CRAIG EDWARD FOTHERINGHAM
1953 - January 8, 2012
After a brief and courageous battle with
pancreatic cancer, Craig Fotheringham
passed peacefully on Sunday, January 8,
2012 at the age of 58. He was predeceased
by his father, Douglas and leaves to
cherish his memory his mother, Rena,
daughter, Kathleen and her husband, Chris,
son, Jordan, stepdaughters, Leah and
Joanna, brother, Jim and nieces, Tara and
Alannah.
Craig grew up in Dryden, Ontario. His
mother, Rena started teaching him how to
play the piano at age five and he
excelled, passing his grade five exam with
honours at the age of ten. He then took a
break from piano and taught himself how to
play the guitar. Craig and his friends,
Guenther, Richard and Dale started a band
called The Shades of Blue and earned beer
money playing at local dances. Craig
remained close friends with his band mates
and in 2000 The Shades of Blue reunited
and played for three more local dances.
Craig was also an avid hockey player who
won numerous MVP awards. He went to
Victoria, BC to try out for junior hockey
but came home to pursue a career in music.
In 1972, Craig moved to Winnipeg to study
classical piano and stayed.
Throughout his musical career, Craig
performed with and produced albums for
various artists and bands, most notably
the C-Weed Band, The Foster Martin Band,
Curtis Newton and the Bill McMahon Trio.
Craig's work spanned genres from country
to hip hop but his true passion was jazz.
He was fortunate to spend his last few
years sharing his love of jazz at various
venues throughout the city including the
Pemby on Saturday afternoons. Craig played
his last gig at the Winnipeg Art Gallery
with Curtis Newton on December 2, 2011.
Many local musicians credit Craig for
mentoring them and making them better
musicians.
Craig also had a love and talent for
photography. He was designated the
official photographer at family functions,
took photos for musical albums he produced
and took beautiful travel photos.
Craig was a devoted father who took an
active interest in his children's musical,
academic and athletic endeavors. He was
also a very loving son, who was always
there for his mother whether she needed
help with a computer issue, painting the
cottage or just someone to talk to. Craig
was fortunate to spend his last weeks at
home with his mother, Rena and to have the
love and support of family and friends,
especially Christine Skene, Darlene
Furlong, Lyle Foster and Stella Davies.
The family would like to extend their
gratitude to his doctors and nurses at
CancerCare, his palliative home care
nurses as well as the dedicated staff at
the St. Boniface Palliative Care Unit.
Your care and compassion made this
difficult time much easier to bear.
Memorial services will be held on January
14, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. at the St. Andrew's
River Heights United Church in Winnipeg
and on January 21, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at
the United Church in Dryden, ON. There
will also be a musical celebration of
Craig's life on January 15, 2012 from 7:00
p.m. to midnight at the Pembina Hotel.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made
to the Pancreatic Cancer Canada
Foundation. Wiebe Funeral Homes Ltd.,
Winkler In care of arrangements, www.wiebefuneralhomes.com
As
published in Winnipeg Free Press on
January 12, 2012
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