Contributions to the tribute of Peter De Remigis

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Janet Patel posted a condolence

Sunday, March 26, 2023

Peter was a philosopher and historian. He was constantly researching Medieval Europe and bringing to light many famous clergymen, bishops and philosophers. He was also delving into the earlier history of Toronto, exploring the early identity of Elm Street. He is the author of Toronto's Secret, a book in which he describes the musicians' lives in Toronto, in the 1950s and beyond. Peter was a seeker, always questioning, always learning. He was the definition of a lifelong learner.

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Susan Yoksimovich (De Remigis) posted a condolence

Friday, March 24, 2023

Q: What was one of your favorite qualities of Peter? A: Uncle Peter's sense of humour always really spoke to me! He never failed to crack me up. So funny. I always liked to tell people my uncle Peter, my dad's big brother, was a great musician with a neat history in Toronto's music scene and a super-talented artist and craftsman.

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Carlo De Remigis posted a condolence

Friday, March 24, 2023

Well big brother, we spent the exact hour of your service starting our Graceland tour. I talked to you while we were on the tour. I hope you were listening. It was very emotional, going through the place that started your musical desire. Lorna and Carl

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Felicia posted a condolence

Monday, March 20, 2023

For those who followed Peter on Facebook, he humbly described himself, and I quote “I started out as a house painter, piano student, trumpeter and for many years a Rock and Roll drummer. I became a teacher of music and English. For some years I've been recalling my drumming experiences online, in 2017 published in a book "Toronto's Secret". But he was much more than that! My husband Lennox {now deceased] and I were fortunate to have met Peter, through Donna, approximately 43 years ago. From the moment we met, we recognized that brilliant mind, ready to share his knowledge and experiences with any and everyone who asked that magic question, “what do you think, Peter? Lennox was at UofT, so he was absolutely thrilled to meet Peter and they spent hours pouring over books, readings and chatting incessantly, only as two like-minded minds can do, while Donna, Julie [another colleague] and I listened with amusement and awe! Peter was as kind, as he was brilliant! He had a wonderful laugh, behind that quirky mind, that endeared us to him from the start and anyone who met him and spent time with him. A brilliant artistic soul, whose talents, through his humility, was not recognized ! Thank you Peter for the love you shared with us and the memories you left behind. May you rest in peace! Felicia

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Carl De Remigis posted a condolence

Sunday, March 19, 2023

I will pay tribute to Peter here in Memphis since indirectly, this is where his music career started. Carl

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Carl De Remigis posted a condolence

Sunday, March 19, 2023

I will miss you big brother. Unfortunately I will not be at the service to say good bye. I will have to come and visit you after I come home. Carl

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Joseph De Remigis posted a condolence

Sunday, March 19, 2023

I remember Peter as my big brother growing up. We were very close in our early years, sharing a bed and every childhood sickness known to man. Chicken pox was fun, along with mumps, tonsils and miscellaneous others. We started working with our father at an early age. The first big project was renovating our new home to be, on Dunn Avenue, at night, after school. Peter was about 10 and I, 7. We shared our misery. Finally we moved in that fall, 1951, I think, and were rewarded with bunk beds, Peter on the bottom me on top. That would have been early fifties and Peter's musical talent had not yet blossomed. Not much changed for a few years. We both were conscripted to work with our father weekends. A trio of house painters. Peter's artistic talents started to show. I was fast and sloppy whereas Peter did much finer work but always seemed to attract the bosses displeasure. Then along came rock and roll and Elvis Presley. Peter grew enormous side burns and long hair which only served to irritate the "boss" even more. One day our father's brush slipped and "accidentally" slathered a side burn with paint. Quite a sight. Unbeknownst to the family Peter had started doing Elvis pantomimes, with his friends, I guess. His first public appearance was on the stage in the basement of Holy Family church at one of the regular parish events, probably St. Patrick's day, which was an institution at Holy Family church and school. He wowed the audience. I think he was about 15. Lip syncing and shaking all around the stage with a folded chair as guitar. He had everybody clapping and cheering. Who was this guy? I forgot to mention that by this time we had moved from our 3 bedroom apartment on Dunn avenue, a four apartment building our father owned, to the big semi detached house, just behind, on Close Avenue. The significance of this is we each got our own bedroom up on the third floor. Peter's room became a gold mine of early rock and roll records that were not common on the Toronto radio stations. But even before the move Peter had started into music. He played the trumpet as part of music studies at Parkdale collegiate. He switched to drums when the first group was formed. They needed a drummer. Eventually he acquired a full drum set in his room right next to mine. Never bothered me. That's when our paths diverged. I did not share Peter's passion for music but I was always proud to see my brother "in the band" when I could. Peter being two years and eight months older than me I had trouble getting into the bars where he started to perform. I recommend his book, Toronto's Secret, where he details this evolution. After our parents died we didn't see that much of each other but I loved him dearly and I will miss having a big brother. Joe

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Angela De Remigis Fritz posted a condolence

Sunday, March 19, 2023

One of my favourite memories is of you sitting at the piano and playing Petula Clark’s “Downtown” and singing along, as per my request. May you rest in peace, big brother.

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The family of Peter De Remigis uploaded a photo

Saturday, March 18, 2023

Peter De Remigis

1940 - 2023