Alan struggled for almost a month to overcome the results of an October 5th brain hemorrhage. He died peacefully November 1, 2009 with his dear wife Pam present. He also leaves two much loved children, Peter, aged eleven, and Julia, almost seven. He has predeceased his mother and father, Doris and Dick Creech; his mother-in-law Sheila Tolman (Al); and father-in-law Elmer Thiessen; his sister Jill Charlton (Mark); and brothers Richard (Pauline), Edward (Barbara), and Cameron (Jennifer); brothers-in-law Doug Thiessen (Lori) and Brad Thiessen (Christina) together with many well-loved nieces and nephews. He was born April 9, 1966 in Ottawa, Ontario and attended Carleton University. His love of the outdoors drew him to the University of Victoria when he realised the potential of year round canoeing and camping on Vancouver Island. Subsequently, he gained his MBA at Royal Roads University. He earned a commission with the Canadian Artillery Reserves where he particularly developed his leadership and instruction skills. During his time with the Artillery, he also made close bonds of affection and respect with two best friends, Scott Wisdahl and Troy De Souza. Later, as his son grew, he transferred some of his interest to Scouting leadership. He responded to the Call of the Coast and, amongst other difficult trails along the West Coast forest and beaches, he has completed the West Coast Trail nine times in the past fifteen years, the latest just this past August with his son, his sister, and a nephew from Ottawa. He was generous with affection, drive, and help for his friends, and will be sorely missed. Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 4:30pm at the Bay Street Armoury. Entrance and parking on Field Street. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Scouts Canada (to be used by the 5th JDF Scouts), 2678 Silverstone Way, Victoria, BC V9B 6A6.
47 Responses
Joel Fortune and I were childhood best friends with Alan. We wrote the following speech for his memorial service:
Alan Creech – reflections by Joel (Fortune) and Kevin (Melnyk)
We grew up in Kanata, Ontario, Alan lived on the corner of Varley and Milne in a long bungalow with dark wood siding, a cedar hedge in the back and a goldfish pond. There were kids all over the place: Benthams, Luckmans, and Shearons, to name a few, and also Fortunes and Melnyks, all within close walking distance.
When we first met Alan in our early school days (K/Grade 1), Kanata was a 1970s suburb, surrounded by forest, swamp and fields. Once we got freedom and our own bikes – our territory reached for several mile, as far as Richardson’s Side Road Hill to the West to Corkstown Road to the East and all places in between – except the bike path tunnel beside Al’s house under the road that was a hangout for the only thing we were careful to avoid: teenagers. We had the word’s greatest tobogganing hill (East of Toronto) right across from Alan’s house; where we all attempted to make the worlds longest toboggan jump over a flowing creek, sometimes with success, sometimes forcing a quick trip home to avoid hypothermia.
We were blessed as kids to grow up in a mostly safe place that we were free to explore with not too attentive parents to watch out for us. We had thousands of adventures and got up to the kind of mischief that we shouldn’t have, like seeing how many times you can wind a cassette tape around the Varley apartments (about one and a half) or how far you can walk up a storm culvert until your nerve runs out (pretty far, actually, but then it gets too small to go any further). These were the days when Alan first developed his passion for things military; we hollowed out the spaces between the back yard cedar hedge rows and made a “secret trail” to allow quick, hidden access around the neighbourhood. We knew how to get on top of every school roof, and had well planned escape routes if the authorities showed up. As we got more sophisticated, fire works, imported from Florida, were employed with great effect to give our more troublesome neighbours a well deserved “what for”. Let me be clear; we did not damage anything, or hurt anyone, that was not our style, but we certainly tested our boundaries, and our skills.
Alan was easily the most polite kid around. This probably helped us to get our freedom – after all what harm could a guy who always remembered his “pleases and thank yous” get up to? No real harm, in truth. Even as a young kid Alan took the Golden Rule to heart: treat others as you would be treated. He easily had the strongest moral or ethical sense of all of us kids, although when you’re ten you don’t think about it in those terms. For example, in Grade 3, Mrs. Stanley took issue with Alan’s smile, really a grin designed to let her know she had crossed the line on some issue, and Alan would have none of it. Alan persisted, and earned a detention (maybe even a suspension), but he refused to bow to a dictator in the wrong (Alan could also be a little stubborn at times!). My guess is some of you in this room, like me, have been on the other end of this smile!
More recently when Alan was telling Joel about his adventures with the supposed “in and out” election spending problems. Alan really knew instinctively what was right and what was wrong and he wasn’t then, or more recently, going to be pushed into doing something against his principles.
We have been reflecting about our childhood and want to leave you with some things that we know Alan really loved when he was a kid, or that stand out as a shared memory:
1. There’s a spot at Calabogie Lake (where the family had a cottage in Ontario) below the hydro dam where the Canadian Shield is exposed and the river that feeds the lake collects into pools. There is one of those pools that has a bit of a rocky water slide before it, and its probably about 6 feet deep in the middle. Alan loved that spot.
2. We also remember that on the way to the cottage the Creech family car was never able to pass the DQ in Arnprior without stopping for a visit; although as we grew older we began to suspect there was nothing wrong with the car, it was Mr. Creech who was in control.
3. Alan really enjoyed his sister’s record collection that he somehow got a hold of when we were 9 or 10. There was a Beatles 45 with the Apple records label (probably a collectors’ item now if we hadn’t played it to death), and a Rolling Stones one with “Get off of My Cloud”. (I sure hope this is not the first time Jill is learning of all this). We also liked The Beach Boys, Styx, and The Steve Miller Band.
4. Games – when he was young Alan loved Pay Day, Risk, pool, and ping pong. Alan was good at ping pong, it was frustrating to play against him as he repeatedly drilled the ball past you, or most annoyingly in to you.
