PNE's Jack Hunter memorialized by family with midway bench

A PNE legend was honoured on Thursday when Jack Hunter, owner of the foot-long hot dog booth, had a bench dedicated to him by his family right on the midway.

Hunter died in April after a long illness at age 84. But for seven decades, Hunter was known as one of the fair's real characters, who served up delicious treats and also made it a fun experience.

• PNE eats: The weirdest food you can try at the fair this year
• John Lennon's final autograph to his killer part of PNE exhibit
• Peter Pan at the PNE keeps star Cathy Rigby eternally young

"He was a one-of-a-kind person. I've never met anyone with a bigger personality that had such a big heart," said his stepson Jason Faria. "He cared about people, cared about what he did, and didn't think of it as a business, selling hot dogs. It was more of an art or a show."

Hunter worked at the fair for 73 years, including 60 years as owner of the foot-long hot dog booth. In addition to his showmanship, he was known for having the ability to connect with people, some of whom would come back for decades just to talk with him.

'I was rolling my eyes every day'

Hunter came into Faria's life when he was 10 years old, and gave him his first job, scooping ice cream cones.

It was start of many crazy years for Faria, who would get roped into all kinds of stunts by his stepfather.

"I was rolling my eyes every day. Jack had the personality that he would make you cringe," he said. "He'd make you be part of the limelight, and it was an experience that growing up, you never wanted to be a part of, and then as you get older you realize why he made you do it."

Faria said that at his peak, Hunter owned nine different booths, and the bench is placed out front of his cotton candy stand.

"Jack would stand and watch his booth from that location every day," he said. "[Now] he can watch over us for many PNEs to come."

Lots of memories

Faria says that Hunter's death is causing all kinds of people to share memories.

He says one older lady came up to him and said she would come to the fair every year just to chat with Hunter and not about business or hot dogs.

And Hunter would oblige, Faria said, because that's what she wanted to do.

"Jack was all about people. He had many stories that he told about himself, but his favourite stories involved somebody else," he said.

With Hunter gone, Faria and the rest of his family will take over the business.

He says that Hunter's lessons have prepared him well to run things, although he didn't always realize they were lessons until he started running the hot dog stand himself.

To hear the full interview, click on the audio labelled:Foot long hot dogs at PNE will be different without Jack Hunter