It is with deep sadness we announce the
passing of Leighton (Tony) Steele of Fredericton N.B. of natural
causes on the morning of March 27, 2022.
Tony was born in Detroit,
Michigan on February 1, 1935, to Rae Steele (née
Finsterwald) and Leighton Goldsmith
Steele.
His father was a dentist (to the Detroit
Tigers) and mother was a successful business woman. In the summers the
family would spend time at their cottage at Rondeau Lake, Ontario.
Some of his happiest memories were of that time and
place.
Tony received his undergraduate
degree from UC, Berkeley, his Masters from Wayne State University,
Michigan, and his PhD in English from the University of California at
Santa Barbara. He moved to Canada in 1966 with his wife, Sheila
Steele, and four young children, to teach at the University of
Victoria. He later took a professorship in the Department of English
at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, where he taught until he
retired in 1996. In Winnipeg he remarried to Marcia Nozick and had two
more children. Later, with his partner Marylea MacDonald and her son,
he moved to New Brunswick and taught part-time at the University of
New Brunswick.
Tony was a poet who especially loved
Romantic and modernist poetry and literature. He is the author of four
books of original poetry, A Slanting Line (1966), The Dance of the
Minotaur (1970), The Dancer (1993), and Impossible Landscapes
(2005). His children remember the many poems he would recite from
memory, inspiring in them a lifelong love of language. He was an avid
reader, perhaps reading three novels a week throughout his life. Tony
had a wonderful wry sense of humour spiced with memorable literary
quotes. After eating a good meal, for example, he would often say
“In the words of the immortal Falstaff ‘Fate cannot harm me, I
have dined today!'” Another famous “Tony-ism” was, when
leaving the house, to urge his dog (in Spanish) to “Garde la
casa, Perito!” He had a deep sensitivity and appreciation for
art, film, literature, and music. He imparted his love of folk music
to all of his children—some of his favourites being Leonard
Cohen, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, John Prine, and Woody
Guthrie.
He was a “child of the
1960s” which shaped his values, outlook and tastes. As a hippy,
he rode a motorcycle down the coast of
California––after which, he would tell, he never
rode a motorcycle again, “preferring four wheels and a
roof”.
He loved the
outdoors––hiking, camping and road trips. He
enjoyed playing sports, including wrestling in college, marathon
running and martial arts. In his later years Tony loved going to his
special restaurants Number One Noodle and Claudine’s
Eateryin Fredericton, where he was known and felt at
home.
Tony is survived by his children
LarrySteele (Colleen), David Steele (Wendy), Jenny Gerbasi (Guy),
Melissa Steele (George), Holly Steele, Jacob Steele (Laura), and
stepson Gisaya Gahungu (Caroline). He leaves behind 8
grandchildren, 2 step grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild. He is
predeceased by his sister, Allison Steele Rubinstein Levy, partner
Marylea MacDonald, and his much loved dog,
Shaolin.
Cremation has been entrusted to
Bishop’s Funeral Home 540 Woodstock Road Fredericton. A
celebration of life will be held at a later date in Winnipeg for
family and close friends.
The family would like to extend heartfelt
thanks to his caregivers, Kim Faulkner and Sandi Glynn, and to the
staff at Governor and Brunswick Hall at Shannex Parkland for their
care and compassion.
www.bishopsfuneralhome.com
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Leighton Tony Steele 1935 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Fredericton, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick