Alan Roy NEEDHAM

NEEDHAM, Alan Roy August 22, 1930 January 20, 2007 Suddenly, but peacefully, after a short battle with myelodysplasia, Alan passed away in Ottawa, with his family by his side, at the age of 76. He was the beloved husband and soul mate of Rita (nee Rhodes), who in addition to giving him unconditional love and support during their 57 year marriage, lovingly cared for him during his illness. He will be fondly remembered in the hearts of his daughters, Jennifer, Beverly and Carolyn, and son-in-laws, Ian, Glenn and Dan. His memory will live on forever in the hearts and lives of his ten grandchildren: Kevin, Johanna, Alyson, Elisabeth, Rebecca, Margaret, Patrick, James, Thomas and David, who meant more to him than anything else in the world. He will be greatly missed by his brothers and sister, Colin (Peggy), Eileen (Cy, Paddy), John (Pam) and sister-in-law, Thelma. He will be sadly missed by a large extended family of sisters and brothers in-laws, nieces and nephews, cousins and friends he leaves behind in both Canada and England. He is predeceased by his parents, Frank and Dora Needham, and his brothers, Eric and Peter. Born in Yorkshire, England, Alan married Rita Rhodes in 1949 and emigrated to Toronto in 1952. He spent his early career with Avro and the CBC, before moving to Ottawa in 1964, where he worked as a management consultant for the Bureau of Management Consulting. His expertise in management consulting led to two sojourns to Kingston, Jamaica, through CIDA. His last years with the Federal Government were spent as Director of Policy for the Solicitor General of Canada, until he took early retirement in 1986 to work on his long time passion of writing. Although Alan spent most of his adult life in Canada, he never forgot his Yorkshire roots. He was a great storyteller, and regularly reminisced about the life and people in his youth. His vignettes frequently appeared in the Globe & Mail and the Ottawa Citizen. His family would like to give special thanks to the nursing staff of the Civic Hospital Day Care Transfusion Service who gave Alan professional and gentle nursing care over the past few months. Thank you also to the dedication of Dr. Mary Comerton and Dr. David Allen, and to the emergency room staff of the Civic Hospital, especially nurse Debbie and Dr. Tinmouth, who compassionately allowed Alan to pass on with dignity and grace.The family will receive friends and family at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 315 McLeod St. Ottawa, on Thursday, January 25th, 2007, from 2 - 4 p.m. and 7 - 9 p.m. The funeral service will be held in the chapel on Friday, January 26th, at 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Aplastic Anemia and Myelodysplasia Association of Canada or the Ottawa Hospital would be kindly appreciated. Published in the Ottawa Citizen from 1/23/2007 - 1/24/2007