30 - Jay Telfer

James Deans "Jay" Telfer was a popular Toronto-raised musician, songwriter, artist, TV writer, avid VW memorabilia collector, B&B manager and founding publisher of the Wayback Times antiques and collectibles newspaper.

So Jay, stricken with heart, stroke and other health issues over the years, was many things to many people in the short 61 years before his death Wednesday in Mississauga. (Star obit)

Much has been written about Jay and no doubt many stories will be told during a 9:30 a.m. memorial service and reception this Friday at Turner & Porter 'Peel' Chapel, 2180 Hurontario St., in Mississauga

Canoe's JAM Showbiz web site has a lengthy 2005 bio for the popular 1960s and 1970s member of Yorkville bands, including A Passing Fancy. He recently returned to his Yorkville roots, reliving his folk/rock years with former band members and friends.

While Jay wasn't a Toronto Sun Family member, he was an admired innovator who found a niche in the antiques market in Ontario and launched a new antiques newspaper in 1995.

The Wayback Times, from the start, was financed by advertisers and distributed free from Ottawa to London. One man, working long hours with his wife, Cindy, from their home in Wellington, near Picton.

A firm believer in print media, Jay also saw the promise of the Internet and when two former Toronto Sun vets, the late Jim Yates and this blogger, approached him, he was agreeable to us hosting the Wayback Times on our new, but short-lived, YourGuide web site.

When Jay sold the paper in 2006 to Sandy and Peter Neilly of Hastings, he continued writing for the paper, not wanting to lose contact with the many readers, antique dealers and collectors.

Jay had much more to do, much more to say and much more to write. Sadly, deteriorating health that included a stroke in 1984, brought it all to an end much too soon.