Arthur WHARTON

ARTHUR WHARTON Passed away in Pugwash, Nova Scotia on October 14, 2021 surrounded by family; sharing memories, stories, laughter and quiet moments. Arthur's passing leaves his families, friends, and communities with a sense of great loss, sadness and a rent in the fabric of their lives. A rent can be mended but its mark will be ever-present. Arthur was born in Orillia, Ontario, on April 22, 1951, to Thomas and Sara (Lipovich) Wharton. The family soon moved to Toronto, where Arthur attended local schools. Feeling constrained by the education system of the 1960s, Arthur and his friends were instrumental in establishing Toronto's first alternative high school (SEED). The SEED experience contributed to the breadth of Arthur's intellectual curiosity as well as his lifelong love of books. This love of books led Arthur to his first career choice, bookselling, establishing Arthur Wharton Books which for many years was a fixture on Queen Street West's 'book sellers' row.' It also led him to become a member of the Toronto Public Library Building Committee that helped shape Toronto's science fiction library (Spaced-Out Library). Ever the polymath, Arthur was able to seamlessly move from selling antiquarian books to the modern world of computers and programming, holding a senior position with BIT/CIBER for over 25 years, with postings throughout North America as well as in the UK. He enjoyed working with technology but also recognized the importance of people, and in his modest way, took the time to coach and mentor his off-shore resource teams including championing female programmers who were in a working environment that was far from gender supportive. Arthur retired in 2019, allowing him more time to read, pursue innumerable projects, help his in-laws, and spend time with his children and grandchildren. Left to remember him are his wife, Alison Bidwell, son Shaun Crawford Wharton (Ashley) (Deborah Green), daughter Rosemary, son Eric (Jessica); grandchildren Jordan Crawford, Emma, Jaxon, James and Sam, brothers George (Phyllis) and Michael (Etta), sister Marion (Marty Shukster), as well as members of Alison's family: parents Tony and Shirley (Mason) Bidwell, sisters Barbara (Bidwell) Clark (James), Roger Bidwell (Rachel Helman), Gillian (Bidwell) Allan (Nigel), along with numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews on both sides of the family. Also left to remember him are those many lifetime friends Arthur made and nurtured from his days in school, his book store, his professional life, and his home in Wallace, Nova Scotia. We will all miss his great singing voice, odd choice of songs, and bad dad-jokes and puns. We shall also miss his company, the animated discussions, his enthusiasms, his encyclopedic knowledge, and his love. In his memory, a headstone will be erected in the Angevine Cemetery, a quiet, wooded, secluded place where one can contemplate the number '42': the answer to Life, The Universe and Everything. In the spring, 2022, a gathering to remember Arthur will be held in Toronto. Notification will be via the Globe and Mail. Donations in Arthur's memory can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Alternative Internet platforms, Wikipedia, or a charity of your choice. It is apropos to end this in the same way that Arthur ended his emails: 'My battery is low and it is getting dark.' Mars rover Opportunity's last message.