Randy Starkman was a great friend of Canada’s amateur athletes. As a sports journalist, Randy concentrated on amateur athletes – in and out of competition. His articles on various aspects of our sport were eagerly read. They were well-researched, honest and fair. There was always a mutual respect between coaches, athletes and administrators – and Randy. A consummate professional, Randy would turn down late dinners with his fellow reporters to make sure the right story got out the next morning.
Randy joined the staff of the Toronto Star in 1988, focussing on amateur sport. He won several newspaper awards including one for a piece on Ben Johnson’s second positive drug test in 1993. During his career Randy covered 12 Olympic Games and numerous other competitions including World Championships and Pan American Games. No doubt Randy would have enjoyed immensely working the Pan American Games in his hometown of Toronto had it not been for his sudden death from pneumonia in April of 2012. He was only 51 years of age. He was suitably honoured yet again by having the Toronto 2015 press centre named after him.