ENGLISH – Edward William
1937-2021
“As sure as the stars shine above
You’re nobody ‘til somebody loves you.
You’re nobody ‘til somebody cares.”
Dean Martin, 1960
Eddy English sure was a somebody. Loved so much, cared for greatly by so many, his life was a triumph of the power of love to light the darkness. Throughout his life, Eddy taught us the truth of the wisdom of his favourite philosopher/crooner Dean Martin that, “You may be king, you may possess the world and its gold, but gold won’t bring you happiness when you’re growing old. You’re nobody ’til somebody loves you.”
Ed was a man rich in the deep love, affection and admiration of family and so many friends and acquaintances. He had a huge love of life despite experiencing more than his share of life’s disappointments and despair. Love, laughter and the Leafs, dancing, singing, playing and watching sports and a cold beer with the guys who loved his company brought him immense joy.
Edward William English was born September 2, 1937, at the Willet Hospital in Paris, Ont. at the height of the Depression. The son of Anna Teresa Alonzo, he was raised by his grandparents, Angelina and Domenic Alonzo, his beloved, “Ma and Pa.” Growing up on Marlborough St. with his large Italian immigrant family, he had close relationships with many of his aunts, uncles and cousins, especially, his
Aunt Mary (Baldassarra) and his “brother” cousins, Pat and Danny Alonzo.
Eddy got his first job at the age of eight, working at the Market St. farmer’s market for longtime Brantford fruit and vegetable vendor Joe Soldo. After work every Saturday, Joe would take Eddy for supper – pork chops and apple sauce – and give him a nickel to put in the collection box at Sunday mass at St. Mary’s Church.
Eddy was a smart boy who excelled in grade school at St. Mary’s, winning the award for student with the highest average at his Grade 8 graduation. His great disappointment of his life came shortly after he started high school when his was forced to quit school to help support the family. In those days, every pay cheque mattered and 13 was not too young to work at Masseys.
Eddy was distraught and so were his teachers. He always remembered Sister Antoinette coming to his house to implore his grandfather to let him go back to school. But there were mouths to feed and Pa decreed, Eddy must work.
His love of sports was his boyhood salvation. Ed was a talented athlete and his love of the game thrived throughout his life. Be it hockey, baseball, bowling, lacrosse, or in later years, golf, he gave his all to the game and his teams. In hockey, he won many scoring championships and was a member of Brantford’s first Old Timer’s Hockey team. He continued to play hockey until his 70th year, hanging up his skates because of a knee injury. As well, he was a multi-time intercity bowling champion and went on to coach Canadian youth bowlers.
“Eddy the Eagle” discovered his grand passion for golf in his 60s, playing almost daily throughout the summer days and scoring two holes-in-one at Northridge Golf Course.
In 1955, Eddy met the girl who would become his first wife and mother of his four children at a party in her home. As they tell it Barb (Edwards) was standing in front of the television, blocking the small screen. “Move over, shorty, I’m watching the Leafs’ game.” Eddy told her. The rest is family history.
Eddy went on to work for the Union Gas Company for 42 years, retiring in 1999 as a new business and field representative. He and Barb became the parents of Kathy, Barry, Eddy and Nancy – their “double millionaires family” and built a home in Brantford’s then new “north end.” In 1977, amid Canada’s historical divorce boom, their marriage ended.
For a time, as with many such families, bitterness prevailed. But, as Eddy’s kids became adults, marrying and beginning their own families, healing happened and a new form of “one big family” was created in love. In one of Eddy’s finest moments, he put an end to any divorce acrimony on the day he walked his youngest daughter, Nancy, down the aisle along with her step-dad, Barb’s second husband, Albert Elliott. Reaching the alter, Eddy reached out to shake Albert’s hand and, in that moment, he showed us the immense power of love and forgiveness.
Eddy found his last, best and truest love at the age of 64 when he met Janice Atfield and her two daughters, Jen and Courtney, whom he soon came to love as his own daughters. Janice’s unconditional love and total acceptance was one of the greatest gifts of Eddy’s life. With Janice, he felt fully loved. For almost two decades, Eddy and this “wicked” step-mom shared many laughs and fun times with a large group of friends and family who delighted in time with Eddy and Janice and their sitcom-worthy banter. They made so many happy memories, travelling together to Florida, Cuba and the Dominican Republic and took such joy in family time with their six children and their families.
Ed was a somebody who touched so many lives. Wherever he went, whether it be the bowling alley, hockey arena, his Army &Navy Club, or the golf club, somebody recognized, knew and loved Eddy English.
He was the “Godfather” of barroom banter and a fierce family man who cried at hearing the first chords of an accordian or the first notes of Louis Armstrong singing What a Wonderful World. He was a man of great loyalty to his family and friends of all ages – and to his Toronto Maple Leafs to whom his devotion never wavered.
Eddy loved life so damn much and wanted so much more time with those he loved and cared about. Throughout his brief cancer battle, he was a warrior who taught us how to be brave and strong and face whatever adversity life presents head on. He died as he lived on July 9 – the birthdate of his mother and his first grand-daughter, Sam. He was surrounded by his family, friends, music laughter and so much love in home hospice care in his daughter Nancy’s home.
We know this great love of and for this beautiful man does not end and we carry his love and his lessons in our hearts forever.
Eddy leaves his heartbroken wife Janice and their children, Kathy English and Gregg Serles, Barry and Hazel English, Ed English and Jan Klimek, Nancy English, Jen Hebert, and Courtney and Pat Bagnoli. He will always be fondly remembered as “Pops” by John VanDyk and “adopted dad” by Karen Holwerda and Terry Hedley.
Eddy is also survived by his grandchildren: Samantha Serles, (Danielle Racioppo) Geoff Serles, (Skye Vallance) David English, (Janine English) Carli English (Will Frost), Mandy English-Parry (Brandon Parry), Bree Cropper (Cory Spalding) Jordan Cropper (Jami Kruger) Nik VanDyk, Rebecca VanDyk (Wayne Mark), Paula and Kendra VanDyk , Shaun Smelser (Eden Westbrook), Colin and Kendra Hebert, and Isla and Siena Bagnoli, to whom, much to his delight, he was affectionately known as “Gampy.”
He also leaves great-grandchildren Victoria and Aaron English, Conner and Emma Drayson and Zack Frost, Tyson and Hayden VanDyk, Julia Merriam and from British Columbia: Maia, Livy, Luna and Echo Spalding
Eddy is also survived by his sister Donna Macri and her family in Toronto. His sister, Pat McManemy, of Mississauga passed away in 2019.
Eddy leaves so many heartbroken friends including Barbara Elliott and the Northridge golf gang.
Family and friends will be received at the TOLL FUNERAL HOME, 55 Charing Cross Street, Brantford on Tuesday from 2-4 pm & 7-9 pm. Please RSVP online at www.tollfh.ca, to book a time for the visitation. Due to Covid-19, masks are mandatory and social distancing protocols will be in place. Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at St. Basil’s Roman Catholic Church, 50 Palace Street, on Wednesday, July 14th, 2021 at 11 am. Interment to follow.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Edward William Eddy The Eagle English Friday July 9th 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Brantford, Province: Ontario