Halifax coffee shop holds memorial for 3 longtime patrons

For a decade or so,they were a fixture on Halifax's busy GottingenStreet:three men seated every morningoutside the samecaf, discussing the comings and goings over cigarettes, hot coffee and tea.

The daily tradition changed in 2020 when Leroy Loppie died at the age of 76. This pastJuly, Clyde Tanner died, also at 76. DaveDemonedied earlier this month at71, leavingthree emptyseats by the wooden fence atAlteregosCafe, which honoured the trio Friday in a celebration of life.

The men were more than just longtime regulars; they were a "really special part of the fabric ofGottingenStreet," saidAlteregos' owner Michelle Strum.

She said Tanner andLoppieknown by many in Halifax as Mr.Loppie had been coming to thecafsince it opened 23 years ago. Before that, the pair would frequent the restaurant that existed at the same site.

"When I was looking at purchasing the building, I could remember them sitting in there then,"StrumtoldCBC'sInformation Morning Halifaxon Friday.

When Demonemoved in across the street about a decade ago,he toobecame a daily patron at Alteregos.

On Friday, a small gold plaque was affixed to the wooden fence outside the cafwhere the trio used to gather. "In loving memory of our friends," it reads.

About two dozen people showed up for coffee, tea and sandwiches and shared stories ofthe three men.

"It's lovely to see the plaque wherePuppywould come and have his tea. It'sreally nice," said Loppie'sdaughter,LillianLoppie-Benjamin.

Strum said Barb Adams,Demone'ssister, connected with thecafwhen her brother was in the hospital.Demonewantedvisits from past and current staff.

"So we spent a lot of time with him this week,"said Strum.

Strum saidDemoneleft some money behind to thecafto go toward food for the celebration of life.

Adams said Friday she could feel how much people genuinely cared about her brother.

"Obviously I see all the love that's here in this community that I would say helped save his life ... this community saved his life, the love that he got here, that he gaveand it was returned," Adams said.

Strum said Tanner had been in and out of hospital over the last six months or staying at home due to illness, which didn't go unnoticed by her concerned employees.

"My staff are definitely the first people to notice the minute they don't see one of these gentlemen. And, you know, we'll be calling and checking in and going down to Clyde's place in [Sunrise Manor] to make sure that he was OK."

Strum, who is originally fromMahoneBay, N.S., said theGottingenStreet area has analmost rural feel in the way people connect with one another.

Loppie, Tanner and Demone were a big part of that.

"For me, whenever I go on holiday and come back and pull up out front, it's the No. 1thing to see them, you know? It's like I'm home," she said.

"For people who know them, just a quick wave ... to any of those guys, it's such a big part of the morning."