Longtime Toronto Sun political cartoonist Andy Donato passed Tuesday a week after retiring from The Sun. He was 89.

Donato began his cartooning career at the Toronto Telegram, publishing his first cartoon in 1964. After the Telegram folded in October 1971, Donato began drawing political cartoons the very next month at the newly established Toronto Sun. He published his final cartoon on September 6, 2026, after a 55-year career.

In addition to drawing cartoons, Donato, a “Toronto legend,” is remembered for being an avid golfer, said Wes Tyrell, president of the Association of Canadian Cartoonists.

“Andy Donato died as he lived, sinking putts,” Tyrell said. “He and his wife Diane moved a few years back into a new condo, right across the street from the ancient Toronto Hunt Club. This was done so Andy could knock off his cartoon duties for the Toronto Sun and skedaddle over and grab a quick nine, or eighteen, or more. If he wasn’t drawing Prime Ministers or world leaders or painting urban landscapes or charming office colleagues, he was golfing.

“Andy followed this same happy routine from the 1960’s until he sank a putt yesterday on the 3rd hole and collapsed on the 4th,” Tyrell added. “He would have been delighted to go out like this, but eternally ticked off that he did not complete his round.”

The AAEC extends its condolences to Donato’s family and friends.