Officer Cadet Alistair E. R. Kay, CD
Royal Canadian Air Force
23 July 1988 - 28 December 2017

We are deeply sorrowed to announce the unexpected passing on 28 December 2017 of Alistair, loving son of Maureen (née Cassidy) and Roland Kay of Barry's Bay, admiring bother to Graeme (Jennifer), uncle to Ethan and Oliver, and fond companion to Phaedra of border collie/ australian shepherd descent. His sudden departure occurred half way through his thirtieth revolution about the Sun (he would have amended this, noting that in an expanding universe a more precise mathematical description would have been that of a spiral). Alistair also leaves behind to grieve, his grandparents Doug & Meta Kay, a host of caring relatives, and many dear friends who will henceforth have to brace themselves with the inspirational words he pirated from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy –"Don't Panic".

Alistair had a wry sense of humour, endlessly mimicking Monty Python episodes and quoting from Douglas Adams. He was a skeptic, questioning and tenaciously challenging at every turn in the road. He was drawn to the physical sciences, astronomy, flight and rocketry. He reveled in the strategy of rugby and basketball, the thrill of snowboarding, and the freedom of spirit found riding his motorcycle. In a matter of years, he managed to travel through Europe, to complete a circuit trek of Iceland and to scale several peaks in Bolivia and the Kashmir, India above 5000m. His photographs of these travels show a remarkable sensitivity to people and the space they occupy. He had but a few courses left to complete his Bachelor of Engineering (Aerospace & Mathematics) degree at Carleton University, Ottawa.

He was awfully proud to have been a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force – he lived their motto Per Ardua Ad Astra (through adversity to the stars).

Family and friends are invited to pay respects on Saturday, May 26th, at the Hall of Colours of Beechwood Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services, 280 Beechwood Ave. (east of Vanier Parkway) after 12 noon. Memorial Service will be held in the Sacred Space at 1 p.m. followed by interment with Military Honours at the National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces. We appreciate the kind and supportive words expressed by family, friends, and the community at this tragic loss. In memory of Alistair, donations may be made to the Madawaska Valley Public Library (Barry's Bay, ON) or to Valley Animal Rescue (Renfrew County, ON).