THE ADVOCATE 583
VOL. 80 PART 4 JULY 2022
remained an enthusiastic and skilled car driver, even racing his town cars
(Porsche GT2) on a number of race tracks in the Pacific Northwest. He
rented racing cars in Las Vegas to test out his skills.
Allan put himself through school as a tour bus driver in Jasper, Alberta
and a commercial bush pilot in northern Ontario. He had visions of becoming
an airline pilot, flying the big jets, but the law became his true calling
and passion. He was a gifted lawyer, as many of the bench and bar have
witnessed.
While in law school, Allan met another lifelong friend, Art Smolensky.
They became close friends, and Allan introduced Art to the flying world.
From 1970 to the late ’80s, Allan owned a couple of planes with Art (and
another law school friend, Bill Cottick). In those days, the boys with their
toys would take trips to the U.S. Southwest and the Bahamas. Over the next
few years, Art and Allan acquired a Mooney airplane, and later they
acquired a Mooney Aircraft dealership and a couple of upgrade Mooneys.
At one time, Allan owned an airplane called the Citabria, a light, singleengine,
two-seat, fixed conventional gear airplane for flight training, utility
and personal use, capable of sustaining aerobatic stresses from +5g to -2g.
Its name spelled backwards: “airbatic”.
Allan was a fine athlete and was never shy to try something new: white
water rafting, parachuting and even soap box car racing. In his youth and
well into middle age, he was an excellent curler, and many groups vied to
have him on their team. He was an excellent tennis player, and was a competitive
opponent and most able partner. With his skill and even temperament,
Allan was most enjoyable to have on either side of the net. In his later
years, Tuesday evenings were reserved for tennis at the Arbutus Club.
Allan was a skilled sailor, crewing in regattas in his youth, and was once
member of a three-person crew that sailed from Hawaii to Vancouver. On
weekends and holidays, he would sail the local waters with his loving wife
Caren, daughter Natasha, their dogs, and even some of their cats.
Allan was a true gourmand: a connoisseur of fine foods and wine. He was
an excellent cook and, together with Caren, took the greatest pleasure hosting
gatherings of a multitude of dearest friends at their home on Westwood
Plateau. There were always numerous exotic and splendid dishes prepared
over a couple of days, and it was disappointing to miss any of these events.
Menus would be planned weeks in advance, and Allan’s co-workers had the
enviable task of taste-testing each new recipe.
It was an honour to be invited to these infamous parties, known not only
for the food but also for the elaborate decorations and display. Allan was
extremely creative as a designer. At Halloween and Christmas, with Caren