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
In all my time as a student of the Victoria College of Art since 1984, I believe that I could not have met anyone so fine and supportive as Alan Jones. I always enjoyed his company whenever we met and I always thought of him as my friend. As time passed we both shared a mutual respect for our art. In 2000, my wife and I decided to go sailing. This could mean a long break in my art career. I thought of Alan and his bikes and knew he would understand. I knew from Alan that our art was the most wonderful byproduct of the joy we shared in life. So I went sailing. When my wife, myself and two boys returned 11 years later, I wanted to go thank Alan. I let go and we sailed all the way to Sydney, Australia and back. It was a great honour to know him to work with him and I will never forget any of the lessons we learned and taught at the evening drawing and painting classes at the Victoria College of Art.
Dear Joan and family,
Such sad news. We feel and share your sorrow and offer deepest condolences. Alan was such a lovely man and such a talent.
Becky & Mark Hazell
My deepest condolences to you and the family Joan. Alan was such a wonderful man. It always raised my spirits to meet the two of you. He was always cheerful, kind, and insightful. He had that wonderful twinkle in his eye, that let you know he was seeing the best in you. I hope to see you again soon. Sending you love and big hugs all around.
Oh Joan and boys, I was sad to hear this from Kevin and I send my love to you all. May Alan’s memory be a blessing…I will ride my bike in his honour this weekend. All of us (your friends and former colleagues) at UVic send our condolences.
Dear Joan and Family,
I was so sorry to hear the news of Alan’s passing. I don’t think I ever met him, but the tributes to his life and legacy here have been very touching. My sympathy to the family on his loss.
In deepest sympathy,
Cathy Aquart
To the Jones Family,
My sincere condolences for your loss. I met Alan in the mid seventies when I came to Victoria and began art school. It was an important and formative period of my life and Alan was a part of it as a fellow art student and a generous and engaging colleague.
Becoming reaquainted with him in the last three years with a group of artists coming together to look at and discuss each other’s work was an opportunity I am very glad to have had and I will remember Alan fondly
Dear Joan, Michael & David,
It was with such sadness that I read about your great loss, and want to tell you that my thoughts and memories are very much with you at this time of grief.
Alan meant a great deal to me, both as a colleague and as a close neighbour as we spent those years together when School House became our new classroom block. His quiet sense of humour, optimism and encouragement will ever remain in my mind, as we came to know and respect each other.
My most vivid recollection of Alan’s sense of fun was when I was putting on the school play – The Physicists – and I needed a portrait to display on stage of a revered ancestor. Could he help? Of course he could and later presented me with a magnificent offering to adorn my set. So often was it referred to in the dialogue that this painting assumed the persona of another character! Later, when I asked him who indeed his subject was, he replied with a straight face and with that inimitable twinkle in his eye. “It was Yuri Gagarin, of course…”
I am so grateful to have had such wonderful memories of a man who made our school such a humanitarian and enriching experience. Thank you, Alan!
Alan was a wonderful son to our dear friend Holly. When Holly wasn’t driving anymore, he would take his mother shopping, later did the shopping for her, and he drove her to the hairdresser’s every week. When he was unable to visit Holly anymore, he kept in close touch by daily phone calls. We know how much Holly appreciated Alan’s love, help and patience.
We extend our deepest condolences to Joanie and all the family.
To Joanie and family- please accept my condolences for the loss off Alan.
Alan was one of my first friends when I moved to Victoria in 1974 at a time when I was feeling rather lost. Although I have not seen Alan for many years, I still recall his voice, his bikes and himself with great affection.
A very sad loss.
Could you please send your address, as I would like to send a card.
Affectionately,
Neil
Neil Dalrymple To Joanie and family please accept my condolences for the loss of Alan. Alan was my first friend when I moved to Victoria when I was feeling rather lost in 1974. Although I have not seen him for many years I still remember his voice his bikes and Alan vividly from that time spent in Victoria.