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 Tributes
to Allen Quicke
OBITUARY
Allen Quicke
Allen George Quicke
03.07.1953 - 17.08.2010
My beloved older brother Allen has been my loyal friend, teacher of good and
bad habits, and confidant through all our childhood years, adolescent wars and
into adulthood. The tragic passing of Allen leaves a tremendous void in all our
lives. We as a family have not seen him that often since he took up residence
in Thailand, but were very fortunate that he visited us here in South Africa in
April.
He spent the mornings working for Atimes and the afternoons and evenings, as we
usually do when we are together, reminiscing and solving the world’s problems.
Though many years and miles have separated us, Allen has always remained
constant, true to himself and his values. We were always able to pick up where
we left off as if we had never been apart.
Rest in Peace dearest Allen, from parents George and Margaret, brothers and
sisters Frances, Vivienne, Harry and Brian, step sisters and his many nephews
and nieces. We will forever hold you in our thoughts and in our hearts, till we
meet again.
On behalf of the family, I would like to thank all the staff at Asia Times
Online for their generous support at this tragic time, Tony Allison for his
compassion and keeping us informed of events when we are so far away and to the
Asia Times Online readers for expressing their appreciation of Allen’s life and
work. It has meant a great deal and given us some comfort.
Frances Ridl (Aug 24, '10)
Drummond, South Africa
Allen Quicke was a remarkable man. He is a great loss to humanity, as aloof as
he was at times to the ordinary beings around him. His ability to focus on and
understand issues of global proportions, or the finer detail of a story or a
painting, was uncanny. Nothing, big or small, escaped his critical eye and
mind. Allen had an unparalleled sense of justice. He was a true liberal, not of
the political kind but one that placed freedom of thought, speech and
expression at the top of his sense of human values. At times he fought fiercely
to promote and protect these values as any writer would have found when
submitting work to him, or anyone that ever had the pleasure (or misfortune!)
to engage in debate with him. The world of journalism has lost one of its
greatest servants.
I am married to Allen’s younger sister, Frances. He lived with us for a while
in South Africa, so I had the privilege of sharing his fine mind over many a
long debate or game of chess. He was with us only a few months ago, and even
though our engagements have been sparse over the last few years, it was good to
see that Allen’s core being was still intact despite the ravages of editorship.
Our debates were as vigorous as ever and his wit, more acerbic, if that is
possible! Allen’s loss is immense. We as a family have all been given great
comfort by the responses of the readers of Asia Times Online. You clearly value
Allen’s life as we do. Thank you all for this support.
Jeremy Ridl (Aug 24, '10)
[Re Allen Quicke,
obituary, Aug 18] Not only a great editor, Allen Quicke was an artist
of considerable note. I treasure my framed full set of the Kim Jong-il
editorial cartoons he produced to illustrate my articles in the original print
edition of Asia Times.
In 1997, with Allen's encouragement, I liberated those images from the Joy Luck
Club, the Bangkok watering hole favored by the old Asia Times and Manager
magazine gang, when those media organizations' bankruptcy put the bar out of
business as well. I think it was early 1999 when Allen returned to Bangkok from
a Gauguin-style sojourn as a lone painter in Hua Hin and joined Uwe Parpart and
me as we started up Asia Times Online.
At the beginning, aside from Uwe's editorial commentary pieces, we were little
more than a clipping service linking daily to others' original content. It was
after my departure the following year that Allen set about changing that in
earnest, eventually lining up a host of outstanding contributors and enabling
atimes.com to fill the large void left by Dow Jones's more or less systematic
destruction of the Far Eastern Economic Review.
We have lost a great newsman. My deepest condolences to his family and other
friends.
Bradley Martin
Nagano, Japan (Aug 23, '10)
[Re Allen Quicke,
obituary, Aug 18] The death of Allen Quicke was shocking news. Though
in this age of electronic communication, I came to know Allen without ever
meeting him in person, his passing is a deep loss to me personally. For more
than a decade, Allen provided me with a venue to air my unorthodox views in
Asia Times Online. In the early days, my ability to express clearly complex
issues of geopolitics and geo-economics was less developed, having not been
trained as a writer or journalist or even an economist or political scientist.
Yet Allen was patient with my less than mature writing skill and non-mainstream
perspective at a time when I did not have much a following. He encouraged me to
continue to submit articles even though many of them at first generated much
venom from some readers. Through Allen's steadfast editorial guidance, ATol has
become a forum of independent analysis and commentary with a global readership.
His spirit of courageous defense of truth will live on through the many writers
that he helped nurtured. I myself am forever indebted to him.
Henry C K Liu (Aug 23, '10)
[Re Allen Quicke,
obituary, Aug 18] I am shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of
Allen Quicke. Asia, indeed the world, owes much to him. Asia Times Online is a
newspaper like no other: broad-minded, and distinctly different. Many voices
jostle, some hardly heard elsewhere. That is exactly as it should be. I also
owe Allen a personal debt of gratitude for publishing my pieces on Korea. It is
a privilege to appear in these columns.
The man is gone. That is too sad. Yet his work and vision will live on. Requiescat
in pace: rest in peace.
Aidan Foster-Carter (Aug 23, '10)
[Re Allen Quicke,
obituary, Aug 18] I first met Allen in 2002 when I was 19 years old.
He'd hired me as an intern at ATol and, in short order, made me a better editor
and a better writer. For that, I owe him a debt I cannot repay. After I left
ATol, Allen and I continued to have hearty debates and discussions by e-mail
for years to come. First and foremost, Allen was a thinker and had a gift for
making people feel welcomed into his intellectual, yet unpretentious, world.
