Al Cook lived a full and rewarding life, doing good work and making close friends across three continents. He was a warm, wonderful person who loved people, jazz, literature, and most of all family.

Al was born on July 20, 1940 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa and worked as a journalist in Grahamstown, South Africa. He was a critic of the apartheid regime and was committed to social justice and equality in everything he did. He worked for the International Defense and Aid Fund for Southern Africa (IDAF), an international organization that had been banned in South Africa, devoted to providing legal defence for political prisoners, supporting their families, and advocating for change. He worked as deputy director, which included being in charge of international partners. Through this work he met, Paula Kingston, who was involved in the organization in Canada, and who became his beloved partner, spouse, and best friend.

He subsequently became Executive Director of Canada-South Africa Cooperation, which continued to channel Canadian support to South African under Nelson Mandela.

For many years he managed an international legal human rights programme for young lawyers at the Canadian Bar Association in Ottawa. He particularly enjoyed working with a new generation of bright young people committed to human rights.

He is the eldest of four siblings, Colleen (deceased), Jasper (Cape Town), and Irene/Zim (Pietermaritzburg). He was devoted to his four children – Illinois Jacquet Cook (Amelia), Colchester, England; Nelson Mandela Cook (Samar Omar), London, England; Sadie Cook Griffith (Ben Griffith), London England; and Ben Kingston-Cook (Mexico City), and his five fantastic grandchildren (Louis, Clementine, Clara , Albion and Lawrence) as well as many many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends across Canada, the UK and South Africa.

He died on the morning of June 29 at the May Court Hospice in Ottawa, after maintaining amazingly good spirits for the past five years, when he was dealing with advanced cancer.

His wish is that any donations be made to May Court Hospice. He very much appreciated the wonderful people and compassionate care they provide.

He was a remarkably friendly person who cared deeply for others and was a joy to be around. He will be terribly missed.

A Celebration of Al’s Life will be held at Beechwood, Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa, on Saturday, July 14 at 10:30 a.m.