Obituaries
BROWN, Allan G.
Volume 30 Issue 10, 11 & 12 | Posted: January 2, 2017
Born in Victoria, B.C., Allan passed away peacefully at home after a short struggle with cancer in Powell River, B.C. He was predeceased by his wife, Pat, of 41 years, August 14, 2011. Allan is survived by his sister-in-law, Philippa Murthy, of Santa Monica, California.
Allan was an established Canadian poet, a prolific writer, a teacher and mentor to many. In his lifetime, Allan published 24 volumes of poetry, 11 chap books, one journal and over 500 literary reviews. Allan wrote his first poem at age 17.
Born in Victoria, B.C., Allan passed away peacefully at home after a short struggle with cancer in Powell River, B.C. He was predeceased by his wife, Pat, of 41 years, August 14, 2011. Allan is survived by his sister-in-law, Philippa Murthy, of Santa Monica, California.
Allan was an established Canadian poet, a prolific writer, a teacher and mentor to many. In his lifetime, Allan published 24 volumes of poetry, 11 chap books, one journal and over 500 literary reviews. Allan wrote his first poem at age 17.
He lived and worked in Kingston, Ontario, for many years before retiring, in 1992, to Texada Island, B.C. for one year and then moving to Powell River. There Allan began teaching again, at Malaspina College, (later Vancouver Island University), and collaborating with the Malaspina Writers Group. “Precision and clarity” were his guiding principles. He was a good listener. Allan moved through life with a philosophy of acceptance and living in the present “as much as could be tolerated.”
Allan took a deeper interest in writing Haiku poetry in his later years. His final book of poetry was Before The Dark, focusing on his wife Pat’s passing. It was well reviewed online in the Island Catholic News, where he was a frequent contributor, including theological review essays, as well as poetry and letters.
He had a deep love of Victoria where he spent his first fifteen years of life, based on Green Street where his father had a home and ran a fish wholesale business. His father died suddenly in an automobile accident in Idaho. Allan was with him at the time but survived, the only survivor of four in the car. Allan’s life altered radically at that point, as he had to relocate to Vancouver and live with his mother and her new husband. From that point on his journey into poetry seriously commenced.
Philippa and those close to Allan thank Dr. DuToit, the staff of Home Support and the nurses and staff of Powell River General Hospital.
A Celebration of Life for Allan was held on Saturday, October 22, 2016, at the Town Centre Hotel.