Longtime CBC radio producer Michael Finlay dies after random assault in Toronto

Longtime CBC radio producer Michael Finlay died Tuesday from medical complications following a random assault in Toronto's east end, his family has confirmed.

In a note to staff, Cathy Perry, CBC's executive director of newsgathering and operations, said he will be remembered as an exceptional storyteller, documentary maker and editor.

Finlay retired from CBC in 2010 after working at the public broadcaster for 31 years.

Perry said Finlay "travelled the world" to produce radio documentaries for a number of programs, including Sunday Morning.

He was later an editor for World At Six, where he was famous for his knowledge of the news.

"He pushed journalists and producers to tell great stories," Perry wrote.

"Michael had firm ideas about writing, story and structure and a vet could be a challenge but nearly every reporter he ever worked with said their story was made better because of Michael."

In the afternoon of Jan. 24, Finlay was assaulted by a stranger as he walked along Danforth Avenue, a busy thoroughfare known for its many shops and restaurants, Toronto police say.

Though they did not identify Finlay by name, police said in a news release that the victim in the attack fell to the ground and suffered serious injuries as a result.

They described the suspect as a man in his 20s, about six feet tall with a slim build. He was last seen wearing a red paper mask with flames on it, according to police, as well as a black sweater and black pants. He left the area on foot following the attack.

Frank Koller, a former foreign correspondent for CBC who worked with Finlay on Sunday Morning, said he had a "laser-like sense of what might be important news anywhere in the world."

In a Facebook post, Koller said it had been a dream of his to work alongside Finlay.

"I wanted to work with him because he understood better than most what 'good radio' required, he knew what good journalism was — and he was a stickler for good grammar and pronunciation and the music and cadence of well-spoken English," Koller wrote.

"He wasn't always the easiest guy in the world to get along with … irascible, sarcastic, a human chimney as smoking waned, sometimes a titch cranky, a human browser on virtually everything+anything, years before the Internet … what's not to like?"

Arrangements for a memorial for Finlay have not been released.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact them at 416-808-5500, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).

Police have released this image of the suspect: