ROBERT LESLIE (ALFRED) SILVER (ALF)

Condolences & Memories (5 entries)

• I first met "mad Alf" when we were teens in Winnipeg. He wrote a humdinger of a gothic drama which he and friends performed at the Manitoba Theatre School. Lots of skullduggery, lightning, bell ringing, and a hunchback, of course. Utterly wild and wonderful. Not long after, I signed on with the "Aurora Borealis" troupe, funded by the Company of Young Canadians, that Alf and Frank led. Nine us spent the entire winter of 70/71 touring, by train, dozens of communities in northern Manitoba. Alf was our spirit guide as we city kids encountered the remoteness, the ferocious cold, our bewildered hosts, the skeptical teachers, countless grateful kids, and, inevitably, our very selves. He thrived, taking it all in, urging us toward creative mischief as our duty. Strangely, both Alf and I found new lives in Nova Scotia, though I regret we never met up there. I recall reading a phrase Alf used to describe his landing in Nova Scotia: "Any port in a storm". Farewell, and safe harbour to you Alf. - Posted by: David Peters (fellow traveller) on: Jan 08, 2021

• Some time ago I travelled to Nova Scotia to experience university and had a chance to connect with my then mostly unknown cousin Bob. The drive out from Halifax was always welcome and many lovely weekends were spent wiling away the day with music, reading, complaining, celebrating and of course deep-in-to-the-evening games of cribbage. Bob, Robert, Bobby, Robby, Alf Alfie, Alfred... however you may have known him, was a precious and tender soul. I will miss him. There are some lights that should never go out... - Posted by: Sandy Zoffmann (Cousin, Friend and Fellow Cribbage Player) on: Jan 21, 2020

• Somehow its fitting that both Alf and Mad Magazine departed in 2019, both satirical and anarchic. Had Thanksgiving dinner with Jane and Alf. I'll miss him. Known him for 60 yrs from Grosvenor Elem School. He got his "Alf" from Alfred E. Newman, mainly because he looked like the mag mascot, but also he was quirky and quick witted. Lost touch over the decades, but to my surprise we ended up in Nova Scotia. As a former Oscar's Sandwiches teammate (1974), it was a great run Alf. Thinking of Jane in this time of loss. - Posted by: Brad Hodgins (friend) on: Dec 30, 2019

• Alf was one of the group of theatre makers I met not long after I arrived in Winnipeg in 1970. The old chums of Tech Voc days were part of the world in which I ran across him. The "ultra cool" image I remember being very evident at a Christmas Eve party at Colin and Tacey Jackson's place when he and his good companion sang "Jack boots marching" to the tune of The Christmas Song. That dark take on the holiday was classic Alf. When he produced his play about Black Jack which later found its revised way to MTC some years later he used a player, Larry Fisher, who was later to become a bandmate of mine. Alf was also at the core of the founding of the Manitoba Association of Playwrights along with Bill Horrocks who inspired the creation of the association. It was Alf's novel, Red River Story, that inspired me to use the indomitable Kate McPherson as a model character when I wrote my first play for The Heritage Theatre at The Forks National Historic Site. Thanks, Alf. Oh, and I've got that last album you made to remind me of your singular voice. - Posted by: Brian Richardson (colleague of old) on: Dec 24, 2019

• About a zillion years ago, back in the early 70's, Alf was a frequent guest at our dinner table, along with my then-husband Kevin Anderson, Jim Mezon, Wayne Nicklas, and other theatre types. I always remember Alf as being uber-cool, a little aloof, a little ahead of the pack. Definitely dancing to his own drummer, even as a very young adult. RIP, and condolences to his blood and chosen family, near and far. - Posted by: bunty anderson (long ago friend) on: Dec 22, 2019