The Royal Canadian Air Farce‘s Roger Abbott has died after a private 14-year battle with leukemia.
I owe the Air Farce folks a lot for their encouragement back when I was a callow teenager hoping for a career as a writer and comedian. Apparently my experience is no exception; everything I’ve heard about the Air Farce team has suggested they’re some of the most generous folks in the business — and Roger Abbott would have topped that list.
Don Ferguson has posted this message on the front page of the Air Farce web site:
I’m heartbroken to tell you that our beloved friend, Roger Abbott, died last night at Toronto General Hospital, fourteen years after being diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a progressive disease that he kept secret from all but a few close friends and family until a week ago. Roger was the guiding light of Royal Canadian Air Farce since it began in 1973, and all of us who have had the honour of working with him and the pleasure of knowing him will dearly miss his kindness, generosity, integrity, leadership, and wonderful sense of humour. The family requests privacy at this painful time. God bless Roger!