Indeed, Allen would be the first one to buy me a beer, as well as to lend me a
book. He could get along with anyone and always had a funny story loping
around, or a piece of sage advice for a youngster like me.
When I last saw him a few years ago not much had changed. We still debated, we
still laughed and we still read good books. That's how I'll remember him.
Kedar Deshpande (Aug 23, '10)
[Re Obituary, Allen
Quicke, Aug 18] I suddenly came across this appalling news quite late.
It is with enormous personal difficulty that I come to terms with the news,
which hasn't quite sunk in yet.
Over on "The Edge", Allen and I exchanged banter and sometimes by private
e-mail. He was a very good friend and a thorough gentleman. Asia Times Online
and all its readership have suffered an enormous loss.
I am truly shedding tears at the loss of a genuine "mate". My heartfelt
condolences to Allen's family and all the Asia Times Online staff. I share
their grief.
Ian C Purdie
Sydney, Australia (Aug 20, '10)
[Re Obituary, Allen
Quicke, Aug 18] In spite of all the problems in the world, I still
consider it remarkable because very few people make the difference; and, what a
difference! I am glad to know Allen made that difference. Our thoughts and
prayers are with his family.
Ram Ramanujam
California, United States (Aug 20, '10)
[Re Obituary, Allen
Quicke, Aug 18] I am sorry to hear Allen Quicke passed away. He is one
of the icons of great Asia news. Today if you want to read true stories from
the world you need to go to Asia Times Online. I always admire the news
articles and it is one of the best resources for world issues.
ATol is wonderful journalism for those searching for truth about the media and
world. Losing the person who is the editor is a great loss to the world.
Victor Samarakone
United States (Aug 20, '10)
[Re Obituary, Allen
Quicke, Aug 18] I was shocked and saddened to hear of the death of
Allen Quicke. I owe a great debt to Asia Times Online, and to Allen especially,
for publishing my infrequent articles and letters to the editor over a span of
more than seven years.
One of the great strengths of ATol has been the broad spectrum of political and
philosophical views that are represented. Thanks to Allen, ATol has kept me
coming back day after day, year after year, because he refused to let it become
just another echo chamber.
My political views, particularly regarding America's role and historical impact
on the world, are significantly at odds with Allen's. But in spite of our
political differences, Allen's correspondence with me has been unfailingly
gracious, humorous, and supportive on a personal level. I never had the good
fortune to meet him, but I feel like I know something of the basic decency of
his character from the kind words that he has shared with me throughout the
years. His loss will be sorely felt. With deepest sympathy to Allen's family,
friends and colleagues.
Geoffrey Sherwood
United States (Aug 20, '10)
[Re Obituary, Allen
Quicke, Aug 18] I am shell-shocked to hear about Allen's untimely
demise. When I started writing for ATol in 2002, Allen was the first one to
spot my talent and nurture it. Over the years, I've seen his fierce side as
well as the soft one. We've been working really closely since atimes.net
started and now it's really inconceivable that he's no more. I'll sorely miss
his eye for detail, editorial correctness and the acerbic wit. What a tragedy
this is. Here's hoping all of you at ATol are coping with the big loss.
Sreeram Chaulia
New York (Aug 20, '10)
[Re Obituary, Allen
Quicke, Aug 18] It was with great sadness that I clicked into
Atimes.com this morning and found of the sudden passing of Allen.
If fables of religions are true, I am sure Allen belongs to the best of places
in after life. Wherever he may be now, I want him to know that I thank him
sincerely and deeply for making Asia Times Online available to those of us who
are desperately searching for real journalism in a sea of mediocre propaganda
in the English-speaking Western world. My condolences to Allen’s family.
Chenliyen
United States (Aug 19, '10)
[Re Obituary, Allen
Quicke, Aug 18] It is with great sorrow I read about Allen
Quicke's sudden death.It is indeed the contribution of people like him that
helps us readers to be aware and be informed. Our deepest condolences would go
to Allen's family.
Amithe Gamage
Sri Lanka (Aug 19, '10)
[Re Obituary, Allen
Quicke , Aug 18] Words can't do enough at a time like this, but one is
very, very sure that Allen is now in a place where he will be much at peace.
Death is only a transition and promotion to those who have lived a good life,
and there is no doubt - even to those who knew him only by e-mail text - Allen
was a good human being. Allen, his family and everyone at ATol will reap the
rewards of the rich investment in goodwill that Allen made.
For Allen's family, and everyone who had the good fortune of daily working with
Allen, I am sure there will be strength to get over this shock, and calm wisdom
to remember all things are impermanent, and sooner or later bound to pass away.
This is only a temporary farewell, Allen. Be happy and at peace.
Raja Murthy
Mumbai (Aug 19, '10)
It is with great regret that I read about Allen. I remember in 2003 when he
first wrote to me inviting me to write for ATol, following which I had a long
and pleasant stint writing for the publication. My condolences to his family.
May his soul rest in peace,
Siddharth Srivastava
New Delhi (Aug 19, '10)
I was shocked to see the news on your site. Please accept my deepest sympathies
at the passing away of your colleague.
Hossein Askari (Aug 19, '10)
[Re Obituary, Allen
Quicke, Aug 18] As a former colleague of Allen Quicke, I wish to
compliment the staff of Asia Times Online on the thoughtful and sensitive
announcement of his sudden death. My thoughts are with you all.
David Simmons
Bangkok, Thailand (Aug 19, '10)
Allen was cremated at Hua Hin Temple on Saturday, August 28.
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