|
Colin Delacourt WATSON .png)
1941 - 2021
COLIN DELACOURT WATSON July 5, 1941 - April 5, 2021 The family of Colin Watson are deeply saddened to announce his passing on April 5, 2021. Colin died comfortably in his 80th year in Bonita Bay, Florida. Colin was born in England at the height of the 'Blitz' to a Canadian (PPCLI) soldier and English mother. While his father fought through Italy, France and Holland, Colin and his mother lived with grandparents in Kettering, England, where his grandfather, Thomas served as town counsellor and his mother taught school.
Post war the family moved to North Vancouver, BC. Colin was educated at Lynn Valley Elementary school, North Vancouver High School, and graduated in Mechanical Engineering at The University of British Columbia, followed by an MBA at the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario. He is survived by the love of his life and wife, Barbara and sons Christopher (Meredith) and Matthew (Grace) and his stepdaughter Tracy (John) and stepson Michael. His son Kevin (Christi) predeceased him in 2012. He is also lovingly missed by his grandchildren Sadie, Kieran, Owen, Charlie, Frances, Olivia and Gwyneth with whom he had a loving and participatory relationship.
Colin spent most of his career with Rogers Communications as a Corporate Director for 31 years, and CEO of Rogers Cablesystems for 17 years. In 1996 he left Rogers to become CEO of Spar Aerospace and subsequently Vector Aerospace in 2004. 'Retirement' meant continued corporate board involvement with Rogers Communications, Louisiana Pacific, several other Canadian boards and most recently Telesat Canada. Colin loved his golf at Rosedale Golf Club, travelling with family and friends, spending winters in Bonita Bay, Florida and his annual fishing trips to the Restigouche Salmon club.
His joy with his old British sports cars was ongoing and he thoroughly enjoyed tinkering with them. Colin was a unique, direct and driven individual with a sharp clever wit, a great sense of humour, that made people smile. But most importantly, he loved his friends and family.
Our family would like to express its deepest gratitude for the tremendous support we have received from Dr. Bernard Gosevitz and the team at Sunnybrook Hospital. A Celebration of life will be held at a later date. Donations in Colin's name and memory can be made to Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation and Shaw Festival NOTL. https://donate.sunnybrook.ca/donate-now https://www.shawfest.com/donate/
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theglobeandmail/obituary.aspx?n=colin-delacourt-watson&pid=198292906
Colin was diagnosed with leukaemia in January 2021, was cheerful at our class Zoom meeting in March, and passed away in April.
|
Sylvia-Anne Jones (Enga)
This is so very sad to hear of Colin's death. and so soon after we had seen him in his lovely home in Bonita Bay, Florida. It really was a lovely glimpse into his life as he was particularly chatty. I thought at the time, this past March, during this zoom "visit, how clever the format is to visit like we do. Colin lead a most interesting life by the sounds of it and was a credit to his education. Diagnosed only in January, he carried that burden during the zoom viist. As Diana reminded us on the zoom visit yesterday, we live each day as it comes.
Rest in peace, Colin
David Mckay
Our thoughts, condolences and prayers are with Colin's entire family. We are so grateful that we were able to have a good chat with Colin at the 2021 Class of 58 March Zoom meeting. I also was a Lynn Valley boy. Colin was a class mate. He, Grant Spears, my twin brother Jim McKay and I used to play together after school on his home street. Growing up in Lynn Valley was wild and adventerous and brings back many fond memories. I attended UBC at the same time he did, but I graduated with BA , followed by a degree in theology. May he reat in Peace. David John McKay, Victoria, B.C.