Jeremy Hole has passed away at Kensington Hospice Toronto, with his close friend, Janet MacLean, and his beloved goddaughter, YaoYao MacLean, by his bedside. He will be terribly missed by them, as well as by his sister Juliet Hole, his niece Lissa, nephew Christopher, sister-in-law Ann, and his many dear friends, colleagues, and neighbours.

Jeremy was born in Rawalpindi, the son of Alfred and Eileen Hole. He was raised in Northern Ireland and Repton, England, and studied at Queen Mary College, University of London. He immigrated to Canada in 1968, where he taught English at Ryerson College, York University, and the University of Toronto. He then began a long and lauded career as a screenwriter, receiving Gemini nominations for Philip Marlowe: Private Eye and the CBC movies Firing Squad and External Affairs, as well as a Writers Guild of Canada Award for Emily of New Moon. He wrote for many iconic Canadian dramas including Night Heat, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and Road to Avonlea. He co-created, with Janet MacLean, the CBC drama series The Border, and received a Writers’ Block Award for his contributions to the Writers Guild. He mentored many young writers, and especially loved teaching writing workshops for Gaston Kaboré’s Imagine Institute in Burkino Faso.

Jeremy was loved for his warm humour and dry wit, his eloquence, curiosity, and incisive intellect, his wide-ranging knowledge of literature and music, and his unfailing kindness and courtesy. He could coax laughter out of the darkest situations, which made him an excellent travel companion and a valuable asset in the trenches of Canadian tv. He treated everyone he met with consideration and respect, and had a gift for lightening their daily load. He was a feminist when few men were, and a supporter of progressive causes both local and global. These past years, faced with a remorseless disease and progressive physical decline, Jeremy was gracious, uncomplaining, and infinitely patient. His powers of discernment and command of language stayed with him to the end. His greatest comfort during this time was YaoYao’s daily visit to bring him supper and read to him from Wodehouse or Barbara Pym – in true Jeremy fashion, he liked to keep things light.

Jeremy loved the writer Raymond Carver, and near the end of his life, spoke of his poem, Late Fragment:

And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth.

Jeremy was indeed beloved. He loved and was loved in turn. What else is there to say?

We would like to thank all the wonderful doctors, nurses, and personal support workers who cared for Jeremy in his last years. In particular, we'd like to thank Dr Meuser of the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care; the nurses and support workers of St Elizabeth's Home Care; and the wonderful doctors, nurses, staff, and volunteers at Kensington Hospice.

A celebration of Jeremy's life will be held on Sunday May 19th at 2:00 PM. It will take place at Trinity-St. Paul's Church at 427 Bloor St. West, just west of Spadina. There will be music by Tafelmusik friends, along with readings and memories from Jeremy's friends and loved ones. All are welcome.