Asia Times Online editor passes away suddenly

Tony Allison, the Hua Hin-based editor-in-chief of Asia Times Online, died suddenly on June 20 from complications following a heart operation he underwent earlier this year.

The much admired Mr. Allison, 59, was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa in 1953. Anthony Thurlow Allison matriculated from Maritzburg College in the same South African city in 1971 and went on to pursue a law degree. Though he graduated from the University of Natal, also in Pietermaritzburg, with a Bachelor of Laws, he never practiced that profession, moving into journalism instead.

A keen sportsman, he twice took part in the 90-kilometre Comrades Marathon from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, and several times competed in the famed Dusi Canoe Marathon. He was part of a five-man team that set a world record, kayaking non-stop across the South China Sea from Hong Kong to the Philippines, raising money for charity. Around the same time, he inaugurated the Round the Island canoe race in Hong Kong. The Asia Times Online called Allison a “wordsmith and water warrior” in their obituary of the editor.

He moved to Thailand in the 90s to become a senior correspondent at the Bangkok bureau of Asia Magazine. In 1995, the Asia Times daily newspaper was founded, and Allison was one of its first hires.

After the ambitious Asia Times project foundered amid the financial crisis of 1997-98, Allison and compatriot Allen Quicke helped to keep the name alive in Asia Times Online. He forged new ground with news websites in Asia, which were rare in Asia at that time, eventually relocating Asia Times Online to Hua Hin.

Diagnosed with a heart ailment in late 2011, he underwent heart surgery early 2012. The surgery restored his zest for life and he was back playing football and cycling around Hua Hin. Sadly, complications set in and he died on Wednesday June 20th, with his wife Janejira by his side.

Tony Allison is survived by his wife Janejira and two sons Don and, from a previous marriage, Simon Allison.

His funeral was held yesterday at Wat Hua Hin.



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