APSA lost a good friend and colleague when Ken Thornton passed away suddenly on April 22, 2010, three weeks after his official retirement and just shy of his 61st birthday.
Born in London and raised in Rhodesia (present day Zimbabwe), Ken headed off to Canada to start a new life with his wife and children after earning a degree in Engineering from the University of Capetown. After a few years of bouncing around Vancouver, Ken found himself in Prince Rupert, working for a fisherman's co-op and proudly watching his children grow up.
SFU's Payroll and Accounting department snagged Ken in 1986 and for the next 23 years SFU benefitted from Ken's strong leadership skills. Project Leader, Systems Consultant, APSA Board Member, APSA President in 1994 and 2009, Staff Representative to the Board of Governors, APSA Pension Trustee – Ken truly saw SFU from all sides and APSA was greatly enriched with his loyalty and his vast knowledge of the University. When asked why he served with APSA’s board, Ken replied that he did so because he enjoyed the university environment and wanted personally rewarding work.
Over the years, Ken not only watched his own career progress, he also watched the University transform. SFU ushered in new technology that replaced the IBM and Payroll systems, and ushered in new leadership with the hiring of Michael Stevenson (former SFU President), in which Ken participated. As Systems Analyst in AISG and more recently ESPM, he believed his niche was to act as a bridge between technical people and business people – his incredibly numerous friends at the University would more likely say his niche was bringing all people together, with his keen and empathetic interest in others, his strong sense of fairness and justice and his quick humour and infectious laugh.
Upon retirement, Ken reflected back and said that his true strength was being able to navigate the IT Archipelago between departments and divisions. His memorable moments included those at his Friday beer group, a group formed in the early 90’s and one he thoroughly enjoyed being a part of, and organizing the annual Financial Services Golf Tournament. Ken had planned his retirement in great detail and was looking forward to traveling with his wife Geesje and golfing with sons Ian and Jeffrey. That he was so suddenly deprived of those years will forever haunt all who knew him. He will be greatly missed by his colleagues, friends and family.
To view pictures from the SFU memorial please visit Ken Thornton's Celebration of Life gallery.