The Diller: A coach for the whole community

Mikes Davies looks back at the life of a coach, a mentor, a colleague and a friend

If Gary Dalliday’s name had ever been on an election ballot in Peterborough he most assuredly would have won.

One of the city’s most beloved figures died at 76 Friday morning following his third bout with cancer.

It was something else to watch Gary work a crowd, shake hands, kiss babies, share laughs. It was hard to go too far without someone wanting to say hello.

But The Diller, as he was affectionately called by friends and family, was no politician. He was just that well known, that popular.

Traveling alongside Gary and his son Pete for 15 years on Peterborough Petes buses, I can tell you Diller was known across Ontario and everyone identified him with Peterborough.

As CHEX-TV sports director for 35 years, their longest continuous on-air personality, he may have been the best-known face in the city.

My relationship with Gary long preceded being professional colleagues.

As a major peewee house league hockey player I was excited to learn Gary Dalliday was my coach. He was a celebrity.

Growing up on Barnardo Avenue in the north end I was only a few blocks from the Dalliday home on Shelburne Street. We attended the same church at St. Anne’s. I played hockey on the Barnardo Park ice rink with his sons Tim and Pete. I became friends with his daughter Krista at St. Peter’s high school.

But I first really got to know

Gary Dalliday as my coach. He was the best coach I ever had. Gary had a soft spot for grassroots hockey and he made it fun. He treated every kid like he was special and was never anything but encouraging.

One night my dad was out of town so Gary volunteered to pick me up for a game. I stood at the door waiting, hoping neighbours would notice that THE Gary Dalliday was coming to my house.

When I joined the local sports media ranks, Gary welcomed me and treated me like a son.

Gary was a self-made man. He was raised by his grandmother on Bethune Street and for years

thought she was his mother. He learned later his aunt in Kingston was actually his birth mother. His father was not a part of his early life. Gary never had formal broadcast training. He pursued it as a passion by volunteering until Don O’Neill gave him a job, initially off-air. He took a chance, with a young family, by leaving a job at General Electric to give broadcasting his full attention and carved out a niche as one of Canada’s truly iconic local sports personalities.

Fiercely proud of Peterborough and his family, you didn’t dare criticize either in his presence.

Few know the extent of Diller’s

charity. While he did his share hosting fundraisers and lending his name to events, he did far more away from the spotlight.

The Petes and Lakers can attest to Gary seeking out a jersey or stick or hat before he’d have a star player sign it, then he’d personally deliver it to whoever it was in the hospital going through a tough time.

Gary cared about people. He cared about his community. A community richer for having known him and a little less today for having lost him.