. His Saturday morning program, Basic Black, ran for 19 years, garnering 600,000 listeners ready for a poke and a laugh. He retired the show in 2002, seven years after he moved to Saltspring with his partner Lynne Raymond.
He always made sure fans would remember where they could mail him their comments. When he was based in Toronto, he helped come up with "Make five wieners, I'll eat six" as a memory aid for the CBC's M5W 1E6 postal code. When he moved to the west coast it became "Vacuum six basements, one attic too" for CBC Vancouver's V6B 1A2 postal code.
CBC Radio personality Arthur Black dead at age 74 https://t.co/Mu4XFxCIjq He was funny, witty & a lifelong CBC fan. He sent @cbcwhitecoat a lovely post card reminding us that our time in public broadcasting is both precious & finite. I'll remember him by passing that lesson on.
— Dr. Brian Goldman (@NightShiftMD) February 22, 2018
It was obvious from his 19 book titles that Black kept up with the times. The books were compilations of newspaper columns that he wrote for publications across the country and included Arthur! Arthur!; Black is the New Green; and Fifty Shades of Black. His most recent book was 2015’s Paint the Town Black.
Along the way he became one of only three Canadian humourists to win the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour three times.
More reactions:
This happened so fast.. RIP Arthur, thank you for giving me the word "umbraphile".https://t.co/5vnoaPJRm9
— Lee Rosevere (@LeeRosevere) February 22, 2018
I’m very sad to hear Arthur has died. Last words I heard him say, at Xmas Carol reading: “God bless us, every one.” https://t.co/D01eBxKmsJ
— Gregor Craigie (@GregorCraigie) February 22, 2018
A very sad day. Arthur Black was a very funny man, a kind soul, and a great @cbcradio personality. Salt Spring Island won't be the same! #PlanetSaltSpring https://t.co/wKqc27Vptf
— Grant Lawrence (@GrantLawrence) February 22, 2018
