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The man affectionately known as The Clyde
Street Pirate passed away last weekend from a heart attack. His name was
Chris Doyle, and he was a fixture outside the Clyde Street NSLC for years,
appreciated for his friendly manner and gregarious nature. He will be missed.
This article appears in Apr 7-13, 2011.
12 Comments
Are there any services being scheduled for this man? I would love to attend. Everytime I went to the CSLS, I made sure I had a quarter ready for him. God Bless him!
I had the opportunity to interview Chris Doyle last March. If you want to know more information about Doyle I encourage you to read my article – http://isleinspiration.tumblr.com/post/439…
There is a funeral for friends and family this Friday at the Atlantic Funeral Home on Bayers Rd. I believe you can leave comments on their page. Thanks to everyone who has said such sweet things. He would have been so touched to see how many people are missing him..
i always looked forward to his pleasant “hello” and a wave…unlike many panhandlers,he was not pushy,always smiled and thanked you if you left him any change..i will miss him dearly and after reading how difficult his life was,i will never bitch about mine again!!!!
One of the only “street people” in Halifax I didn’t ignore as I walked past. He always cheered people up and was a unique part of Halifax.
I will really miss Chris. I always worry about the older people you see on the streets in Halifax (how they make ends meet and take care of themselves).
I don’t believe I ever gave Chris money; however, he always had a kind smile and a head nod for me every time I passed by. I wish more people in this world had that much class.
I will absolutely miss his presence… he always had a smile and a have a good day (in pirate) no matter if you had change for him or not. We did a slide the debit card schtick .. a good soul with lots of humour. I will think of him often and clyde st. will never be the same…
I’m not one who gives to panhandlers, however, this man pulled a string in my heart. I always gave change to him when I could (and gave me the fisted knuckle thank you or thumbs up). May he rest in peace. I remember one time I gave him a small mickey of rum off my big bottle, he looked at me and said, “Ohhhh you naughty.”
If anyone’s interested there’s a little memorial shrine set up at the Clyde St NSLC. The change people have been dropping there will be sent to a charity I’m told. People have also put some roses and a couple beer cans there.
Hi everyone! thank you for saying nice things about chris doyle, as i know him for 23 years and he sometime comes visit me every friday and saturday, spend time with me. we watched movies… on saturday night april 2, 2011 he was at my house and we were watching t.v. and when it was over and he said thank you and said good movie so he said he was tired and said im going to sleep.. so we said i love u in sign and then the next day on sunday april 3rd, 2011, he died at my home. i miss him soooo much and he will always be in my heart and he was my sole mate, best friend, very kind heart…. Chris and I were talking about him about his patch eye… he said to me he wants a nickname for himself of what? and he said how about patchman and i said nah…. how about pirate? he said yeah hahaha oh my look at all the people knows u…. i miss u my baby i miss u… u will be missed by all of us.. I love you xoxoxo
He took care of me since I was a baby, always helped my mother with anything she needed.. he was like a grandfather to me… I was very close with him and still miss him to this day! He took me bowling, took me to the museum and public gardens everyday, and always had my back. I love you and miss you so much Chris