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Chemainus Theatre presents P. 17 Buddy Holly musical
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
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NICK BEKOLAY/CHRONICLE
Wade Fotherby and his son Cyrus skip rocks at Transfer Beach as they enjoy a sunny Friday afternoon on Feb. 8.
Questions linger over Alton’s death Nick Bekolay THE CHRONICLE
When the body of David James Alton was discovered in a dugout at Aggie Field on the afternoon of Jan. 14, he lay on his side as though he was asleep. Ladysmith RCMP Staff Sgt. Larry Chomyn said there was nothing suspicious about Alton’s death, but the exact cause of his death has yet to be determined. Cindy Cox, Alton’s cousin, said the coroner suspected three possible causes of death including hypothermia, heart attack or a drug overdose. Barb McLintock, a spokesperson with the B.C. Coroners Service, said Alton’s case remains open. Preliminary tests were inconclusive, McLintock added, and the results of additional tests won’t be returned until “late spring at best.” Alton found himself homeless in early January after he was evicted from his apartment at 631 First Ave., Cox said, because he had not
paid rent for three months. nize him at first because he was An advocate working with the so thin. He looked 90 years old.” Ladysmith Resource Centre Alton had recently turned 65, Association assisted Alton in late Mason said. November to arrange payment for “He was obviously not well,” his rent, she said. Alton did not Mason added. “He was wearing return to inform her of his evic- clothes that were all falling apart. tion, however, so she could not I think he had a lot of layers on. comment on why he may have He had a leather jacket, but all been evicted. the seams were splitting. He had Lindsay Widsten of Widsten a toque on, but he was in rough Property Management said he shape. He was really down and could not confirm whether or out.” not Alton was evicted citing limAlton was “very upset,” Mason its imposed by the Privacy Act. said. “[Dave] said ‘I’m homeless. However, if Alton was in fact They kicked me out of where I evicted, Widsten said it would was living and they threw all my not have been as a result of the stuff away.’” condition of his property. Alton had lost his possessions Former classmate spoke and a small collection of his with Alton days before father’s sporting trophies that his death Alton said he “valued most in life,” Bruce Mason graduated from Mason added. Ladysmith Secondary School Alton repeatedly assured Mason with Alton in 1965. He crossed that he would be fine. paths with Alton “three days or “I thought maybe he was with so before he died.” a friend,” Mason said. “It’s quite “He looked very ill when I saw tragic and it shouldn’t have haphim” Mason said. “I didn’t recog- pened and hopefully it will never
happen to anyone else in town.” saw Alton around town “within a Alton’s friends will gather at month” of his death. Elliott’s Beach near Coffin Point “It was shocking to see him,” later this spring or summer, Mason Bodaly said. “He was a bone rack.” said, to scatter his ashes. It had been a long, slow descent A t h l e t i c s m o r e o f a into destitution for a friend he priority than academic remembers as having been “fairly potential popular in high school.” Carman Bodaly first met Alton Bodaly described a young Alton when Alton was four years old, as a “fun, good-looking guy who he said. They were playmates had lots of potential. He was wellas children and partied together built, handsome, fun to be with through high school and into their and he drove around in a muscle 20s. Bodaly married in 1967 and car. I don’t think his marks were his daughter was born in 1971. outstanding because he was doing “When I had a child, I started to a lot of partying even back then. change,” Bodaly said. “It didn’t His ambition in high school was happen overnight, but I gradually to be a marine biologist, but that pulled the reigns in on myself.” never happened. He never attendMeanwhile, Alton’s life contin- ed [university]. Back in those days, ued to revolve around “booze and you got out of [high] school and drugs and partying,” Bodaly said. got a job. He was making good The two men slowly drifted apart, money.” parting ways entirely when they Alton managed a gym in Nanaimo were in their 50s after Bodaly lent in the late 70s or early 80s and Alton rent money he knew Alton “was into weight lifting quite seriwouldn’t be able to repay. ously,” Bodaly said. Bodaly hadn’t spoken to Alton Alton was heavily influenced in “four or five years” and last See Alton’s Page 3
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