In Memory of Tim

Dear listeners,

My co-host, uncle, and friend, Tim Gonyo, passed away after a long, brave fight with cancer last week, on December 22, 2025. This will be the last transmission from the podcast known as The Lonely End of the Rack.

Tim’s wife, Stacie (our one-time co-host!), wrote a beautiful obituary that you can read here.

Tim & I had talked about making a podcast together for, quite literally, years. We could just never figure out what we wanted to do, and consequently, never got around to doing it. Until we finally did, and The Lonely End of the Rack was born.

And not long after that, Tim got his diagnosis.

We kept making episodes, reading comics and shooting the breeze about them, on mic, through his various treatments. I like to think that for Tim, we did it for the same reason—because I just liked to have an excuse to read new stuff, and talk with my friend on a regular basis.

And I also think we did it because, as often alluded to on the podcast…it’s better to make things, than to not make things. It’s more fun, it’s more positive, it’s part of being human to create and discuss creativity and indulge in the things that make us happy.

Making LEotR brought us joy, and I hope a few people found this podcast, and it spread a little joy to them, too.

I’m writing this blog post as I worry about what I’ll say at the funeral in a couple days, because it’s going to be hard for me to put into words what Tim meant to me. But I think I at least figured out what I wanted to say to close out the pod.

The Lonely End of the Rack was, as we described in our first issue episode, named for The Tragically Hip’s song “The Lonely End of the Rink.” Tim introduced me to the music of The Hip way back in 1998, when I was first getting deeper into rock and roll music (also, with Tim’s guidance). In fact, I think he first introduced me to Stacie when we all saw the band together for the first time, when I was shortly out of college.

The song is superficially about hockey, but like much good art, there’s a deeper meaning. For me, it’s about the relationship between the protagonist and their parental figure—the person who’s guiding them, driving them to and from practice, helping them achieve their goal of playing hockey, and physically in their corner while they play (the protagonist, a goalie, is at the literal lonely end of the rink). But the guide can only help so much; they can’t be on the ice with them. As the lyrics go, “If you need me, you’re on your own.”

I pitched this name for the pod because it was a dumb comics pun on a Hip song title. But I’m pretty sure I knew in the back of my mind that the song we were referencing was kind of about our relationship, too. Tim was always supportive of my interests, helping to guide me when I made some dumb mistakes, and always there to share a beer or cider or play pinball or show me a new band or song or comic…and get my kids started on the right path, too.

Even without his presence, I know he’s forever in my corner. I hate that I’m on my own now. But I had a hell of a guide for the past 43 years.

One more music reference before I go, from one of his other favorite bands, Rush. I know Neil Peart’s journey though a cancer diagnosis was something Tim looked to, and he took comfort from many of Neil’s lyrics at the end. The last song from their last album sums it pretty well, I think:

The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect
So hard to earn, so easily burned
In the fullness of time
A garden to nurture and protect

So everyone, please: tend your garden. Enjoy what you love. Share the joys you find in life.

Love you, Uncle Tim. May angels lead you in.

Rob