BRIAN JAMES ALEXANDER MCANULTY

Condolences & Memories (2 entries)

• I was fortunate to have visited with my Uncle about a year and a half ago, not having seen him for far too many years previously. My uncle and my Grandmother looked after myself and my sister variously when we were young kids and I spent a few consecutive summers with them in adolescence. These were all very special times, very good times where I was exposed to many good people in Winnipeg. Along with my Grandmother and Uncle I got to know my Aunt Ailene and have good memories of my cousins, who were all very kind to me. In the past few years, I did speak on the phone with my Uncle regularly and at considerable length. He'd often reminisce of adventures and happier times and worse times and then surprise me with new information and details to put things into context. I remember going with him and Dave to Minnesota and North Dakota in the blue Ford van. We had a minor break down and between the three of us after twenty minutes or so I think we managed to find the battery under the passenger seat, get a boost and carry on. I remember going with him to places around Winnipeg and being introduced to everyone in the Winnipeg Press Club, various police, political types, judges and so on. I also got to know guys at the local store and neighbors. Although I wasn't much of a sports fan, he introduced me to Bobby Hull. During a period where we were visiting my Grandmother in hospital, I met and sat in the waiting room with Harry Oliver who was accompanying his wife, visiting her sister. He gave me an autographed photo. It was great to read my Uncle's contributions to the Winnipeg Free Press while he was a reporter and see his name beside them. Years later I had some copies and reviewed a number of stories he followed up and I look forward to revisiting those again. I remember writing something once that I asked him to read and he critiqued it in a manner which reduced my page and a half to about a paragraph. In the moment, I was a little surprised, but I was impressed and still think of it fifty years later, it was a crash course in being concise. I still recall that experience when I go back into a document and edit out extraneous bits, just not quite as ruthlessly. My Uncle was the last of his siblings to pass and I was very privileged to have his company and concern as I was with my grandmother and all my aunts. I will always cherish those memories and appreciate their accounts of good times and hard times. I am especially grateful to those that took care of Uncle Brian in his later years - Posted by: Chris Dutton (nephew) on: Apr 07, 2025

• My condolences to Brian's families, were neighbors on Kingsford for many years (many stories & memories) - Posted by: Terry Paton (Family friend & neighbor) on: Apr 05, 2025