Ken Tobias Passes

1945–2024

Ken Tobias, passed away peacefully on October 2, 2024, at the age of seventy-nine at the Saint John Regional Hospital, in his home town of Saint John, New Brunswick. Ken had been battling brain cancer for the past two months.Kenneth Wayne Paul Tobias is survived by his mother, Laura Tobias, 100, of Saint John, his brother, Tony Tobias of Toronto, and his nephew/brother, Conan Tobias of Toronto.

The family is grateful to the nurses, doctors, and staff of the Saint John Regional Hospital for their care of Ken. They are especially grateful and indebted to Ken’s dear friend Jackie Ainsworth, R.N., who was there for Ken throughout his final months, applying her nursing care skills with ultimate love and compassion.

His music legacy will be with us to share for decades.

He is noted for penning the 1971 chart-topping hit for The Bells, "Stay Awhile", and for several top-selling recordings of his own.

"Stay Awhile" became a soft rock classic of the early 1970s, peaking in 1971 at No. 1 in Canada and No. 7 on the US Billboard charts. "Stay Awhile" sold more than two million copies worldwide.

Tobias lived in Toronto through the 1990s before returning to his native Saint John, where he recently lived , painting and continuing to write and perform music, and encouraging younger talents through the Songwriters Association of Canada. In 2002, he produced the debut album for Canadian artist Kim Jarrett. He has also collaborated with local Saint John artist Jessica Rhaye.^[2]