Remembering Gary “The Diller” Dalliday
The Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame extends sincere condolences to the family of Gary Dalliday. Gary, who battled cancer three times, passed away Friday August 10, 2018.
Mr. Dalliday was inducted into the Hall in 2001 in a variety of categories, including: athlete/builder, broadcasting, golf, hockey, softball and stock car driving! His biography from his induction is as follows:
“Gary has been a fixture in the Peterborough sporting scene for 50 plus years. His career as a Sports Broadcaster began in 1975 at CHEX radio/television. Local sports were his priority and his coverage of sporting events endeared him to participants and fans. He was the on-air voice of lacrosse here for years. The highlight of his broadcasting career however, has been “colour commentator” for the Peterborough Petes along with son Peter, forming the only father-son broadcasting duo in the entire CHL. His tenure of 25 years is longest of any on-air personality at CHEX.
Gary’s sports career included softball and hockey. He graduated from minor hockey and the Montreal Canadiens signed him to a “C” form at age 17. This resulted in a tryout with the Peterborough Petes. He was assigned to the Junior B Canucks and, although he played a few games with the Petes, spent most of the season with the Canucks helping them reach OHA semi-finals in 1961. Gary finished his competitive hockey with the Belleville Mohawks Senior A club. For 10 seasons he was a hustling shortstop and 3rd baseman in the Peterborough Mens’ City Softball league. A great glove man he won a league championship with Norm Bowler Realty in 1969. Gary was an all-round athlete, a low handicap golfer and a stock-car driver at Peterborough Speedway. He coached in the all-star hockey system and coached one of the first girls’ hockey teams in Peterborough.”
Gary was generous with his time in helping with the Hall of Fame’s Annual Vehicle draw. Besides selling tickets, he would always be on hand at the Petes final season home game, alongside the chair of the Hall and the Captain of the Petes, to announce the winner of the draw. Dalliday was recently recognized for his contributions to hockey by the Petes organization, who on March 13, 2018, named the Media/Scouts Room in his honour.
Our thoughts are with Gary’s wife, Donna and their children Tim, Pete and Krista. He will be missed by his family, friends, and his community.
Link to Peterborough Examiner story
Link to Dalliday Obituary
Ruttan, Dalliday and DeNoble Announcing the 2018 Car Draw Winner
Ken Jackman with Gary Dalliday March 13, 2018