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Alvin Bast Obituary
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7 Entries
March 27, 2007
Alvin Steinman Bast was born April 11th, 1925 in Wellesley Ontario. Son to Veronica and David, he grew up on a farm with his six brothers and sisters: John, Suzanne, Mahlon, Alma, Doris, and Dorothy. Educated in a one-room school, Alvin left Ontario with his cousin at age 25. Motorcycling across Canada, Alvin made his home in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, Fernie, British Columbia. After two years of mining, Alvin left for Vancouver to work at a lumberyard. Venturing to a couples skate at Kerrisdale Ice Arena, Alvin impressed his lovely date with his inability to change direction, causing them to crash and fall into the ice. His date that night eventually became his future wife Connie. After returning from a long trip to Ontario to visit his sick mother, Alvin took his then girlfriend, Connie, for a ride in his car. He held her hand and slid a ring on her finger in hopes that she would be his wife. Ten months later, on October 2nd, 1953, Alvin and Connie were married in Ryerson United Church.
1954-1990
After he quit being a milkman, Alvin held his job as a truck driver at Johnston Terminals until he retired at the age of 65. Alvin and Connie lived on a .5 acre house in Richmond with 100 blueberry bushes in the backyard, there they had four children—Diane, Marie, Jim, and David. After discovering a love for fishing, Alvin succeeded in building a fully capable 9 foot wooden boat; despite only having the living room for his shop. He literally did the dusting for that room. In an attempt to share his passion, he took his two daughters Diane and Marie out on a fishing excursion at Point Roberts. Their humble tin boat’s only flaw was the faulty motor that left them stranded in the middle of the ocean. Despite their need for help, Alvin declined the offer from a man to tow him to shore, stating, he’d be able to fix it just fine. As he didn’t fail at much, Alvin got the boat to shore without the help of paddles. Though he went fishing often, he scarcely came home with fish, but in the words of the picture that hung in their bathroom “A bad day fishin’, beats a good day workin’.” Upon Alvin’s retirement in 1990, after his children had grown and had moved out, Alvin and Connie moved to Nanaimo.
1990-2000
In Nanaimo, many people came to know Alvin as the man who walked the island with his dog. Paired with his trusty, homemade walking stick, Nanaimo was little challenge to his running shoes. Inevitably he’d stop to talk to the people he passed, he swore he never met a stranger. People knew him to be a kind and gentle man, who loved his dog dearly and gave great gardening advice. His inability to throw things away, coupled with his collection of beer cans, contorted their garage into a museum of salvaged treasures. As his own children had children, Nanaimo became a hot spot for their vacations. Whether it was teaching his granddaughter Turina at age 4 to open a beer, allowing them to mold his hair into a Mohawk, chasing them around toothless, or propping up any of his twelve grandchildren on his knee to tease his dog Laddie, ‘grandpa’ was known for his hearty laugh and his colourful jokes. Solitaire became one of his favorite hobbies, even using the game as a means to predict the 649 numbers. Though we all knew he cheated if the numbers did not turn out right. Alvin had a few firm beliefs regarding the 649 numbers, including the necessary ritual of buying the ticket moments before the deadline (this way the lotto corporation computers did not know the numbers you picked and this would up your chances of winning). Another favorite of Alvin’s was his enjoyment of an evening drink, specifically whiskey. During his grandson Steven’s first hosted dinner, Steven’s lack of experience provided Alvin with a pint of whiskey rather than the proper ounce. Either too polite, or too into whiskey, Alvin’s smile lit up the room as he drank every last drop. As Alvin continued his walks around Nanaimo, he noticed the scenic island he knew was changing and becoming more commercial. As Alvin’s walks through the woods disappeared, so did Alvin’s memory. But just as its inhabitants won’t forget the beauty of Nanaimo, his family and friends won’t forget their memories of him.
2000-2007
Diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Alvin and Connie returned to the mainland. Still an adventurer, Alvin and Connie went on two cruises to Alaska. Though his memory continued to fade, his love for whiskey continued, prompting him to fill a ‘somehow’ empty duty free bottle of whiskey with water and pull a fast one of customs. After __ years of living in a town-home in Langley, Alvin needed special care and moved to Evergreen Nursing Home and eventually Zion Park Manor. Though he was away from his family, his family never stayed away long. Within the walls of his new home, many things changed, but his good spirit and endless humor remained in tact. During a walk outside, the comment was made that there were a lot of ants crawling on the ground, Alvin replied “makes ya wonder, where are the uncles are.” Though we all visited Alvin, one person stood out as his eternal companion, his wife Connie. Despite his inability to recognize anyone, there was an undeniable calm in his eyes when Connie held his hand. During one of her last visits, a moment occurred that was to be one of the most special and remembered days in the nursing home. As always, Connie leaned in and kissed Alvin and whispered “I love you”. To the wonderment and joy of observers and mostly to Connie, Alvin breathed back, “I love you too.”
Present
We remember him as a man who proudly went toothless, and wore flannel pajamas tucked into wool socks to be ‘comfortable’. A man quick to make a joke but often blushed because of them. A man who loved to walk his dog. But most importantly, he will be remembered as a man who loved his family. Calm and peaceful he is sleeping. Sweetest rest that follows pain: We who loved him sadly miss him. But trust in God to meet again.
David,Ingrid,Cassidy,Traci,Keaton
March 24, 2007
You will always be in our hearts forever
Alvin 1952
March 22, 2007
Alvin S. Bast 1925-2007
March 22, 2007
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