Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia Tony, even as a child demonstrated that he had a brilliant mind. In fact, he was only 19 when, with a Bachelor of Arts to his credit, he graduated from Dalhousie University.
Soon after graduating from university, he spent time teaching school in England and exploring Europe and the Far East. In 1967. he returned to Canada where two years later, he earned a Bachelor of Librarianship Degree at the University of British Columbia. He was also awarded The Ruth Cameron Medal for Librarianship, which is given each year to the individual who has distinguished him or herself as Head of the Graduating Class in Librarianship. He later earned his Master's Degree at the University of Toronto and for the rest of his life, every year insisted on finding the time necessary to take evening courses at this university.
Soon after received his library degree, Tony joined the staff of the Toronto Public Library and in 1971, became its Audio Visual Librarian. When he began this service, very few of its branches had any sort of film programming. Under his direction, 30 branches "came on board" and circulation rose from under a thousand to, in 1986 - the year of his death -more than 45,000 films and close to 100,000 videotapes.
Tony was active in several of Toronto's first gay organizations: the University of Toronto's Homophile Association, the Community Homophile Association of Toronto and Toronto Gay Action.
The year 1971 was also a significant time in Tony's life because it was the year that he, along with three others, contributed the money to cover the cost of publishing the inaugural issue of Canada's first journal for gay liberation. He also wrote the lead article and suggested its name -The Body Politic.
In early July 1986, Tony died of AIDS. Tragically, at the time, those who had the disease were subjected to an appalling form of stigma and no effective drug therapies then existed.
After his death, the September 1986 edition of The Toronto Public Library's bulletin featured a number of tributes to him. His extraordinary commitment to the library was particularly acknowledged as was his remarkable and eclectic taste in great literature, outstanding films and beautiful classical music.
Those who wrote about him in the bulletin, including the friend who gave the eulogy at Tony's memorial service, described him in many inspiring ways. Included among their glowing accolades were the following heart felt adjectives - a towering intellect, an articulate, idealistic, artistic and compassionate person.
But above all, those who wrote about him clearly believed - " we are all poorer because of Tony's passing."
Source: Dorothy Grant - one of his three sisters.
