January 12, 2008
Dusty Cohl, 1929 - 2008.
Dusty Cohl, a man whose charisma and confidence were instrumental in bringing the glitz and glamour of Hollywood to Toronto, died at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Friday afternoon at the age of 78 after a long struggle with cancer.
Adam McDowell, National Post.
Dusty Cohl made an enormous difference in my life, saving a first-time visitor to Cannes from bewilderment, introducing me to everybody, and then plopping me down in the middle of the excitement of creating the Toronto festival.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times.
I first met Dusty aboard his Floating Film Festival.... The Floater was Dusty's way of bringing [all his friends] together. On a boat. With movies. And food. And sun. And booze. And cigars. It was and always will be known as Dusty's party.
Jim Emerson.
He could be an ornery old cuss... but his heart was as big as any. A truly gentle soul covered in charming sharp edges.
David Poland.
On a personal, intimate level, he helped countless people - rich and poor - to get things done, and feel good about themselves doing it. He was the fixer, the inspiration, the catalyst.
Bruce Kirkland, Sun Media.
If any of us, when we die, have friends who say words as lovely about us as those who knew Dusty say about him, we'll have lived good lives.
Kim Voynar, Cinematical.
Posted by dwhudson at January 12, 2008 5:48 AM
DUSTY COHL I HAVE KNOW FOR 45 YEARS. AND HAS BEEN THE SAME REAL HUMAN BEING THROUGH ALL THOSE YEARS, ALWAYS TRYING TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR EVERYONE.MAKING PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEY COULD DO THEIR BEST AND THAT WOULD BE TERRIFIC.I
I CHERISH MY MANY MEMORIES OF DUSTY AND AND ALL HIS GOODNESS.
I WILL MISS YOU,,
LOVE AND BE IN PEACE
My husband and I met Dusty at The Floating Film Festival in 2006. Within 10 minutes of being on board, Dusty invited my husband to smoke cigars in a remote corner of the ship. As they were pulling apart stacked chairs, Dusty's little fingertip was cut - off! The ship doctor looked at it and asked for the missing piece, thinking he could sew back on. Well it was lost, so Dusty just moved on. As the Dr. was sewing him up and filling him full of drugs, Dusty's sole concern was his ability to drink with his friends. "I'll take the pain," he told the Dr. as he refused the pain pills. And for the next nine days he ran around with a bandage on his pinky, wearing his hat and a drink in his hand - the good hand. He never once got angry at my husband nor moaned and complained. He just ignored it as he had more important things to attend to - having fun with his friends! We will miss you terribly.
Posted by: Laurelle Johnson at January 29, 2008 11:44 AM
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