Dr. Paul Arne Malon, age 56
Family, friends and colleagues are mourning the loss of Paul who died at home in North Vancouver on January 28th 2015 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Loving Son, Husband, Father, Brother, Uncle, and Friend, Paul leaves behind his parents, Henri and Mona, his wife Lynn and children Alex and Mira, brother Peter, sister in-law Cathy, brother Christopher, sister in-law Darlene and their daughters Sarah and Kaitlin. He was predeceased by Sam, the canine love of his life.
Paul was a remarkable man who inspired all who knew him with his unfailing positive attitude and ability to adapt in order to meet many challenges, despite his lifelong paraplegia.
Born in Toronto he attended Sunny View Public School followed by Parkdale Collegiate. He then graduated from Humber College in Radio Broadcasting and worked on air in Ajax and New Liskeard.
Always seeking new adventure, he went to University of Guelph followed by McGill University where he obtained his M.D. Upon completion of his Family Medicine residency he was awarded the Murray Stalker Memorial Lecture Award.
His love for the outdoors resulted in his practicing in northern Quebec followed by his move to Vancouver where he worked at Native Health and then as a physician at Lion’s Gate Hospital.
Paul overcame any and all obstacles in order to become an avid kayaker and travel extensively, including Norway, his parent's homeland. He spent days at a time solo wilderness camping in the mountains to pursue his love of photography.
Respecting his wishes, Paul was cremated and there was no visitation or service.
His family will gather for a remembrance at a future date.
If you wish to embark on Paul's captivating journey the following link will get you there, https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulmalon
It was just yesterday that I saw two posts made by Daniel Wrona of the File Photo Digital Archive on Flickr (and "klappersacks" on Tumblr) informing folks that Paul Malon had passed away. This word has spread to many others that make or repost they type of vintage material Paul shared on his Flickr account. Upon finding the Blogger site for him and reading this post, I am even more sad that this amazing man is no longer with us.
ReplyDeleteI hope Paul's family and friends are still watching this blog and that more comments will follow. His over 24,000 entries on Flickr spread much happiness and laughter in a world that needs more of both so badly.
I talked to Paul briefly a few times and he was always very kind. He seemed very pleased that people spread his work onto other platforms especially when they gave him credit.
I hope all of you reading this that knew Paul personally know how much joy he spread with his hobby. If I may be allowed to quote from my own blog, Paul will be missed and remembered by more people than you will ever know...and, in a sense, he will continue to live on every time I and many others repost his work and give him the full credit he deserves.
Paul and I met on the first day of school at Parkdale Collegiate in 1972. We sat at the back of our English class and prattled endlessly much to the teachers' chagrin. Little did we know in time our lives, hopes and aspirations would take us down similar paths.
DeleteHe was an integral part of my life and we stayed pals until geography, our careers and family commitments separated us. He knew me better then all my peers and was quick to point out any errors in judgement and behavior .
We loved the outdoors, same music, bands, trends and silly British humor. The humor sustained us and got us through our teenage angst .
Paul physique was like chiseled granite the glaciers carved and deposited in his native Norway. His mind was a vast pool of penetrating logic built around a resolute will, submerged like the rock that contained the fiords. He separated the world into vault like compartments that were quickly accessed and unlocked and his responses were always swift and determined once his contemplation and calculations were completed.
Paul character was beyond reproach and his moral compass had a bearing that kept his peers true. That being said, Paul did like to relax and enjoy the odd adult beverage when philosophy, fishing, our favourite haunt Georgian Bay, and maybe as the Brits say, birds were the topic of conversation.
He was a hero for so many, a true Canadian champion who flew under the radar;
a role model that not only did things well, accomplished much, but excelled and conquered adversity with aplomb.
I am going out on a limb on this one but with his well read background, love of country, and worldly acumen, Paul would have made a fine political leader!
Vancouver has lost a talented doctor, but Canada has lost an incredible citizen .
So with great sadness I say farewell dear friend. See you in Valhalla
My thought and prayers got out to Lynne, the children and the Malon family.
God Bless
Well I came by your house the other day, your mother said you went away
She said there was nothing that I could have done
There was nothing nobody could say
Me and you weve known each other ever since we were sixteen
I wished I would have known I wished I could have called you
Just to say goodbye bobby jean
Now you hung with me when all the others turned away turned up their noise
We liked the same music we liked the same bands we liked the same clothes
We told each other that we were the wildest, the wildest things wed ever
Seen
Now I wished you would have told me I wished I could have talked to you
Just to say goodbye bobby jean
The Boss
Edward S
Oakville
Paul and I were very close in med school. We were close to each other in anatomy lab etc. because of alphabetical arrangement. Paul inspired me a lot with his determination. His biceps are as big as my thigh muscles! Sometimes I offered to help push his wheelchair up the hill while going to hospital, Paul always refused, even when he ran out of breath at the slope near Montreal General Hospital...
ReplyDeletePaul will always be in my prayers forever.
Good Bye my best friend!
Cam Nguyen McGill MD 1989
I am so sorry for your loss - he seems to have been a remarkable individual. I want to express my thanks for his generous sharing of old magazine content - as a scholar of visual culture, his many hours of scanning and collecting are a great help in my research and teaching. I rely very heavily on collectors like him. Peace.
ReplyDeletePaul and I established a friendship when we were both students at Parkdale Collegiate. I was a 17-year-old immigrant from Brixton in England. We bonded over our mutual love for rock music of all kinds -- prog-rock, glam-rock, punk rock, heavy metal, and funk.
ReplyDeleteWhen he left high school, he worked for a time as a radio disc jockey at a Toronto radio station. We fell briefly out of touch, and then the next time I saw him he'd changed careers, and was now studying an agriculture programme at Guelph University. During our university years, we gradually lost contact. Eventually, I wound up living and working abroad for many years.
Then I remember about ten years ago, googling Paul's name and was pleasantly surprised to find he was a doctor and established a fine reputation as a brilliant nature photographer. But upon reflection, I wasn't so surprised: Paul had always been fearless in his pursuit of new experience and fulfilment of his dreams.
I regret not having tried to re-connect with Paul, but I still feel gratified and proud of having known him and shared a little of this life's journey with him.
My sincere condolences to Paul's family and friends.