The Elvis of Kitchener-Waterloo has passed away
The Elvis of Kitchener-Waterloo has “left the building” for the last time.
The 71-year-old, who walked the streets of Kitchener, Ont. for more than three decades dressed as the King of Rock and Roll, has died.
Elvis, whose real name was Ron, passed away Friday in hospice after a battle with cancer.
Those close to him said he was thriving in his final days – living and eating like a king.
“He got to hospice and he had pancakes and maple syrup and applesauce,” said Rachel Hunter from KW Habilitation, a social services organization who help Ron throughout his life.
Ron, the Elvis of Kitchener-Waterloo, in an undated photo. (Source: KW Habilitation)
Tributes, shared online, describe him as a kind-hearted man who always said hello to people in the community.
His friends said Ron came to Kitchener almost 40 years ago, and he dressed up like Elvis because he was a lifelong fan who wanted to be a legend like his hero.
“He was iconic,” said Hunter. “He was a legend in this town. It’s sad that he’s gone. [He’ll] be missed by thousands and thousands.”
Ron was born in Vancouver, B.C. but considered Waterloo Region his real home.
Ron, the Elvis of Kitchener-Waterloo, in an undated photo. (Source: KW Habilitation)
He was misunderstood by some, according to those who knew him well.
“He was a very gentle man who had an intellectual disability,” said Ann Bilodeau, the CEO of KW Habilitation. “So all of these other myths, it just wasn’t true. He had a home on Frederick Street for 30 years with wraparound support.”
At the end of his life, Ron had about a dozen Elvis outfits in various colours and styles.
“Sometimes, I must confess, I think he even slept in them,” Hunter said. “It was hard to get him to take them off there for awhile, but then he would get into a routine of bringing them to the dry cleaners or washing them.”
Ron, the Elvis of Kitchener-Waterloo, in an undated photo. (Source: Proper Barbershop KW)
Ron didn’t just love Elvis’ look, but also his music.
“He was forever asking to sing to people that he cared about, like his partner Tammy and the nurses at Grand River Hospital when he was going through his cancer treatments,” Hunter explained.
He spent his own money on the suits and sometimes even helped design them.
“He would be very keen on his new outfits and new belts and new hair, new shoes,” explained Dana Hunter of Proper Barbershop K-W, where Ron was a frequent customer.
Ron, the Elvis of Kitchener-Waterloo, in an undated photo. (Source: Proper Barbershop KW)
During a committee meeting on Monday, Kitchener Councillor Scott Davey paid tribute to Ron by wearing a custom Elvis shirt.
“I said [to my wife]: “You know what? It would be nice to honour him,’” he said.
According to KW Habilitation, Ron will be cremated with his favourite Elvis suit and two Elvis wigs, which he wore daily to achieve the height of Elvis’ iconic pompadour.
Ron, the Elvis of Kitchener-Waterloo, in an undated photo. (Source: KW Habilitation)
Funeral arrangements are still being finalized but is expected to take place next week.
Ron’s friends said they expect a big turnout.
His legacy, like the King of Rock and Roll, will continue to live on in the hearts of many.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
WATCH LIVE Police arrest Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides
Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'
NDP house leader says House dysfunction will be a factor in future confidence votes
NDP House leader Peter Julian says there's more his party wants to do in Parliament before the next election, but if the current dysfunction continues it will become a factor in how they vote on a confidence measure.
Canadian family stuck in Lebanon anxiously awaits flight options amid Israeli strikes
A Canadian man who is trapped in Lebanon with his family says they are anxiously waiting for seats on a flight out of the country, as a barrage of Israeli airstrikes continues.
Youth pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of P.E.I. teen Tyson MacDonald
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
BREAKING Jury begins deliberations in Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial
The jury tasked with determining if Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard sexually assaulted a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago began deliberating Friday after nearly two weeks of testimony that saw the singer and his accuser give starkly different accounts of what happened.
BREAKING Here's what the jury didn't hear in Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial
A northeastern Ontario jury has started deliberating in Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial, we can now tell you what they weren't allowed to hear.
Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters sentenced to 9 years for voting data scheme
A judge ripped into a Colorado county clerk for her crimes and lies before sentencing her Thursday to nine years behind bars for a data-breach scheme spawned from the rampant false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race.
Yazidi woman captured by ISIS rescued in Gaza after more than a decade in captivity
A 21-year-old Yazidi woman has been rescued from Gaza where she had been held captive by Hamas for years after being trafficked by ISIS.
Airlines' challenge of Canada's passenger protection rules rejected by Supreme Court
Canada's airlines have failed in their challenge of air passenger protection rules that the federal government implemented in 2019.