As the new year dawned, the world held its breath and Kevin Whitaker exhaled his last. Father, brother, lover, friend, colleague, thinker, doer. Calm and steady, with trademark grace, Kevin died naturally at home in North Hatley, Quebec, surrounded by friends and family singing “A Man You Don’t Meet Every Day.”

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Daughter Claire (Moliner) and son Luke (Moliner) were the apples of his eye, and he made sure they knew it. Always present for them, his quiet guidance engaged them in travel, food, ideas, art, and music.

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Joined at the hip, Marie (Moliner) and Kevin’s love for each other was legendary. They excelled at having fun, always finding new ways to play once disease took its course. Even if it was just a trip to the grocery store, Kevin’s face unfailingly lit up when Marie returned home. Marie found joy and purpose both as Kevin’s art agent and as his full-time caregiver at home.

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Kevin’s brain attracted a wide range of friendships. He was rooted in family - a trait nurtured by his mother’s unconditional love, while his father’s singular determination taught Kevin to defy all odds. His brothers, Chris and Jeff, were his buddies.  A conveyor of brilliant ideas, Kevin was always measured and on point. One was wise to hang on to his every word. In Kevin’s eyes, we saw kindness, generosity, and deep awareness. He recognized the importance of feeling heard, loved, and understood.

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Accomplished and unpretentious, Kevin was the first of his family to attend university. He was proud of his career as an Ontario Superior Court judge, Chair of the Ontario Labour Relations Board, special advisor to the Ontario Government, mediator, arbitrator, and lawyer. Kevin excelled at decision-making, observing that any decision worth making should be made at the right time and only after all the necessary information had been gathered.

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When disease robbed him of his favourite job as a judge, Kevin pursued his passion and, through the sale of his paintings, raised over $200,000 for research into Parkinson’s and Dementia with Lewy Bodies. He joked that, had he known painting would be so much fun, he might have pursued that career instead.

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His favourites included: Venice, Orwell, Dostoevsky, Jackson Browne, Shostakovitch, Gordon Lightfoot, Trailer Park Boys, Baroness von Sketch, Brazil, All Right Jack, Battleship Potemkin, Van Gogh, key lime pie, and carrot cake.

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Somewhere, Kevin is singing “Song for a Winter’s Night” while simultaneously playing violin, piano, and harmonica - something he could do.

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The family is grateful to ALL the healthcare workers (in Ontario and Quebec) who guided their ten-year journey, helping Kevin defy the odds against the toll of Parkinson’s and Lewy Body Dementia.

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Should you wish to donate, please choose a cause that matters to you. Donations in support of  Parkinson’s and Dementia research can be made via Kevin’s website https://www.kevinwhitaker.art/donate. If you wish to plant a tree, consider www.massawippi.org, the local foundation that takes care of Kevin’s favourite paradise.

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Kevin will be honoured in Toronto on Saturday February 1st,  2-4 pm at Holy Trinity Church (by the Eaton Centre),   and in North Hatley, in May. Details will be posted on Kevin’s website: KevinWhitaker.Art