Ronald Alexander, 80: Ryerson’s hot dog vendor
Ernie the hot dog guy, mustachioed master of mystery and downtown icon for a quarter-century, has died.
Ronald Alexander, better known as Ernie, sold hot dogs outside Ryerson University for 25 years after a successful career in engineering.
Ernie the hot dog guy, mustachioed master of mystery and downtown icon for a quarter-century, has died.
Born Ronald Keith Alexander but dubbed Ernie for his likeness to the Sesame Street character, the 80-year-old had swapped a marketing career in fibre optics for a second career selling sausages on the Ryerson University campus, where he became a fixture on the corner of Gould and Victoria Sts. serving wit and wieners to generations of students.
For 25 years, Ernie kept his real name as secret as his degree in electrical engineering from the University of Toronto, while he cultivated a homespun image as the curbside caterer with the personal touch. He played music to dine by from his hot dog cart, offered free “after-dinner” jujubes and insisted his homemade secret sauce came from “herbs and spices picked from the forks of the Credit at midnight.”
He died Wednesday night in hospital from medical complications just 18 months after hanging up his beloved barbecue apron, but not before leaving a bursary fund for needy students of almost $27,000.
“Ernie was a vibrant part of campus life for more than 25 years and a very generous friend,” said Ryerson President Sheldon Levy yesterday. “He loved Ryerson students. We’re going to miss him greatly.”
The father of four and grandfather of two had dedicated the proceeds of sales one day a year to a fund that would give a needy Ryerson student an extra $500 during second semester when money might be getting tight.
“He donated free hot dogs every year to our school fundraisers,” said his daughter, Gail Alexander, a Grade 1 teacher at Dallington Public School near Sheppard Ave. and Don Mills Rd.
“When we were growing up, he was really into cutting-edge fibre optics; he travelled the world from Russia to Japan and brought us presents from wherever he went,” said his daughter. But then Ernie suddenly left what he called the “corporate rat race” to run a hot dog stand on the Ryerson campus.
Troubled by illness – he was a leukemia survivor who later battled prostate cancer, diabetes, kidney disease and heart failure – Ernie had fallen on hard times after leaving the hot dog business and spent several weeks in homeless shelters until settling into Liberty Place Retirement Home on Kingston Rd.
He leaves daughters Gail, Karen and Janis, son Dennis, grandchildren Reid and Mackenzie, sister Claudette Dunn and his former wife, Betty Alexander.
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