Obituary of VESUWALLA – Aspi Alan Nariman

September 6, 1936 – February 26, 2010 Aspi Vesuwalla’s favourite chair sits empty. The cricket channel’s been cancelled. The woodworking tools in the garage are gathering dust. His son’s E4 opening on the chessboard remains unanswered. His snooker league has some gaps to fill. Three beautiful, little girls are missing a grandfather. Aspi, or “Alan” as he was known to most people, died Friday, February 26, despite his surgeon’s best efforts following a massive heart attack at the age of 73. The last thing he told his family before going under the knife was to go home, as his youngest son had to work the next day. Typical. Having left his home in India for England in 1956 at the age of 19 with nothing but his clothes and his work ethic, he knew how hard it was to build a life for oneself. Aspi, along with many Indians at the time, found opportunity in London, where he worked as an engineer, helping to usher in the modern era of aerospace. Still, he enjoyed his life, spending his 20s haunting the city’s snooker halls and pubs. On New Year’s Eve 1966, he met Dianne Pinner, an English woman he would marry that September and with whom he would spend the rest of his life. They moved to Winnipeg in 1981 in search of better opportunities for their two children, Stephen and Peter. Aspi persevered through several business ventures with varying degrees of success, working to put his kids through university in the hope their lives would be easier than his. He obsessed over his family, making an effort to reconnect with more distant relatives in England, India and other parts of Canada. In 1999 he was finally united with Andy Pike, a long-lost son from a previous relationship. After Stephen and his wife, Julie, had their daughter, Emma, Aspi retired to Calgary to be closer to them. He enjoyed his remaining years. He took up woodworking, joined the local snooker league, danced at the legion, talked politics with anyone who would listen and took Dianne on a number of cruises around the world. In 2007, Aspi was fortunate enough to spend time with Andy; his wife, Carol; and their daughters, Ellie and Mollie, in Ireland. Alas, that would be the last time they would see him. Aspi’s death was a shock to his family here and around the world. Letters of condolence have all mentioned his good nature, and how much he enjoyed his life and his family. Funeral Services for Aspi will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S, Chapel of the Bells (2720 Centre Street North) on Saturday, March 6, 2010. Traditional Zoroastrian Prayers will begin at 10:30 a.m. Friends and well wishers are not expected to attend the prayer segment, but are invited to an informal, light-hearted service beginning at 11:20 a.m. Anyone wishing to say a few words, or have anything read on their behalf, will be very welcome. Email Peter at peter.vesuwalla@mac.com. A reception will follow at Stephen and Julie’s home, 2310 4th Avenue N.W., beginning 12:30 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In living memory of Alan Vesuwalla, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH Telephone: (403) 276-2296.