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Earlier this week, Bob McGrath, the beloved alumni cast member of Sesame Street, died at the age of 90.
His death hit me in a deeper place than most celebrity deaths do, because in a way I felt like I’d lost an old friend. I think many of us felt that way.
In online tributes and an obituary by the New York Times, McGrath’s impressive life and resume paint a picture of a gracious man, who was a friend to millions of kids around the world for five decades — 47 seasons of the show. Some of his most notable work is performing the song People in your neighborhood, alongside an array of fuzzy Muppets, and there’s one sequence from an episode in the early 1990s called “Bob throws a party,” where Big Bird gets upset he’s not invited to the party. I can’t tell you how hard I howled at this episode and Big Bird’s sassy attitude of not being invited when I stumbled across it a few years ago. Of course, the big yellow bird steals the show, but Bob is a fixture of kindness and grace across the series.
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Bob McGrath. (Photo by Richard Termine)
In 2016 when HBO took over the reins of Sesame Street, McGrath’s contract wasn’t renewed. Many people were upset by his departure, but McGrath’s response was the most Bob response you could imagine: “I’m really very happy to stay home with my wife and children a little bit more,” he said later that year. “I’d be so greedy if I wanted five minutes more.”
McGrath had a special relationship with the TeleMiracle Foundation — the annual telethon in support of the Kinsmen Foundation. Money raised helps Saskatchewan residents with grants for specialized equipment and/or travel to access medical treatment outside their community. He was part of the original cast of the first TeleMiracle in 1977 and appeared on the telethon more than 40 times, including a surprise appearance in 2018 and a final appearance by video in 2021.
In a Facebook post, the non-profit organization said, “Bob gave his whole heart in everything he did at TeleMiracle. From singing the fan favourites (Rainbow Connection, Your Face) to taking photos with volunteers, to visiting the locations that benefitted from TeleMiracle donations, Bob was always genuinely happy to be there. You would often catch a tear in his eye as he loved TeleMiracle so much.”
While this loss is profound, it’s also heartwarming to celebrate a person who has touched so many lives in his long life. Rest easy Bob, thank you for being our friend.
In other news this week, I wanted to give you a little update about our Christmas Hamper Queen, Ally Beauchesne. She just completed 30 Christmas hampers, thanks to the incredible generosity of people from all over Manitoba. She was even able to include some extras, such as ground beef and taco kits! From a kid whose early Christmases were because of people like Ally, I can’t begin to describe how meaningful hampers are for families who need them. Well done, Ally! (If you want to help or keep up with her progress, you can follow along on Facebook.)
If you’ve got any gently used warm clothing and winter attire around, SCO is hosting a warm clothing Donation Drive. The SCO Donation Drive is being organized partly in response to the results of the 2022 Winnipeg Street Census, which found that Indigenous people are vastly over-represented among people experiencing homelessness in Winnipeg (68 per cent of the people surveyed identified as Indigenous). The census also reveals nearly nine out of 10 Indigenous people experiencing homelessness live outdoors and are unsheltered.
Donations can be dropped off until Dec. 16 at the SCO Winnipeg sub-office at 1572 Dublin Ave., during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Please note, they are closed daily from noon to 1 p.m.
Have a wonderful day and stay warm everyone,
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