Kenneth William Watts

With the passing of our beloved father, grandfather, and husband, the world is a smaller, less interesting place. Four years after a diagnosis of ATTR/wild type cardiac amyloidosis, a rare and incurable heart disease, Ken finally let himself quit the good fight. On Monday September 26th he fell asleep in his chair and simply didn’t wake up. He was 72.

Ken is survived by his wife, Margie, and the people who meant the most to him in life: his children. They are Nick, Emma (Jon), Sarah (Matt), and Jesse (June). Predeceased by his father, William, in 1990, he leaves behind his grandchildren, Jessica, William, Nora, Logan, and Charlotte; his mother, Ethel, and his brother, Roy (Sue). He will be remembered and missed by his friends, nephews and nieces, as well as the friends of his children, who remember the funny, sardonic, larger-than-life man who always said and did the unexpected.

Born and raised in Liverpool, England, Ken was a natural athlete: he set a school record for the pole vault of 12’9” and became the under-17 English half-mile champion with a time of 1:59.9. Soccer was his first love; he played till he was almost 50 and supported Everton FC through good times and bad. His competitive streak helped him win chess tournaments, took him to the top of every class but metal-work, and eventually landed him in pharmaceutical sales, where he quickly rose to the position of marketing director.

Ken was a natural entrepreneur and risk-taker. After emigrating to Canada in 1975, he broke from the corporate world and established his own medical publishing company, Mediscript Communications. Under this imprint, he wrote and published some 80 self-help titles dealing with allergies and asthma, relaxation and stress, wound care and many others. Although he had much success with his business, along with setbacks, it was never the money or status that counted with Ken; it was always the satisfaction of being his own boss and never becoming institutionalized that motivated him. His motto was Audentes Fortuna Juvat – Fortune Favours the Bold.

In the end, Ken played the hand he was dealt as he lived his entire life: with courage, integrity, fortitude, and a determination to somehow beat the odds. His body has been cremated but his indomitable spirit lives on in his children and grandchildren. A family viewing has taken place; we will gather to celebrate his life and spread his ashes by the ocean, where he was always happiest and most at peace.

Thanks to the home care nurses, ER doctors, family physicians and palliative care professionals who helped to ease some of Ken’s pain and discomfort in the final year of his life. We, his family, are grateful.