Ken S.

I just heard that Ken S. passed on, quite peacefully, yesterday.

Ken was a client at one of the group homes that I have worked at for quite a few years.

Ken was endlessly polite, sometimes, infuriatingly polite. He did exactly what he wanted to do and when he wanted to do it, despite what staff may have wanted for him. He always held his own in the group home hierarchy with all comers.

He had an amazingly loud voice and a sly sense of humour. He had an endless curiosity about the goings on within the group home....whether it concerned him or not. He was funny that way and much like all of us. A snoop and a gossip.

He carried himself with dignity, even in the most undignified of moments. I remember once when he had an embarassing moment and when his roommate relentlessly pointed out the cause of Ken's embarassment, he didn't get angry or sulk in silence, but he politely, firmly and repeatedly asked his friend (let's call him Mac), 'to please not say that. Please.' And then he trundled on.

I won't forget the unique way in which he held a glass or mug full of liquid; his long skinny fingers only just managing to wrap themselves around the container and then pointing out and away. Or the way he cleared his throat. The difficulties he had in getting into and out of a chair and the stride in which he seemed to take all the changes related to age which were overtaking him.

He really was unique. A real character. An old fart with a big heart. I am richer for having known him and the world is poorer for having lost him.