Alan Leith
Born In: Sydney
Born: August 9th, 1946
Passed on: April 11th, 2013
It is with saddened and heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of our father, Alan Robert Leith, at home, on Thursday, April 11, 2013.
Alan was born in Sydney on August 9, 1946 to the late Bernard (Bernie) Leith and Sonya (Gluck) Leith.
Alan is survived by Anne Louise (MacDonald) Leith; their four children, Amanda (Fred MacIntosh), Raie, Adrienne (Steve MacIsaac), Andrew (Erin); three granddaughters who he absolutely adored: Isabelle, Molly and Eleanor; as well as his two sisters, Bethsheila (Floyd) Kent and Rebecca (Leo) LeBlanc; brothers-in-law Johnny, Alec (Valerie), Francis (Karen), Peter (Trish) and Danny (Dany) and many nieces, nephews and great-nephews. Alan is also survived by his mother-in-law, Hilda MacDonald; and his uncle Manny Gluck, both of whom he cared for deeply.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister-in-law Mary Margaret Gillis.
Alan graduated from Mount Allison University in 1969 and over the years enjoyed successful careers in radio and television in both Ontario and Quebec. He also taught in the Radio Broadcast Journalism department at Niagara College for a number of years before returning home to Sydney with his family in 1988. Following his return, Alan became something of an entrepreneur and dabbled in the restaurant business, and for many years ran a successful retail music store.
Alan and his best friend, the late Jack Columbus, shared a lifelong obsession with all things ham radio. He and Jack were among the first Cape Bretoners to engage in this international hobby and looked forward to and attended as many ham radio conventions as possible. Alan was very proud of his call sign VE1AL, which he's had since he was just 11 years old. He had a great singing voice and played the guitar in his younger days. He was a self-made audiophile, able to answer even the most obscure questions about songs and artists from any musical genre. He loved Cape Breton Island and instilled his love for this place in both his children and grandchildren. Alan was actively involved in The Temple Sons of Israel and acted as the editor of our small community’s newsletter. He was also a member of the Golden K.
Alan loved his four children and three grandchildren more than life itself. He will be deeply and sadly missed, but remembered forever by all of them.
A celebration of Alan’s life will be held at the Sydney Memorial Chapel, Welton Street, Sydney on Monday, April 15, 2013 at 2 p.m. with Rabbi Ellis.
Donations may be made to the Canadian Heart and Stoke Foundation or Canadian Diabetes Association.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.sydneymemorialchapel.ca or e-mail sydneymemorialchapel@ns.sympatico.ca.
