Peter Baylis, the anthem singer for the Halifax Mooseheads and a well-known person in the city, has died at the age of 62.
The news was shared on Wednesday by his wife, Jennifer on a GoFundMe page. The fundraiser was set up in May when Baylis was diagnosed with what was referred to as an aggressive form of brain cancer.
“Last night, lifelong friends and family surrounded him with their love, laughter, and a few stories, while he slept, dreamt, and readied himself for his next gig. No stage fright, just waiting in the wings to make his entrance,” she wrote. “Peter stepped into the light at 2:55 am AST this morning.”
In a statement, the Mooseheads said the team was deeply saddened to learn of Baylis’ passing, calling him a cherished member of the organization’s family.
“Peter’s voice wasn’t just heard – it was felt. His unwavering dedication and contagious passion left an enduring mark on our organization and the fans in Moose country,” the team wrote.
In an interview with CityNews in June, Baylis spoke about his approach to the diagnosis of a glioblastoma.
“(At birth) you are handed a deck of cards… And I happened to draw this card, and that is the card I have to play,” Baylis said. “So, going forward, I’m going to play this with all the positive mental attitude I possibly can.”
Glioblastoma is a form of brain cancer, the same type that Gord Downie died from, Baylis said in the interview.
He wanted to fight with a positive attitude and spread his message of kindness. In one of his last updates on the GoFundMe, Baylis explained how his abilities, like talking and walking, were slowly being taken away from him.
“Be kind and gracious with one another and remember too, there are many among us who are lonely and need a little of your time. Give that freely,” he wrote Oct. 14.
Jennifer asked people to hold Baylis in their hearts and minds for a little while by playing Bob Marley’s Natural Mystic, or U2’s, Bad “really loud.”
“He’d like that…and so much more,” she said.
A photo Peter Baylis posted in a Oct. 14 update. He wrote about Thanksgiving and how lucky he is to be surrounded by friends and family. (GoFundMe)
