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Sicilian Culture: News & Views

Toronto Mourns Beloved 'Mayor of Little Italy'
By Mary Vallis, The Canadian Press

March 20, 2002 - - Johnny Lombardi, the unofficial mayor of Toronto's Little Italy and pioneering multicultural broadcaster, has died at age 86. Mr. Lombardi wore many hats, although he will be fondly remembered for the trademark baseball cap that rarely left his head.

He was an entertainer, impresario, war veteran, family man and self-proclaimed hustler who loved the challenges of doing business. He passed away in hospital on Monday following a brief illness.

Mr. Lombardi was a "great big part"of Toronto who contributed to the city's success, said Mel Lastman, the Mayor. "Johnny invented multicultural radio in Toronto. He showed people they've got to be proud of what and who they are -- and he will always be remembered for that."

The son of poor Italian immigrants, Mr. Lombardi was born in downtown Toronto in 1915. He would die a multi-millionaire.

His father, Leonardo, struggled to find work during the Depression. Mr. Lombardi spent nights and weekends during his high school years working for an Italian-language newspaper writing a "snipper-snooper" gossip column for young people like himself. He was paid $2.50 a week.

He loved music. At the age of 16, he formed his own eight-piece band and played at weddings and community halls. Mr. Lombardi played the trumpet. By the time the Second World War started, he was playing professionally.

Mr. Lombardi enlisted in 1942 and was stationed in Belgium, Normandy, Germany and Holland.

When he returned to Toronto in 1946, he opened Lombardi's Supermarket on College Street. He bought truckloads of overripe produce from his competitors and sold it at bargain prices while Italian music blared from speakers.

Mr. Lombardi's love affair with broadcasting began when an advertising representative for CHUM Radio suggested advertising the store. He could not afford it. But, always thinking, he convinced the station to sell him an hour of air time on Sundays for an Italian music show, the cost of which he covered by recruiting his own advertisers.

His store and show flourished. He then branched out into concert promotion and in 1966, founded the first multicultural and multilingual radio station in Ontario above his supermarket.

To celebrate the birth of CHIN Radio, Mr. Lombardi threw a giant international picnic on Centre Island.

Now in its 36th year, CHIN Radio/TV International has grown into an empire broadcasting to 30 cultural communities in many languages. The party tradition has lived on: Billed as the world's largest free picnic, the annual event attracts hundreds of thousands of people every Canada Day weekend. Mr. Lombardi could always be found in the thick of the action, often with a Miss CHIN bikini contestant on his arm.

He will be remembered for his generous spirit, Mike Harris, the Ontario Premier, said yesterday.

Mr. Lombardi was a tireless fundraiser for countless charities. He had amassed innumerable awards and medals, including military honours, the Order of Canada, the Toronto Civic Award of Merit and the Broadcaster of the Year award.

"We've lost somebody that to me, was larger than life," Mr. Harris said. "You know, he fought in the war, he started with nothing, he gave all of us a positive, good feeling about the country and about life. So we're going to miss him."

Street signs on College Street between Clinton and Grace streets mark Johnny Lombardi Way. The area, once home to Lombardi's Supermarket, now houses the CHIN Radio building.

Mr. Lombardi is survived by his wife, Lena, and his three children, Lenny, Theresa and Donina Lombardi-Hartig, who work at CHIN, and five grandchildren.

By Mary Vallis (mvallis@nationalpost.com)
www.nationalpost.com/news/national/story.html?f=/stories/20020320/389906.html

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