Dear Colleagues,

The Acadia community was touched and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Al Whittle (Class of 1960) over the weekend. For more than six decades, Al, always smartly attired, was a constant and welcoming figure at Acadia and in Wolfville. Though he was a self-effacing, gentle, and humble man, it is no exaggeration to say he stands as a legend in our hearts and minds.

There is scarcely space to list Al’s contributions to the life of our community, whether at the Acadia Cinema downtown for more than 47 years or for over 55 years greeting students as they joined together for meals in one of Acadia’s dining halls. In a quiet and deliberate way, Al projected a warmth that was a welcome pick-me-up on a lonely day or a happy hello from a familiar friend.  

We will miss Al, but we are grateful to him for sharing so much of himself with us for a wonderfully long time. As I extend to Al’s family and friends Acadia’s deepest condolences, I encourage you to read his obituary or review one of the articles featuring Al on the Chronicle Herald or the CBC websites. You may also want to visit the Al Whittle Theatre website.

In an act of remembrance and respect, Acadia will fly the University flag on UHall at half-mast until noon on Friday. Thank you, Al, and rest in peace.  

Sincerely,

Peter