“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” — Martin Luther King, Jr.

If ever there was a life that embodied this profound question, it was Harry Buddle’s. On Sept. 3, Edmonton lost a truly magnificent soul, a man whose 85 years were a vibrant tapestry of unwavering generosity, quiet strength, and a humanity so deep it touched everyone he met. Lung cancer may have claimed his body, but his spirit, his legacy of giving, will forever echo softly in the hearts of those he enriched.

I can still see him, that cool fall morning in the United Way office. The air was thick with the weight of a fundraising shortfall, the media gathered, microphones poised. Harry, then the new CEO of Capital City Savings — now known as Servus Credit Union — sat at the end of the table, a gentle smile playing on his lips, saying little.

But when his moment came, what an announcement it was. He presented a cheque, a single act of profound kindness that instantly met the United Way’s 1987 goal, meaning thousands of Edmontonians who need a boost, simply, got it.

It was more than a donation: it was Mr. Buddle’s Edmonton welcome party.

That day, as I interviewed him for a newspaper piece, and later, on the drive back to The Edmonton Journal building, I was utterly captivated by his character.

His generosity, his grace, his sheer humanity — and oh, how he could make you laugh! Over time, our........

© Edmonton Sun