Mr. Frank McNulty – December 27, 1939 – June 29, 2024
“Sleep in peace when day is done” ~ Nina Simone
Born in the final days of 1939 at St Joseph’s Hospital in Toronto, Frank loved to tell people about how many decades he had lived. While the 1930’s had little impact on his life, he did his best to wring the life out of the decades that followed.
Born to immigrant parents (May (nee Pettigrew) & Tom McNulty) and raised in Parkdale in the 1940’s & 1950’s gave Frank a unique perspective on life and culture. Those early experiences surrounded by Black culture and music became a fundamental part of who he was. From playing basketball at St. Christopher’s House, attending Parkdale Collegiate and working in record stores around Toronto; music, especially Jazz, Blues, Soul and R&B became the soundtrack of his life. It was ingrained in every fiber of his being.
After a stint in the United States and a tenure working at Motown Records, Frank returned to Canada and eventually found his way to Collingwood where he settled in 1968. He truly embraced all that makes Collingwood special. Working at the Collingwood Shipyards; as the first paid Ski Patroller at Blue Mountain Resorts; as a ski instructor for Ernie McCullough and a ski coach at the Collingwood Ski Club before finally opening McNulty Printing in 1971.
Frank’s impact on the community he loved is hard to quantify. He served as president of the Collingwood Chamber of Commerce; president of the Toronto Ski Club & Blue Mountain 1940 Inc; served on the Collingwood Library Board; founded the Collingwood Bluegrass Festival; founded the Collingwood Jazz & Blues Society & Festival as well as the much beloved Jazz at the Station.
He was often to be found on the sidelines of his children’s sporting events either as a coach or official and found immense pleasure watching his children succeed at the things they loved.
Through the printing business he supported many of the charitable endeavors in the community over the 60 years he lived in Collingwood. The G&M hospital foundation, The YMCA, the National Ski Academy, Sheffield Park Black History Museum, and so many other school and community events. Frank received the order of Collingwood in 2009 for his volunteerism and commitment to community service.
Well known for his signature hairstyle which he adopted long before it was cool, Frank loved to terrify any nearby child with the story that he had lost his hair because he wouldn’t eat his vegetables. Always quick with a story (or maybe a tall tale) about his time in the music industry; the history of Collingwood & the Shipyards; the early days of Blue Mountain and chasing Jozo Weider around the mountain on skis; the history of Jazz & Blues; and his time in the city that captivated him, New Orleans; Frank’s ability as a storyteller and a historian will be greatly missed.
Frank was predeceased by his brother in spirit Jay Jackson and is survived by his children Stephanie (Denis) Parsons, Sarah McNulty, Josh (Bre) McNulty & Dr. Kate (Jeremy) Shield; his ex-wife Jane; his grandchildren Oliver, Elsley, Milo & Elliott; as well as the Jackson family Shawne, Janice, Marlon & Nathaniel.
The family would like to thank the staff at The Collingwood General & Marine Hospital; Drs. Basinski, Fraser, Kolenda and Smith; as well as the staff at Campbell House.
In lieu of flowers the family would like to suggest a donation to the charity of your choosing. A Celebration of Life will be held on the 15th of September at the Toronto Ski Club. To be updated on the details, share photos or a story or if you’d be interested in being part of the entertainment, please email: [email protected]
While he will be missed immensely by his family and friends, we know the music plays on.
What a legacy Frank left behind. He will truly be missed. He had a profound impact in my journey into the Collingwood music scene and I’ll be forever grateful to him for his sage advice, usually over a steaming cup of coffee. So long old friend. We know that there is one heck of a band playing for you in the sky.