Residents of Toronto’s west-end Roncesvalles neighbourhood mourned the passing of a local “icon” and “institution” Wednesday with the death of Tony Clemens, who gained a following of readers over the last five years through the popular blog, Homeless Man Speaks.

“He was able to remain genuinely cheerful … despite the worst of circumstances, and he infused other people with that cheerfulness,” said Philip Stern, the business consultant who befriended Clemens and created the blog nearly five years ago.

Clemens, who had many health problems including lung cancer, was found Tuesday afternoon on Roncesvalles Ave. slumped over in his black camping chair. He was 63.

A makeshift memorial sprang up Wednesday outside Brad’s Takeout and Eatery — one of Clemens’ favourite hangouts — where friends and neighbours laid cards and flowers atop his well-worn chair.

Clemens was a fixture in “Roncy.”

He was “the eyes and ears” of the neighborhood, a local police officer once said, according to one of the blog posts, and a well-known source of community gossip and chitchat.

The blog, which had readers from across the city and even as far away as Florida and Scotland, surpassed a quarter of a million hits earlier this year.

It is mostly filled with slice-of-life conversations between the pair and Clemens’ humorous musings. Comments range from well-wishes to debates about homelessness and other social issues.

Stern said part of the blog’s appeal was its “inherent neighbourhoodiness.”

Clemens reconnected with estranged family members through the blog, which expanded its readership year after year.

Lately, Clemens had taken to introducing himself as “Homeless Man Speaks.”

Clemens was born in Toronto, near Christie Pits, on Feb. 19, 1948, as one of five siblings.

He worked various jobs, his sister Sharon said, but he was most successful as a limo driver and chauffeur. Clemens said he drove Donny and Marie Osmond, Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Michael Jackson around Toronto in the 1980s.

Clemens’ life fell apart 10 years ago, after his wife died. He apparently carried her ashes around for a year afterward.

The couple had two children, but they grew estranged from their father after their mother’s death.

Stern said Wednesday he hoped the blog gave people a rare perspective into “a way of life that for most of us is our worst nightmare, but for many is a daily occurrence.”

Next week marks the blog’s fifth anniversary, and Stern said he could never have imagined its popularity.

“Tony would be so happy to know he reached so many people.”

Homeless Man Speaks

Here are some excerpts from Homeless Man Speaks, where most posts are simply slice-of-life conversations between Philip Stern and Tony Clemens.

Jan. 12, 2011

PHILIP

“Did you see what the Bruins did to Ottawa last night?”

TONY

“Yeah but it was nothing like what happened to the Seahawks the other day.”

PHILIP

“How do you keep up with this stuff?”

TONY

“Like they say, I’ve got my sources.”

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Sept. 19, 2011

PHILIP

“Oh man, those are some special pants you’ve got on this morning; I wish I had my camera for them.”

TONY

“You like ‘em?”

PHILIP

“Errr … in a word, no.”

TONY

“Well you should try dressing on my budget.”

PHILIP

“Touché.”

Oct. 3, 2011

TONY

“Did you hear my good news? … I don’t have the cancer in the lung they thought might have it. I was just at St. Joe’s with my doctors and that’s what they told me.”

PHILIP

“What about the other lung?”

TONY

“They don’t know yet but it’s looking good if you ask me.”