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AL CUMMINGS Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for AL CUMMINGS
24 Entries
Roberto Marotta
February 2, 2025
Al
You´ll be missed my friend.
Karen Pettit
October 31, 2024
I worked at Russell T. Kelly Advertising in Hamilton, ON in 1967. I met Al at that time. And afterward, knew of him at Different Drummer.. It was only today when Ian Hamilton was speaking at Third Age Learning at the Art Gallery of Burlington and referred me to Different Drummer to purchase one of Ian's Books, that Ian Elliot told me of Al's August passing. I was very sorry to hear this as, over the years, i remembered Al in Russell T. Kelly days, and also his garden featured in my copy of "In A Canadian Garden".
Donna Chong
September 19, 2024
Al Cummings was the President and owner at Madison Press Books where I worked for a decade and a half alongside Sandra Hall reporting to Susan Barrable, Production Director. I was sad to hear of his passing and although I have not seen him since I left Madison 25 years or so, he left an indelible mark on my life. He was a smart and successful businessman with great acumen about people and publishing. He was intelligent and charming and full of charisma while also being incredibly tough and somewhat intimidating. I remember once passing him a dummy book packaged and wrapped ready to be sent to a publisher in NY. He took the package, flung it across his office in dramatic fashion fortunately missing anyone in his office me included and said impprtant packages containing mocked up dummy books had to survive the same handling that Fedex employees would put it through. Point made and I hastily rewrapped it ensuring no damage would result. I learned so much at Madison and it was the most exciting, rewarding career and time in my life. I was proud of the beautiful, educational books we produced and our work and I met many wonderful colleagues and friends there, enjoyed glamorous and wonderful dinners and travelled near and far on press checks. I will always remember Al as a man and boss that I respected and admired the most of any of the managers and executives I have met since then. Rest in peace Al and thank you for a creative, exciting and rewarding time at Madison and letting me be a part of that.
Anne Simpson
September 18, 2024
My deepest sympathies to Al's family and friends especially Nick.
Nicholas, you are in my thoughts. Warmly Anne
I still have my copy of The Art of Robert Bateman which is now even more poignant.
Catherine Fraccaro
September 12, 2024
I was so very fortunate to meet Al in 1986. It was in the early days of Madison Press, when there were just Al, Hugh, and Susan and they were hiring an Associate Editor. I think Al interviewed me after Susan and Hugh had. I´m pretty sure I was hired because my family is Trevisan, I knew Asolo, and I could speak and read Italian-and I enjoyed Prosecco. Al was a titan with a soft heart and I learned so much from him.
Thank you for taking a chance on me.
Riposa in pace.
Con affetto sempre!
Cathy Fraccaro
Sandr
September 12, 2024
I was fortunate to work with Al since 1988 and have been in regular touch with him ever since. A mentor and a father figure to me. But travelling with Al always brought out a relaxed and prankster side of him. In particular I recall going to a press approval with him to the outstanding Canadian press of Friesen Printers, nestled in southern Manitoba. Good people, skilled printers, but maybe not offering Al´s usual Cipriani Hotel! We stayed at a rather rustic motel. Al had a huge grin, and was game. We went the second night to North Dakota for a meal at a cafeteria-style restaurant. To get there, 5 of us, all tall, piled into a compact car. The moment we crossed into the US, Al made a statement and lit up a Cuban cigar! At the restaurant, every time I didn´t watch my plate I seemed to lose fries and chicken tenders....and there sat Al with a glint in his eye. Al had exceptionally high standards at work, but was kind and fair and always open to discussion. There was no higher compliment than a squeeze on your shoulder when you accomplished the impossible. And no better host at a company Christmas party. May we all raise a glass of Nino Franco Prosecco Brut to the incomparable Al Cummings.
With all good wishes (as Al always signed off),
Sandra Hall
Sjoerd Koopman
September 11, 2024
I had the great pleasure of meeting Al in the late 80´s at the height of the Titanic book when I was working at the David Wood Food Shop. A place he frequented but hated at the same time for its pricing strategy.
First there were dinner invites, then opportunities to join him in travels to San Francisco ( when it was glorious ) and New York, Boston, Portland Maine, Miami, London, Venice, Asolo and San Zenone and even a trip on the Concorde to Washington. Everywhere we went I was introduced to marvelously, interesting people.
I´m am forever grateful to all the Al offered to his many friends and I consider myself fortunate to be thought of as one of them.
We certainly didn´t see eye to eye on many subjects. He begged me to not move to Vancouver. But doing so so opened my world to eventually move to Amsterdam and London.
Even with our differences, what we shared as friends was magic. Thank you Al my dearest, dearest friend.
Sarah Barrable-Tishauer
September 11, 2024
As the daughter of Susan Barrable, I remember so many Al stories as if they were my own. To this day, my mum regales me with tales of their adventures that often sounded more like the plot of a British farce than real life. Travelling the world, finding themselves in unlikely places and sticky situations, dining lavishly, and having a lot of laughs while doing it.
