We received an email from Nick Winearls (1970W) that Leif Erikson (1970F) had sent him.  It notified us of the death and sad circumstances around the passing of Anthony Harvey Constant (1970S) who passed away on 16 March 2023.

In the email Yvonne Garnar wrote this note to Leif:

It is with great sadness I write this note to let you know that Anthony passed away on Thursday 16th March after choking on his pills and according to the Surgeon it was a Freak Accident.

He had a heart replacement valve 10 days ago and was recovering very well and was going to be moved to the ward on Friday morning .

We are devastated as he had survived so many operations throughout his life and never complained about his disability not being able to speak and passing on in such a tragic way was so very sad.

Kind Regards,

Yvonne

We also received the following touching tribute that Anthony's sister, Debbie delivered at his memorial service:

Anthony was a very Good brother, really, the best of brothers, as I see it

Elder brothers can be a blessing and a boon to their sisters – and Anthony was that.

Elder brothers know us from the moment we are born until they die, and so they know us inside out. This especially if there’s just the pair of you.

So For me this “knowing” came with extraordinary comfort, not comfort that was needed, but ease and very real pleasure, most often.

Aside from the 2nd hand reports that Anthony wanted to get rid of his baby sister by edging her into grave danger, and once the usual fighting of young children subsided, we had loads of fun together – exploring together our remote neighborhood in Constantia as it developed around us, speculating on the new houses, and the occupant’s potential for trouble. It was already then that Anthony showed a clear interest in urban design and housing - Urban design was the field he later gravitated towards in his work life,

By the time we had reached adolescence all was forgiven and we benefited from hanging out together and with Steks and co., both at Pringle Bay and at home in the suburbs

At this time, with Anthony oldest amongst our group at 18 years, The Yellow Variant was our key catapult into risk taking behavior – a phase that was to last Anthony for longer than most!

Then came the Ruyteplaats years and Anthony met his dream woman, Yvonne. They were married in 1995. Not long after his various health issues began, and they didn’t really stop. So I want to acknowledge and thank Yvonne for her superhuman courage and loyalty to Anthony, in sickness and health, always steadfast, and giving love with a light touch – Yvonne – you have been truly amazing – our deep gratitude to you.

I also now want to acknowledge my mother, who is here today. A huge sadness for her – at 105 to live beyond her son’s years – so hard to come to terms with.

I have been thinking now about Anthony’s years since his stroke. How he dealt with his inability to speak with remarkable equanimity and was willing to interact with friend and stranger. To live life as it presented itself to him with all its frustrations, but maintaining goodwill, kindness, and stubbornness in about equal measures. His lifelong love of walking, of the outdoors, of the flowers, and the trees.

How deeply he loved Pringle Bay and how it brought him such joy. And how he was up for more, but this time, it wasn’t to be.

Close to his allotted his 3 score years and 10, - and as my mother said on hearing the shocking news

“We All have our exits and our entrances.”

And it goes on…

“And one man in his time plays many parts”

Anthony has skipped the last part – and we send him off now with our love and our thanks for his life with us.

Anthony was in the property industry for many years and when he sold Ruyteplaats Estate in Hout Bay 27 years ago to Stocks & Stocks he had the mandate to sell the plots and became a trustee on the Homeowners association and later the lodges body corporate.  He  then became sales manager at Palm Garden Retreat retirement home in seapoint  until he suffered a stroke in April 2017 which left him without his speech he could say a few words and managed to get by and make himself understood. He had an amazing ability to stay positive and up beat he continued with his Pilates and speech therapy and was very fit hiking the mountains of Hout Bay and Cape Town and Pringle Bay with Edward,  Anthony’s companion who we employed after COVID. 

His mother Margery Constant is 105 and living in a care home in Somerset West a still very much alive . His sister Debbie has retired to Plettenberg Bay .

Yvonne and the family live in Hout Bay at Ruyteplaats Estate .

Our sincerest condolences to the family and close friends of Anthony.