bout de papier, Vol. 26, No. 2 (2011) — Fall/Winter 2011 // Automne/Hiver 2011, p. 22
Editor’s Note: David Anido’s passing saddened many in the foreign service for reasons that are made obvious in the heartfelt tribute to him below provided by his family. That is especially true for those of us at bout, past and present. David was an extraordinarily energetic and insightful member of our board for the better part of a decade. bout would not be the journal it is today without the contributions of David and his peers.
David Anido passed away peacefully at home in Ottawa on August 31, 2011, at the age of 65. He was much loved by his wife Jane, their two daughters Elizabeth and Alexandra, whom he adored, his sons-in-law Greg and Daniel, and grandchildren Zara, Hana and Jacob. He will also be dearly missed by his brother Philip, sister-in-law Diane, and niece and nephews Helene, Edward and Charles.
Born in England on June 5, 1946, he set sail with his parents, the Reverend John and Barbara Anido to spend his early years on Quebec’s north shore. Rev. John served as the Anglican priest in Harrington Harbour and Mutton Bay.
In 1952 with his new brother, Philip, David returned to Canterbury where he was a top junior scholar at St. Edmund’s School. After five years in England, the family returned to Canada where David attended Bishop’s College School (1957-1964) and Bishop’s University (1964-1967). He excelled as a scholar, was a devoted son, a wonderful brother, and a great friend and joyful mentor to many.
As a summer student, David served with appropriate “fierce pride” as a lowly bandsman and lofty Ensign in the Old Fort Henry Guard. He also spent time working at Expo 67. In recognition of his distinguished scholarship and ever willing commitment to university life and his community, as a leading actor in major plays and an award winning inter-varsity debater, Dave won the highest recognition at Bishop’s University, the Golden Miter Award.
At 21, David moved on to Simon Fraser University to earn an Honours First Masters of Arts degree. His acclaimed thesis was written on the Theatre of the Absurd and with it he won a Commonwealth Scholarship to write his PhD at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.
Before he was 26, David had won two more precious prizes, the lustrous First Class PhD, and the most-treasured, Jane (now Director of Programming, CBC News and Centres, Toronto). They married in May 1973 and set off for Australia to start their life together. There he earned his pilot’s licence and managed theatre company tours across New South Wales, but the pull of Canada was ever present and in 1974, David and Jane set up home in Ottawa. Here their life together blossomed. David began his career first with the Canada Council and then with Foreign Affairs. His postings in Rome and Tokyo were the highlights of his career where he served as Canada’s Cultural Attaché in Italy and Cultural Counsellor in Japan. Service to his Church, The School of Dance, the Canadian Mediterranean Institute, and the Canadian War Museum, are witness to his perpetual energy, broad interests, and devotion to his community. Above all David was a great and loyal friend to many all over the world.
In retirement, his library and his quest for learning were David’s second love. His first was and is his family, Jane, Alexandra with husband Greg, Elizabeth with husband Daniel and the treasures they have brought to him, his grandchildren Zara, Hana and Jacob who are his eternal love.
He was a loving husband, daddy, brother, uncle, godfather, pilot, sailor, explorer, hang-glider, skydiver, canoeist, actor, sheep shearer, chairman of various committees and boards. David played the didgeridoo, the bugle and the Taiko drums — especially as riotous entertainment at the end of a dinner party. He could quote rafts of Shakespeare, he read voraciously, including the great philosophers and poets, and political and military history. He was a joker, debater, teacher and storyteller with a booming voice and a grand passion for seeing humour and absurdity where you’d least expect to find them. David was simply larger than life. We will miss him in our lives, but our memories are vivid, colourful, dear and rich.
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 26, No. 2 (2011) — Fall/Winter 2011 // Automne/Hiver 2011, p. 22. Read the rest of this issue →