As for my own Al stories, I spent a great deal of my childhood at Madison Avenue - walking up and down those creaky stairs, flipping through the latest publications, playing with Polar the Titanic Bear as everyone got ready for that iconic Titanic gala with their tuxes, Edwardian gowns and life preservers.
I remember one special afternoon, when Al invited me into his office with a twinkle in his eye. He had something for me. Like Father Christmas, he went into the back room and wheeled out a shiny Razor scooter. I'm not sure if there was an occasion (Al always made one even when there wasn't one to celebrate), but it was a prized gift. Likely one of the first scooters to hit the streets of Toronto and the envy of all my schoolmates. It certainly made the short commute from Huron Street Public School to Madison Avenue into Al's preference - travelling in style.
I also remember the excitement of dressing up to attend Al's annual Christmas party - it was quite the invitation. Though I was too young to imbibe on what I'm sure was an impressive wine list, I remember a room full of lively conversation amongst eccentric people, tables filled with the finest delicacies that would rival a Mad Hatter tea party and of course, lots of laughter - of which Al's booming laugh could be heard above all.
Al will be remember through all the lives he touched, of which I'm honoured to count myself lucky, and all the impossible dreams he made come true.
Kate Riley
September 11, 2024
I have spent many happy years working at A Different Drummer Books: I owe Al an enormous debt of gratitude.
Julie Westem Set
September 10, 2024
Al was a wonderful friend to my late Aunt Elaine Western. She was in fact his babysitter. During a lovely dinner with Al he shared stories with me about Aunt Elaine and delighted in that fact that he still knew his babysitter after all of these years. That babysitter adored him until the day she died and I was blessed by being able to meet him too. Rest in peace dear Al. You have left the world better than you found it. My deepest condolences to Al´s family and friends.
Birgit & Robert Bateman
September 10, 2024
My image of Al are of joviality and intelligence. All of our memories of Al are happy ones. When we first became familiar with Al, we were both teaching high school art in Burlington. We used to go to the Different Drummer Book Store there and it became a sort of hang-out for like-minded people. One day in the latter 1970´s Al came to our house and proposed that I should have a book of my art work produced and he would do it. I was flattered by the thought and Al `picked up the ball and ran with it.´ It was a first for both of us. The title became a Canadian best-seller and changed both of our lives for the better. He went on to produce many books of my art..
Upon our move to the West Coast in 1985, we saw much less of Al, unfortunately. When we visited Venice, we added a side trips to Asolo in Northern Italy, where Al had renovated a shepherd´s cottage. It was no surprise that the renovation was in perfect taste. Al´s taste, warmth, good humour and intelligence will remain as strong memories for all of us, who were lucky enough to know him. Robert Bateman
Wanda Nowakowska
September 9, 2024
Thank you, Dear Al, for giving me the opportunity to be a part of Madison Press Books during those incredible years with you, Sue Barrable and Hugh Brewster at the helm. Wonderful memories, wonderful books, wonderful friendships and collaborations that I will always cherish.
As Larry Muller so wisely noted, you thought big and achieved even bigger — but you were also humble, kind, considerate and amazingly generous.
It was an honour — and a delight! — to know you and to work with you during those heady days in Canadian, American and international book publishing.
Your editor,
Wanda Nowakowska
Susan Barrable
September 9, 2024
I first met Al over lunch at the Danish Food Centre in 1983 – the first of many meals together. Al was ‘checking me out’ as a prospective Madison employee, at the recommendation of Lucinda Vardey. He hired me, even though he didn’t have a position for me at that time. Al was never risk averse. For me it was the beginning of the most amazing journey as Madison Press Books grew into a book packaging company respected by publishers internationally, with Al very firmly at the helm. He was the best negotiator I’ve ever known, a stickler for detail, very creative, always setting the bar high for all around him, and often impossible to please. He was also generous, fair, kind and fun. He valued relationships.
We travelled the world together in search of the best printing and binding facilities where I learned that airplane travel for Al was akin to guerilla warfare and where I never quite understood why we had to leave checking out of a hotel and checking in at an airport until the last minute – but Al loved a challenge and always seemed to make it work. My memories of Al are rich, varied, funny and seemingly endless. From standing in front of a dilapidated shepherd’s hut on a hillside in San Zenone trying to visualize the house he was planning to build to the magical early morning breakfast in Piazza St. Marco, Venezia with Michael Carlevale. From the dinner he hosted in a private dining room at an exclusive restaurant in Milano to thank the pressmen at Pizzi who took such meticulous care with the printing of The World of Robert Bateman (much to the chagrin of the owners, Rodolfo & Massimo Pizzi) to the illegal drag show we attended in one of the back street clubs of Singapore. From Al being denied access to the breakfast room at the Dorchester Hotel, London because he wasn’t wearing a tie, to visiting a printing plant in China that had walls reaching only half way to the ceiling and Al asking if the facility was climate controlled!
