Alan was born June 6, 1948, in Liverpool England and moved with his parents to Victoria, BC at the age of six. As a young child, Alan’s deep love for and connection with nature found expression through exploring the tide pools and coastline of Beacon Hill Park and fishing with his father. At thirteen, Alan began his life-long love of cycling and competitive bike racing. After graduating from Mt. Doug High, he studied Anthropology and Creative Writing at UVic and had multiple poems from that period published.
In 1974, Alan began his studies at the Victoria College of Art, exploring drawing, painting, and sculpture, and eventually earning the honour of becoming the first Associate of the College. He went on to teach at the college and became the Head of Evening and summer classes. His art practice was an integral part of his entire life.
In 1976, Alan married his beloved Joanie Kyle, beginning a long, loving partnership, and soon after started a family with the arrival of Michael and David. Alan was embraced by and cherished spending time with the broader Kyle family. Also, during this time, Alan worked as a bicycle mechanic, first at Gordon’s Sporting Goods and then at Russ Hays. In 1981, Alan went back to UVic to earn his professional teaching certificate, and upon completion was immediately hired by St. Michaels University School as Head of the Art Department.
In the early 1990s, Alan created a high school competitive cycling league, inspiring young local riders, many of whom continue riding to this day, and some of whom went on to become National and World competitors and champions. Alan also continued his own love of competitive cycling, both road and mountain. Alan, David, and Michael spent many happy, adventurous summers racing throughout BC and western United States. He was his sons’ steadfast mentor, coach, and mechanic as they went on to achieve their own success in cycling and life. Retiring from SMUS in 2008, Alan remained immersed in the world of cycling and later joined Oak Bay Bikes as a part-time bike mechanic.
Throughout their life together, Alan and Joanie manifested their committed partnership and love through their art, adventures, gardens, home, and dedication to family. Alan was delighted to become a grandfather and the adored “Popop” to his three grandchildren.
Alan’s artwork is enjoyed and hung in the homes of family, friends, and institutions around the world. Alan described his big, beautiful, paintings as having many layers. This was how Alan himself could be described. One of those layers was as a member of a small art focus group with whom he generously shared his considerable insights. He brought quiet observation, pointed questions, respect for the process, and a deep understanding of the hard work of creating. His last works, small gouache paintings, have a powerful, simple, and singular radiance.
In January 2019, Alan was diagnosed with stage four Ampullary cancer, a rare form of pancreatic cancer. For over two-and-a-half years, Alan faced this cancer the way he lived his life: with grace, great perseverance, grit, courage, spiritual practice, and an enduring ability to perceive beauty and experience gratitude and joy. He passed away peacefully in Hospice, in the early morning of August 25, 2021, surrounded by Michael, David and Joanie: Team Jones.
Memorial Service will be held at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Thursday, September 16, 2021 at 2:00 pm. Zoom link below:
Please use your video camera when joining so that family in attendance can see you and feel your support.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81494484994?pwd=N0NwOG9IaU83T2RiVStzRXpQNTNrUT09
Due to COVID regulations and knowing that some attendees are at high risk for COVID, all who attend Alan’s memorial are asked to be vaccinated before attending, and to remain masked and adhere to social distancing requirements.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
32 Responses
To Joan and your precious sons. I was so sad to learn of Alan’s death…and am sorry this wonderful person is no longer here to share his wonderful smile, thoughtful reflections, and gracious presence. I will be with you online for his memorial and with you in spirit. Virginia Ronning
Dear Joan,
I remember Alan for his wonderful talent as a teacher and artist, for his kindness and grace. Rob and I always enjoyed his warm and enthusiastic company.
He inspired so many students and initiated new art events and experiences for students on campus over many years. Please accept my sympathy at his passing. Warmly Joan
Dear Joanie and family,
There is heaviness as I write…
Alan was a teacher and colleague whose passion was quiet but deep, whose dedication extended to everything he embraced, and who, when he gave his word, could be counted on to follow through steadfastly. First and foremost, though, he was a truly good human being. I feel privileged to have known him.
At SMUS, I have visions of Alan heading off at the end of any given day, geared up with a group of students to do a “Dump Run”. On any other given day, (when not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse) there was Alan in the hallway of Schoolhouse, setting up another impressive and varied display of student art.
And beyond what defined him as a teacher, I cherish the memory of having shared with him, on another level, a quiet understanding of William Styron’s memoir: Darkness Visible.
I respected Alan immensely and I will remember him in kind.
I was so shocked and so sorry to see Alan in the obituaries. I’d known him for decades as a postive and vibrant co-conspirator in the cycling world. We raced together way back in the ’70s and he was always a gracious competitor. I moved away to Ottawa and ran into him again from time to time after moving back. He was still always a friend with a ready smile and and easy going manner that now will be sorely missed. So sorry for all the other friends and especially for Alan’s family who have lost such a beautiful soul.
It is hard to know what to say at times like this. What I will say is that I liked Alan immensely. I admired his many talents and his profound understanding of art and all its associated disciplines. It is an understatement to say he was a skilled teacher. He was also perpetually curious, a quality that kept him young. At times, he made me laugh out loud. He was also a humble person, never one to blow his own horn. He was, in short, a great colleague, someone who made others feel at ease by simply being himself. He was one of the good ones. I shall miss him
I have many fond memories of Alan Jones. One memory stands out as a role model for the kind of ‘right attitude’ it takes to be a teacher. In my third year at the Victoria College of Art, I was kind of thrown in to the role of Evening Life Drawing Classes Instructor. Alan had been running his evening painting classes and I asked him if I could sit in and ‘get some tips from an old pro.’ I was amazed at how he left no stone un-turned. I was early, but he had everything already set out and ready to go when I got there and was reviewing his lesson plan for the evening. He told me “Even though you command the floor, you need to make the students feel empowered, like they can do this. Be confident and your students will feel confident.” When it comes to teaching, this is one of the most valuable lessons I have ever learned and it was from Alan, who, although I haven’t had much contact over the years, I have always deeply loved and respected. He had an infectious laugh and you always felt good when you were around him. It deeply saddens me that I will never see him again. My condolences to Joanie and all the Jones and Kyle family members.
To Joan and his boys;
Alan has such a fond place in my memory, and in the memory of others. He will be remembered well, as he was liked and loved in his lifetime. I enjoyed working with him while we were both at SMUS; I don’t know anyone who didn’t enjoy working with him. His thoughtful, compassionate surface was an exterior that could not hide his deep passion for his art, for his work as a teacher, and especially for his students. He added threads of his own to the fabric of SMUS life that were uniquely his. He was a proponent of creativity and compassion simply by being a fine example. His embracing spirit was warm, kind and principled. My wife, Joan and I, offer our heart-felt thoughts to the entire family.
Alan was a good man. I’m pleased to have known him and wish we had more time to spend. Alan was always a generous listener, and friend. I’ll miss him.
We are eternally grateful for the healthy distraction that bike racing provided for our children as they navigated through their teenage years. We are so thankful that Alan created the school cycling league for them to participate in, and now they have passed their love of cycling down to our grandkids. You will not be forgotten Alan, rest in peace. Deepest condolences to the family.
Dear Joan and family, I am saddened to hear of Alan’s passing for I was not aware that he was so ill. He was a wonderful colleague (as were you!) and certainly a teacher the students were fortunate to know. Thinking of you all in the days ahead.
Ken.