Well-known bon vivant, man-about-town, photographer and novelist Peter Gonda died suddenly Saturday.Gonda had been writing a follow-up novel to his acclaimed Drinking and Driving in Chechnya, seen as a reflection of his unique imagination and unbridled, bombastic character. (Although an avid traveler in the spirit of Kerouac, Gonda had never visited Chechnya.)
Gonda wrote many screenplays and was also known for an outrageous travel column that ran in The Hour weekly for some time around 2004.
Many knew Gonda from social media where his posts stood out as fun and unfiltered content, contrasting the stage-managed expressions seen elsewhere.
But more knew him from the various bars on the Main which he was known to frequent since the mid-1980s.
Musician Mack McKenzie was among many who expressed his sadness at news of Gonda's passing. "Wise guy. Dark mind. Heavy drinker."Another saluted his "take-no-prisoners, original voice, dark humor." and another referenced his "wit, humour and charm,"
Gonda was an only child adopted by parents who had survived the Holocaust and he attended Herzliah High School before graduating in Photography at Dawson College.He lived in Paris and in Prague and worked as a photographer, house painter and DJ at the Biftheque among other occupations.
His mother predeceased him while his elderly father suffers from dementia.
Gonda lived alone on Casgrain near Bellechasse. He had been battling some lifestyle-related health issues at the time of his sudden death.
A wake will be held for Gonda at the Bifteck at 3702 St. Laurent on Sat. August 27 from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm.