In Celebration of
William Franklin (Frank) Orr
May 28, 1936 - February 13, 2021
Passed away peacefully after a short illness on February 13, 2021, at Toronto General Hospital in his 84th year. Frank had a long and distinguished career as a sportswriter.
Frank is survived by his brother James (Marilyn) and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by Shirley, his wife of 57 years, parents William and Helen Orr of Hillsburgh and Guelph, ON, brother Alex of Fort Erie, ON, sister Betty of Orangeville, ON, sister Margaret of Guelph, ON, brother George of Sault St. Marie, ON and sister Marion of Guelph, ON.
Frank was born on a farm near Hillsburgh, ON in Wellington County. He attended Hillsburgh Public School, Erin District High School and Guelph Collegiate. Although he worked for a short time in radio in Chatham and Sault St. Marie he always had a strong aptitude for writing and sports, combining the two as Sports Editor of the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder and the Guelph Mercury where he composed a daily column. He joined the Toronto Star sports department in 1961 where he covered sporting events on a worldwide basis as well as the Toronto Maple Leafs and the NHL. He was also at a number of world figure skating championships as well as car racing. Frank has authored more than 30 books both fiction and non-fiction all relating to sports. He was also a contributor to some 60 other books. He was inducted into the media section of the Hockey Hall of Fame on 1989 and in 2003 he received the Sports Journalism Lifetime Achievement Award from Sports Media Canada. He was inducted to the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. Frank enjoyed a longtime relationship with the Corbett, Tassone, Mason and Miller families.
At Frank’s request, cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life will be determined when the borders open. Interment will be held at Park Lawn Mausoleum. Donations to a charity of one’s choice in Franks name would be appreciated.
Frank is survived by his brother James (Marilyn) and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by Shirley, his wife of 57 years, parents William and Helen Orr of Hillsburgh and Guelph, ON, brother Alex of Fort Erie, ON, sister Betty of Orangeville, ON, sister Margaret of Guelph, ON, brother George of Sault St. Marie, ON and sister Marion of Guelph, ON.
Frank was born on a farm near Hillsburgh, ON in Wellington County. He attended Hillsburgh Public School, Erin District High School and Guelph Collegiate. Although he worked for a short time in radio in Chatham and Sault St. Marie he always had a strong aptitude for writing and sports, combining the two as Sports Editor of the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder and the Guelph Mercury where he composed a daily column. He joined the Toronto Star sports department in 1961 where he covered sporting events on a worldwide basis as well as the Toronto Maple Leafs and the NHL. He was also at a number of world figure skating championships as well as car racing. Frank has authored more than 30 books both fiction and non-fiction all relating to sports. He was also a contributor to some 60 other books. He was inducted into the media section of the Hockey Hall of Fame on 1989 and in 2003 he received the Sports Journalism Lifetime Achievement Award from Sports Media Canada. He was inducted to the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. Frank enjoyed a longtime relationship with the Corbett, Tassone, Mason and Miller families.
At Frank’s request, cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life will be determined when the borders open. Interment will be held at Park Lawn Mausoleum. Donations to a charity of one’s choice in Franks name would be appreciated.