Obituaries by the Editor

Noel Quinton King (1922 - 2009)

The following is part of an email from Krim Natirbov in Virginia, USA:

"Professor Noel Q. King quietly passed away in the early morning of February 1, 2009 at his home in Corallitos, California. As many of you know, he was a good friend to Phiroz and wrote the foreword to Zarathustra: The Transcendental Vision. He died at the age of 86.

Noel and his beloved cat Tiggy on the deck of his home. (Photo: Pat Puder) When I first met Noel as an undergraduate student at University of Calfornia, Santa Cruz, I told him that I knew a wonderful scholar who understood, in a very deep sense, religion and Transcendence. When I mentioned Early Indian Religious Thought, Noel responded that he used the book with his college students and thought highly of it. I told him that I often attended talks that Phiroz gave in London, as my parent's were living in London at the time, and gave him the address for Dilkusha and a telephone number to contact Phiroz the next time he travelled to England. Noel met Phiroz that summer, I believe it was 1980, and they subsequently formed a strong friendship, inspiring one another.

"Noel felt that Phiroz's work was invaluable and that he should continue his writing and have more books published. I remember Phiroz one time telling me that Noel was a person who truly lived the religious life.

"Noel was often concerned about finding a suitable academic library in the USA for the material sent to him by the Trust. He was able to secure that home with the University of California. As you probably know the Phiroz material is in the good hands of the UCSC, McHenry Library.

"My daughter and I were able to spend some time with Noel before he passed away. Noel was very happy that I named my daughter Claire Phiroza, after Phiroz. He was magnificent and set before us a magnificent exit."

Professor King, who had a very distinguished academic career in many parts of the world, was a good friend to the Phiroz Mehta Trust, and even through many of us had not met him personally, we deeply regret his passing.

Noel Q. King Memorial Website

Go to Top of Page Return to Index


© 1959 - 2010 The Phiroz Mehta Trust Registered Charity 328061