Alfred Reginald Coward
Passed on: June 10th, 2008
Sydney/Mississauga, Ont. Alfred Reginald Coward died peacefully on June 10, 2008, at the Credit Valley Hospital, Mississauga, Ont., after a brief illness. Alf was born in Sydney, N.S. to Arthur and Lillian Coward. Being exposed to music and piano at an early age ignited a fire within and ultimately, music became his life’s passion. Alf was initially drawn to medicine and attended St. Francis Xavier and Dalhousie universities and the University to Toronto to pursue pre-med training. Ultimately his heart drew him back to music, where he worked on perfecting jazz piano playing and composing for the balance of his life. By 1950, Alf had played as a member of a many jazz orchestras and shortly thereafter struck out on his own leading the Alf Coward Band. In 1955 CBC aired the first variety show in the Maritimes on television, ‘The Alf Coward Show,’ featuring the Alf Coward Band. Meanwhile, during this time, what began as a two week ‘gig’ at George’s Spaghetti House eventually extended to seven years due to a growing fan base. Alf lived (Mississauga) and worked in the Toronto area for the rest of his life. In the late 1960s he married and had two boys. He spent the 1970s onward teaching classical and jazz piano as well as voice from his Mississauga studio. He continued to perform locally in television commercials and movies. He is survived by his sons, Brent and Shem Coward, as well as his granddaughter, Peyton; brothers, Donovan, Halifax, N.S., Reginald (Judy), Dartmouth, N.S., Rueben (Debbie), Lower Sackville N.S. and Cephas (Jennifer). Calgary, Alta., St. Clair Grannum (deceased) and by sisters, Clotilda (Dan) Sydney, N.S., Thelma, Halifax, N.S., Cecilia (Curtis), Sydney, N.S., Ethel (Rex), Kansas, U.S.A., and Clara, Halifax, N.S. The memorial services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, June 13 at Bloor Street United Church with the Rev. Martha ter Kuile officiating. Memorials may be made on behalf of Alfred Coward to The Canadian Cancer Society, www.cancer.ca or 1-888-939-3333.
