At 30 in '08

The Canadian Press has compiled a list of notable Canadians who died in 2008 and George Gross, founding sports editor of the Toronto Sun, is on that list.

The Baron was one of at least nine Toronto Sun Family members who died this year and all contributed to making the Sun a brighter place over the years.

TSF's list:

January

George Rennie, a pre-press tech whiz for 12 years, died Jan. 19 from cancer at his Oakville home. He was 56. George, born in Scotland, was an Edmonton Sun Day Oner on April 2, 1978, and transferred to Toronto in 1995.

Ted Welch, a Sun City Hall and Queen's Park bureau pioneer, died Jan. 20 of liver cancer in Victoria, B.C. He was 61. Ted, who loved his wife, politics and poker, left the Sun in the early 1990s and moved west with his wife, Marj.

March

Art Holland, the Toronto Sun's Day One office manager, died March 8. He was 94. Fellow Day Oners say Art was a vital behind-the-scenes organizer who got things done in the move from the defunct Tely to the newborn Sun in 1971 and for years to come.

George Gross, founding sports editor of the Toronto Sun, died March 21 of a heart attack at his Etobicoke home. He was 85. George was still on the job researching his next column when he died on Good Friday, a Sun trooper to the end.

Sherri Wood, a vibrant summer intern who wowed Toronto Sun colleagues and readers as an entertainment writer, died March 24 of brain cancer. She was 28. Her death on Easter Monday led to Sherri Woodstock, a musical celebration of her life.

September

Nick Ibscher, a desk copy editor and headline writer extraordinaire, died from lung cancer in Winnipeg, where he worked at the Calgary Herald. He was 53. Nick loved baseball and his work and shared both with Sun colleagues.

Kathy Morrison, former Sun staffer and wife of veteran sports writer Scott Morrison, died Sept. 21 at her home. She was 45. During her Sun office years, her infectious smile contributed daily to the positive work environment.

December

Bob Jelenic, an accountant and general manager during the expansion years, died Dec. 3 of cancer in Pennsylvania. He was 58. Bob, with the Sun for 12 years, spent 20 years with Journal Register Corp. in the U.S., retiring in 2007 as chairman and CEO.

Margaret Kmiciewicz, the Day One switchboard chief when the Sun was launched in 1971, died Dec. 13 at Providence Centre. She was 87. Mrs. K to many, the Day Oner was a treasured switchboard chief, an asset to reporters.

Our apologies if we have missed any Toronto Sun Family members who died in 2008. We will add names and bios if information is provided. E-mail TSF