Ken was born in Nanaimo, B.C. on December 4, 1942. He passed away at Hospice in Victoria on October 2, 2008. Ken is survived by his stepdaughters Angela and Stefany and their mother, Judy, and his beloved granddaughter, Ivy. As well, he is survived by his mother Peggy Bertram (Robert Gole), brother Eric, sister Marion, his nephew Tim and nieces Sally and Katie. His father, Joe Bertram, predeceased him in 1980.
Ken’s musical giftedness was apparent from the age of two, when he played tunes by ear on his toy piano. He had perfect pitch and quickly mastered technique with some excellent teachers, winning many bursaries, scholarships and other awards. Ken attended the University of Washington at the age of seventeen. As part of his program of studies, he accompanied many famous opera singers performing on the fledgling public television in Seattle. He received the first Master of music degree from UBC. Ken taught at UBC, UVic, and in public schools in a number of school districts before settling in Victoria to classroom teach at View Royal, Vic West, Cloverdale and Oaklands schools. During those years he was involved in musical theatre productions at Oak Bay and Spectrum Secondary Schools and the Pace Program in Sooke, to name a few of his contributions, Colleagues, students and family will always remember the expertise and soul he brought to the piano.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Upper Island Music Festival, c/o Mae Newsham of 2643 Beaver Creek Cres., Nanaimo, B.C., V9T 3K1, would be appreciated. A bursary to a music student will be presented in his name in perpetuity.
A celebration of Ken’s life for family and friends will be held at the University Club, University of Victoria, on Saturday, October 25th, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.