If you were a kid growing up in Guelph during the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s you looked forward to an appearance by Marcel O’Brien, aka Tarzan the Clown, during the Santa Claus parade and hockey games at Memorial Gardens.
“He took part in a lot of charitable and community events and became a bit of an icon in the city,” said former Guelph mayor Norm Jary. “I always remember him playing hockey for charity and he would skate out on the ice and the number on in his jersey was '1/2.'”
O’Brien was known by his friends as Tarz and by the Guelph public as Tarzan, a nickname he picked up as a child due to his love of Tarzan movies, died Dec. 1. He was 93.
“He was a natural entertainer and might have had a career in the entertainment industry if he had the right opportunities and encouragement,” said O’Brien’s nephew Joe Fox. “He was content working as a saw operator for Holman Luggage across the street from where he lived on Suffolk Street. He lived there with my grandmother.”
Fox remembers his uncle being good on his feet.
“He loved to dance and was a great jitterbugger,” said Fox. “He loved the ladies and everyone wanted to dance with him.”
O’Brien played and coached hockey for many years and was a talented skater and player.
He began performing as Tarzan the Clown during a game at Memorial Gardens between the Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters and Toronto Marlboros in 1959.
The Biltmores’ star player Rod Gilbert got injured after slipping on coins thrown on the ice and O’Brien quickly threw on some makeup and entertained the crowd to calm things down.
His performance was such a hit that he went on to perform between periods for years to come.
He also donned his tramp tux and tails for special events and, of course, the annual Santa Claus Parade.
During his later years he met regularly with friends in the food court at Stone Road Mall where they reminisced and ribbed each other over coffee.
O’Brien was living in the Wellington Park Terrace retirement residence until a year ago, when he moved to The Elliott Community.
“They loved him at the Elliott. He was a celebrity there. He was in good shape up to a week before he died. He started failing in the last week and died peacefully in his sleep.”
Fox said the overwhelming response to uncle’s death is a testament to the joy he brought people when he was alive.
“He brought joy to everyone he met and brightened their day.”
A celebration of O’Brien’s life will be held at The Elliott Community, 170 Metcalfe St., on Jan. 11.
