Well-known bon vivant, man-about-town, photographer and novelist Peter Gonda died suddenly Saturday.Gonda had been writing a follow-up novel to his acclaimed Drinking and Driving in Chechnya, seen as a reflection of his unique imagination and unbridled, bombastic character. (Although an avid traveler in the spirit of Kerouac, Gonda had never visited Chechnya.)
Gonda wrote many screenplays and was also known for an outrageous travel column that ran in The Hour weekly for some time around 2004.
Many knew Gonda from social media where his posts stood out as fun and unfiltered content, contrasting the stage-managed expressions seen elsewhere.
But more knew him from the various bars on the Main which he was known to frequent since the mid-1980s.
Musician Mack McKenzie was among many who expressed his sadness at news of Gonda's passing. "Wise guy. Dark mind. Heavy drinker."Another saluted his "take-no-prisoners, original voice, dark humor." and another referenced his "wit, humour and charm,"
Gonda was an only child adopted by parents who had survived the Holocaust and he attended Herzliah High School before graduating in Photography at Dawson College.He lived in Paris and in Prague and worked as a photographer, house painter and DJ at the Biftheque among other occupations.
His mother predeceased him while his elderly father suffers from dementia.
Gonda lived alone on Casgrain near Bellechasse. He had been battling some lifestyle-related health issues at the time of his sudden death.
A wake will be held for Gonda at the Bifteck at 3702 St. Laurent on Sat. August 27 from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm.
I knew Peter very briefly,but it didn't take long to figure out he was a brilliant mind. Spent a weekend with him and some ladies at a cottage in the Laurentions. If he wasn't telling a story or insulting someone,he was reading or taking pictures. We were never close friends ,but we shared some similar circle of people. I don't think he even cared for my company, but that didn't matter because it was always entertaining with Gonda. I don't think many people referred to him as Peter much,it was always Gonda this ,Gonda that... I lost touch of him about 15 years ago,had no clue what he was up to. I thought I saw him a couple of times around town, but never approached him. Its really sad that he is gone, but he will never be forgotten, that's for sure. Rest in peace Gonda, you shall be missed. Mitch Wolanski
ReplyDeleteI went to high school with Gonda. He was quirky, funny, rebellious, unique, and very sweet, actually. I have two stories to share.
ReplyDelete1. I was always a huge fan of KISS. He hated the band. But because he knew I liked them, he gave me his Destroyer album. Nice.
2. I was sitting right next to Gonda in Canadian history class, our desks pressed up against our teacher's desk. Peter and I were in full conversation while the teacher was addressing the rest of the class. She turned to Peter and asked him a question. He answered. Then he turned to me and asked, "So what was I saying before I was so rudely interrupted?"
Maybe Peter's "friends" should have spent more time actually trying to help him with his problems in life instead of thriving in his limelight and then abandoning him. Real friends get involved and take an active part in helping their loved ones get healthy and stay healthy. He killed himself because no one gave a shit about him except when he was publishing books and rubbing shoulders with the creative elite.
ReplyDeleteNo one cares about you until you're dead in the arts and entertainment industry.
His friends made it abundantly clear that they cared about the guy in speeches a well-attended wake at the Biftheque. They detailed their many futile efforts to help him deal with his drinking issues. You can only do so much for someone who is determined to do that to himself. But yes it's possible that some might regret not appreciating the magnitude of his problem and remained shocked at the outcome. I never met him and had no idea of his personal habits. I chatted with him on FB a few times and generally found his odd posts unique and entertaining. I understand the sadness.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is... in order to help Peter with his drinking and lifestyle issues his friends would have needed to address their own drinking/drug problems and lifestyle issues. If you want to help your buddy quit drinking sometimes you need to quit drinking too, set an example and create an environment that discourages drinking. It's a group effort. If the group isn't willing to quit drinking to help their friend, their friend is never going to get better.
ReplyDeleteIf someone I loved - who I actually sincerely LOVED - had a drinking problem I'd choose abstinence over booze. Because I value my friend more than I need to drink. But... probably not a popular opinion among folks who hang out in bars and clubs. Like Biftheque. It was upsetting that a group of people celebrated an alcoholic friend's suicide by hanging out at the local bar and getting drunk together. That is part of the reason why he drank himself to death.
They didn't love him. They had great affection for him. It's not the same thing.