Alan King 1947 – 2021

Remember & Celebrate

A Zoom funeral service is scheduled for family and friends on March 6th at 11 AM. Please join us live on YouTube at https://youtu.be/EeFjjbiUODs.

---

Gathering 
Opening words: Susie Henderson 
Chopin Etude Op.10 No.1: William Aide 

Family Remembrances 
If I Had a Nightingale by Alan King : Shared Reading 
Gayle Dudeck 
Chloe King 
Christopher King 
Bradley Dudeck 

Family Slideshow 
soundtrack “Chasing Paradise” written by Alan King 
performed by William Aide and Rachel Aide 

Elaine Bird: poem 

Community Remembrances 
Jay Stone 
Bill Aide (including Chopin Etude Op.25 No.12) 
Slideshow of Alan’s Art 
Roxana Spicer 

Closing 
Goldberg Variations Theme: William Aide 
Closing words: Susie Henderson 

Order of Service (pdf download)Download

---

Obituary

It is with great sadness that the King family announces the peaceful passing of Alan King on February 8, 2021, at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. Alan was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and emigrated with his parents Alfred and Maureen King in 1948 eventually settling in Whitby, Ontario. Predeceased by his brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Susan (Foster) King, and lovingly remembered by his two children, Christopher (Jessica) and Chloe (Romain), and sisters Gayle (Gary) Dudeck and Elaine Bird.

Alan studied classical piano, organ and English at Western University. An extraordinary, self-taught artist, Alan first worked in advertising and publishing, with some of his early illustrations appearing in the Toronto Star, Maclean’s, Time magazine and Readers Digest. Alan joined the Ottawa Citizen in 1979, where he worked as editorial cartoonist for 17 years. He was known for his sharp wit and smart satirical commentary (later donating over 700 political cartoons to the National Archives). He also contributed arts and book reviews.

After leaving the newspaper business, Alan had a successful career as a commercial illustrator, his work represented by a U.S.-based agent. He designed coins for the Royal Canadian Mint and illustrated stamps for Canada Post. When he returned to Toronto in 2013, he transitioned into web design and digital illustration, while teaching watercolour and digital art at George Brown College. Alan was a member of the Arts and Letters Club in Toronto, where he will be remembered for his stimulating conversations and infectious laughter.

His prolific output transcended convention and categorization and included oil portraits – one of his greatest passions, along with music. His paintings included such notables as William Aide (Musician/Artist), Andrew Absil (Anglican Bishop), Leonard Lee (Founder of Lee Valley), and Elizabeth Kilbourne (Anglican Priest).

Alan died after unexpected complications following heart surgery, despite every effort by staff at St. Mike’s to save him. The family is especially grateful to the doctors and nurses in the cardiovascular ICU, as well as for all the friends who sent their tributes and words of kindness.

In memory of Alan please consider ordering your own copy of his original childrens book
“If I had a nightingale“.
Beautifully written and thoughtfully illustrated,
your kids are sure to cherish it for years.

Select (or click) on the the book image below to make your purchase.

Alan’s Family History