5. One day, in Gagetown (Artillery Officer training), Alan called several people in to his room, one at a time, to look through his binoculars at some “female targets” who were walking in and out of the base recreation complex. He had painted black shoe polish on the eye pieces; the victims of his prank walked away looking like racoons.
6. In roughly 1992 Alan and a friend (Scott) rode their motorcycles all the way down to LA, where we lived. He wanted to visit us, and he also wanted to ride his bike through Hell Valley in California “because it was cool” (Hell Valley gets up to 140 F)
7. Killer whales – this was before they become orcas – killer whales “fired his imagination”, as the song says. It was clear where Alan was headed when he got the chance to pick where he would live.
8. 25 years after leaving Kanata Alan made a point of visiting friends, and their families, whenever he was back in town. He was a good man and he always made time for friends and family.
We all loved Alan, he was an important part of our lives when we were growing up. He is a part of who we are today; having Alan as a friend made us better people.
I know the purpose of this ceremony is to celebrate Alan’s life, but we have some messages we would like to share with Alan’s family.
To Mr. and Mrs. Creech, and to Jill, Rich, Ted, Cam, and their families, we would like to say we cannot imagine the pain and sorrow of burying a child and a younger brother. We are deeply sorry for your loss.
To Pam, Peter, and Julia, it is not possible to find words that could provide meaningful consolation to you in such circumstances. We can only pray, with all our hearts, that with time, The Love of God, which is clearly present in all of these good people here today, will prevail over hurt and sorrow, and through His Grace, you will find the Peace you long for, and deserve.
Dear Pam, Peter and Julia,
I was so very sorry to hear about your loss.
Ted and I both enjoyed our camping trip this past summer and getting to know your family.
It was apparent what a wonderful involved family man Al was and I know this will be a terrible loss for all of you.
The strongest memory I have of Al is of his finding Tristan the night he got lost, calling to me that he was found and placing him in my arms… I will always be grateful to him.
You are in our thoughts,
Ted, Kim and Tristan Swarts
Dear Pam, Julia, Peter and the Creech family:
I am so sorry for your loss of Al. I will always remain inspired by Al’s positive attitude, and I will be thinking of all of you.
Shelley
We became bus buddies with Al on the 57x and spent many hours on our rides to / from work telling stories and having many laughs. Al “tried” to read on the bus but often ended up falling asleep with the book perched on his belly! Even though we never met, we feel as if we know you because of the many stories Al told of you all. It was very apparent how much he loved his children as his face glowed as he spoke of them. We are truly sorry for your loss, but hope that your special memories will bring smiles to your faces and help you start to heal.
Dear Pam, Julia, Peter, and the Creech Family,
I am so sorry for your tragic loss. Alan was a wonderful man, he helped me in so many ways and was instruemental in making me feel apart and connected to the team that I work with. He will be sorely missed.
My deepest sympathies go out to you all at this most difficult time as well my prayers that you find some peace and comfort in the support of those around you.
My sincere condolences on Allan’s passing. We worked at the Office of the Comptroller General and he was just a great guy! Everyone liked him and he was the type of person that made a work group a happy place to be. One can never make any sense of why things like this happen -it is one of the mysteries of life. It has been many years since we have worked together but I still remember Allan’s million dollar smile. A bit mischievous perhaps. A friendly smile. And lots of energy and ability. I hope the many many happy memories will sustain you in the future. Allan would have wanted it that way!
ron battiston – a friend
Dear Pam and Family,
We will always fondly remember Alan for his kindness, humor and his contagious enthusiasm. We met him through Troy and saw Alan at camping and at some of Troy’s gatherings. We wanted you to know that our thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time. Please accept our deepest condolences.
I’m sorry to have lost one of the best friends I have ever had. No small part of my view of the world, and approach to life, was formed with Alan’s influence and I will continue to live my life inspired by him.
For a few years, Alan and I worked and played together. I’m grateful that he invited me to join him for activities like hiking the West Coast Trail and going to Mt. Washington to ski, things I may never have done without his belief in me. He was generous with his time when I needed practice learning to drive. He was a game competitor playing poker and hockey. He also appreciated my sense of humour like nobody else. I often remember little things that came up in our many conversations and always will.
My sincerest condolences go to Pam, Peter and Julia, and Alan’s closest friends who have had to experience the shock of losing such an integral part of their lives, and who now must find the strength to continue. Alan is now gone but I believe what he represented remains in us.
It is unjust that Alan was taken from us so early, so tragically. If I could comfort you and console you I would, but the only thing I could do is remember my relationship and times spent with Alan, and share that with you.
I am much older than Alan, but Alan never treated me as the old guy, I was always one of his buds in spite of our ages.
Alan hired me to work at the OCG. He taught me more about government accounting than anyone else, me the accountant! He taught me about the real “bottom lines”, about the “real” impacts of our work, about the the “real public service”, about politics, books, and economics.
Later when we worked in different places, he was always the one to ensure our friendship continued, with our special lunches, when he would gently and effectively prod me about any difficulties I was having, always putting on the happier outlook, always the glass half full.
Although lately our lunches did’nt happen as often as before, we both tried to keep in touch, and when we did, we could reconnect quickly and solidly.
I will miss Alan terribly and will always remember him, with that large grin of his, his humour, kindness, and his “life is good”!!
My condolences to you, the children and family.
Jen and Cam,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My heart just breaks for you and Cam. I can’t even imagine how difficult this must be for the two of you. I know you will have the strength and love to get throught this tragedy. My thoughts and prayers will be with you while you are gone out West.
Lots of Love,
Lisa