Many of us who worked with Al considered ourselves part of the Madison family and indeed the loyalty that he exacted from us all was well deserved. The last time Al and I spent time together was when I was visiting Toronto last summer. Wanda Nowakowska and I visited him and Nic one sunny afternoon, and we talked mostly about old times. Old times that I now treasure even more.
Derek Chapman
September 9, 2024
Al, with his endlessly inquiring mind and passion for quality, had the most extraordinary ability to bring out the best in others.
Designing for him was always challenging and the results always deeply satisfying.
Not to mention that he was, without doubt, the perfect lunch companion.
I will miss him dearly.
Kevin Hanson
September 9, 2024
They say details matter and Al definitely got the message. He not only noticed the details but sought out excellence in much of what he accomplished by attending to the details. Those who could call him a friend know this well. Those that worked with him as a colleague or business associate could respect that trait in him. He had big appetites literally and figuratively and lived large. I most admired his curiousity and kindness. He wanted to know about what was best and wanted what was best for those he cared about. We have lost a world class man. Condolences to all who will miss him.
ROBERT SHORTLY
September 8, 2024
It has been said that there is "no accounting for taste" but as Al's accountant and friend for over 50 years I can attest to his impeccable taste .
In the business world his bookstore The Different Drummer was unique. Madison Press was a premier book packager.
In the social world the Madison Xmas Luncheons were always an event not to be missed.
The many dinners and adventures we shared in Toronto, San Francisco ,New York ,Washington, Nevis and Italy
were nonpareil
Farewell my friend
Robert Shortly
John Richardsoon
September 8, 2024
Bookselling days with Al were such great fun and our store grew and grew every year because we were always trying to figure out how to sell more books, whether it was bringing more people into A Different Drummer Books, starting the now legendary Book & Author Breakfasts or targeting new markets. We were relentless and it was because of Al´s never ending supply of ideas.
Best of all, we were such great friends and when we weren´t bookselling, we were talking and laughing about it all over great food and wine.
Besides being a tough business person, he is also the most creative person I ever met. And the combination of those two skills with an unwavering eye for detail, made him a life long mentor.
Will always miss you
Tom Murray
September 7, 2024
How can anyone ever forget "BIG AL". I & my family knew him from our teenage days. I was there in the very first days of "A DIFFERENT DRUMMER BOOKS", both of us then in our mid 20 s.It was kind of cool helping him out in the store in Burlington, with on floor sales & doing some basic accounting, all while listening to some great classical music. In addition to books,he got me into exquisite dining, fine wine & good cigars. Although he never had a formal university education, his wisdom, insights, lifestyle & love of books shone through in his every day life, and what a life he had.
He was best man at my wedding to Jean Allison, & just 2 weeks ago I had lunch with Al ( yes , something was not quite right, but no discussion ensued about his health) Anyway, Al was a tremendous presence in life
And he will be truly missed. God bless BIG AL
Barb Richardson
September 7, 2024
Al made me laugh so much when I would visit A Different Drummer and help with inventory .
Tom Sparling
September 7, 2024
Al was a huge influence on my life and career. I referred to him as my `seminal client´ after my partner Tom Reynolds had him as a real estate client in 1981 and sold him the South Drive property. When Hilary Weston and Nicky Eaton were exploring locations for their book, In a Canadian Garden, they came to visit Mrs. Howe, an elderly Rosedale matron, who lived next door. She took them through the garden gate to see Al´s garden that I´d done. It was published in the book, propelling my residential landscape design career.
In addition Al asked me to assist in the design of his office and his residences in Toronto, New York, Miami and Italy, resulting in considerable travel `in the style of ` AEC! He was not just a client; but both mentor and friend.
My sincere condolences to Nic and their many friends.
Jamie Pyper
September 7, 2024
I got to know Al in the early 80's through our mutual friend Tom Sparling when I was fortunate enough to oversee many of Al's construction projects on his homes and offices, which expanded to include work for his friends and family, including renovations for Hope and his lovely Mum. He had a great journey from those early days in the Madison Coach House living off of Bruce Saunders coffee. Al was always tough, but fair, and instilled in me his meticulous design perfection and his keen eye for detail. He was a true mentor. Rest in peace my friend.
Pam Purves
September 7, 2024
There was no better road trip companion than Al. He plotted the trips not with road moss but with addresses of great restaurants and the best purveyors of fine food. He was one of a kind.
Richard Bachmann
September 7, 2024
Al Cummings was a man of great ambition, taste and generosity.
I worked for Al at A Different Drummer Books in the mid-70s and then returned to Burlington later to take over the bookshop, purchasing it from Al and John Richardson. My subsequent career holds much gratitude to Al´s flair in what he started and passed along to me.
I wouldn´t say Al Cummings was larger than life but he filled his life completely.
My sympathies to Nic and to all who knew Al. He will be missed.
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