MONTREAL - He called himself the Happy Wanderer; a man who travelled around the world, and made a mark in Montreal.
Leeroy Edwards, a photographer, a poet and a memorable community character, died Thursday at the age of 88.
Born in Trinidad, Edwards came to Montreal in 1953 after serving in the British Navy.
He worked at Air Canada for three decades, managing luggage and loading aircraft, and used every opportunity to travel.
Often donning colourful fabrics, Edwards became a fixture in Montreal at community events and parades always left an impression with his eccentric style.
"Since I was six years old I've seen this man dress in that way, you know in his African outfit walking up and down," said neighbour Trevor Williams, founder of the Trevor Williams Kids' Foundation.
Williams lives on Coursol St. in Little Burgundy near Edwards's home.
Gemma Raeburn-Baynes, a friend of Edwards's who is actively involved in the Caribbean community, remembered him fondly.
"Oh, he had such a wonderful spirit. (He was) such a colourful character! We just loved him," she said.
The Happy Wanderer could often be found at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, where he went for weekly drinks.
A benevolent man, Edwards donated money to community groups and education funds for black children.
Edwards loved his poetry and loved taking photos, filling albums with thousands of snapshots of everyone from Nelson Mandela to Pierre Trudeau.
"He whips out the photo album and he can explain every picture in there -- from him with Michael Jackson to Mohamed Ali, he tells the story," said Raeburn-Baynes.
A Montreal icon who often stopped to share stories with friends and show off his photo albums, hairdresser Anne-Marie Thompson said Edwards will be missed.
"He's part of the community and he is like an uncle to us, a brother to us, a father to us. I truly loved him," she said.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
