April 17, 2012 (Toronto, ON) – Sports communities across Canada are mourning the loss of Randy Starkman, a passionate and prolific journalist, who championed amateur sport and was loved, respected and admired by athletes, colleagues and sport associations across the country.

Starkman, 51, was admitted to hospital last week suffering from pneumonia and after several days in intensive care did not recover. Many are describing his loss as a huge void in the world of sport journalism.

He was one of kind with a remarkable career joining the Toronto Star after the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. A two-time National Newspaper Award winner, Starkman covered 12 Olympic Games.

“Randy brought to life the lives and the struggles and the careers of amateur athletes like no one else,” said John Honderich, chairman of the board of Torstar Corp., the parent company of the Star in Starkman’s obituary.

Toronto Star Editor, Michael Cooke said, “Randy was a reporter who knew the amateur sports beat A-to-Z and back again. His lively personality and deeply rooted professionalism will be so sadly missed by our newsroom.”

Starkman was a big supporter of Nordic skiing and knew many of Canada’s top cross-country skiers and Cross Country Canada issued the following statement.

“Cross Country Canada offers condolences to friends and family of Randy Starkman. His dedication to covering amateur sport was unparalleled and his understanding of cross-country skiing has contributed to the success of our athletes and the growth of our sport. He will be missed.”

Starkman is survived by his wife, Mary Hynes, and their daughter Ella.

Read Randy’s obituary HERE.

SkiTrax joins the sport community across Canada in sending condolences to Starkman’s family, colleagues and friends.