Peter Gross called me this morning with the sad news. Bill Atanasoff had passed away at the age of 73. Shortly after this phone call, Lorne Honickman texted me the same news and included this prose:
Hey Mike. I just wanted you to know that Bill Atanasoff just passed away one week before his 74th birthday. You did a great tribute to him with Peter. If you want post something as I know you do that when significant and important people have died, you can say that its a very sad day for his family, his friends and for all his colleagues from his many years at CITY TV.
Bill Atanasoff was a former City-TV cameraman who was struck by a drunk driver on November 9, 2010, while on assignment. Bill suffered severe head trauma, a broken neck, broken pelvis and two broken legs, but despite living the rest of his life as a blind quadrapeligic, his story was not a sad one, but an inspiring one.
On Sep 29, 2025, Peter Gross visited the TMDS studio for a lengthy chat about Bill. Peter arrived with several pieces of audio, featuring Jim McKenny, Lorne Honickman, John Whaley, Al McCormick, Bill's sister, and Bill's caregiver. He also recorded a conversation with Bill himself, about the accident, about his life in the years that followed, and about his incredibly inspiring attitude.
You can hear the entire episode in the Toronto Mike’d archives, you’ll find it there as episode 1770, but I wanted to pay tribute to Bill by sharing some of the highlights, including a very special conversation with Bill himself. I am grateful to Peter that we have this audio, as Peter tells me it was likely the last time Bill shared his story in such detail.
Rest well, Bill. My sincere condolences to all who knew and loved him.
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