Alan J. SMOLAK

1958 - 2004 . . . What a long strange trip it's been . . . SMOLAK, Alan J., A.K.A. Al Mocambo. October 1, 1958 - February 11,2004. Smo left the stage for the last time at his home in Raglan N.Z. after a short, yet defiant rage against cancer. Al is survived by his partner Rachel Titchner (N.Z.), his mother Shirley, brother David and predeceased by his father Jim, all of St. Catharines, Ont. Born and raised in St. Catharines and a graduate of McMaster, Al was a paragon of fun who tripped the lig ht fantastic for over four decades on a career path whose continuum and patterning even Rubik would struggle with. From his early days as a G.M. security guard, to co-founder and lead "axe" for the plangent Forgotten Rebels, to corporate tax partner with Coopers Lybrand in Toronto and Melbourne as a GST specialist and then into private practise at Gang of Four in Melbourne, he rounded out most recently as restaurateur and promoter of all vibes culinary and auditory in Raglan, N.Z. Al's extant le gacy was a most amusing and delicate balance of corporate sensibilities and bohemian irreverence. While there may not be a second set for this Renaissance man, all those who knew and loved him will have a lengthy encore in their mind's eye of fond re membrances and anecdotes. Much of Al's spirit can be aptly summed up by quoting one of his favourite writers. In the words of H.S. Thompson, "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." In memory of Al, follow your heart or consider the Canadian Cancer Society or the Waikatu Palliative Care Unit, Hamilton N.Z. 2/14/2004- ID3445617 - St. Catharines Standard