At the end of Len’s bar sits an empty chair
Gone is the man that always sat there
Twenty-eight years service on Toronto’s Force
30 more at AB’s staying the course
He had advice for us all that he gave on request
With his book of Roberts Rules so he could be at his best
He took pride that his advice was usually correct
He did his best to keep everyone he knew in check.
If you wanted your boat delivered to an event
He was quick to volunteer he just got up and went
Texas holdem or dealer’s choice he didn’t care
As long as he had a chip and a chair
“WHO KNOWS” what made him care so much?
He even offered his home to keep everyone in touch
“WHO KNEW” he would fight so long and so brave?
He had courage beyond where most people cave
Sail on with strong winds and seas so fast
Give our love to our fellow sailors that have gone in the past
Have a drink on us and say hi to them all
Someday we will join you but not till last call
— Roger Van Vlack

We celebrated his life on his Birthday. He would have been a pair of sixes but instead got a Full House.... He was a contributor....always willing and anxious to help. We will miss him greatly.

Ian, you will be missed. You had an opinion on everything and one of the few people who could call me out at poker. You were also one of the first people I had met at the club when I was new and had an encyclopedic knowledge about racing rules. Rest in peace

At the end of Len’s bar sits an empty chair
Gone is the man that always sat there
Twenty-eight years service on Toronto’s Force
30 more at Aby’s staying the course
He had advice for us all that he gave on request
With his book of Roberts Rules so he could be at his best
He took pride that his advice was usually correct
He did his best to keep everyone he knew in check.
If you wanted your boat delivered to an event
He was quick to volunteer he just got up and went
Texas holdem or dealer’s choice he didn’t care
As long as he had a chip and a chair
“WHO KNOWS” what made him care so much?
He even offered his home to keep everyone in touch
“WHO KNEW” he would fight so long and so brave?
He had courage beyond where most people cave
Sail on with strong winds and seas so fast
Give our love to our fellow sailors that have gone in the past
Have a drink on us and say hi to them all
Someday we will join you but not till last call
This was written for Ian by Roger Van Vlack

Our sincerest condolences to Ian's family. And our apologies that we were unable to join with you on Monday to celebrate Ian's life.
John and Val French.

Ian Gow, a dedicated Ashbridges Bay Yacht Cub Member who will be sorely missed! Rest in Peace! Celia & Howard

I will remember Ian for his generosity, kindness, and of course all his knowledge and many stories about sailing and racing. He will be dearly missed.

Home Is the Sailor
Home is the sailor, home from sea:
Her far-borne canvas furled
The ship pours shining on the quay
The plunder of the world.
Home is the hunter from the hill:
Fast in the boundless snare
All flesh lies taken at his will
And every fowl of air.
'Tis evening on the moorland free,
The starlit wave is still:
Home is the sailor from the sea,
The hunter from the hill.

— A.E. Housman

Already been missing Ian sitting at the bar. If he was the RO on Sarah, I would volunteer, unless I was racing. Stories, knowledge, advice - Ian would keep our attention. RIP

I learned so much from Ian over the years that I'm not sure where to begin. One of my most memorable experiences was several years ago when Ian and I were bringing Sarah back from CORK. We left Brighton in bright sunshine at 8:00 AM. Once we got out of the Bay of Quinte onto the Lake we found ourselves in 8-10 foot following seas which stayed with us all the way to ABYC. We could only stay on a shift for a half hour at a time. I came off of one wave at a bad angle and the knot meter read 24 knots. When we arrived at the Club at 6:00 PM, Ian turned to me and said Good Job Jim. Now you know how to drive the Sarah. Watching Ian slowly declining these pass 6 months on my visits with him has been hard to do. But on the Saturday before he passed away he put out his hand to me for a shake good by and I said see you next weekend. Sadly next weekend never came for Ian. You are gone Ian, but you will not be forgotten. May you always have fair winds at your back as you sail into the great beyond.

Ian was truly an amazing person and friend, he actually drove to Key West for Race Week for us 3 years in a row. He looked after us all like he was our father, he handled all the Kitty money and setteled all our tabs at every restaurant and bar we visited, what ever we broke on the boat out on the race course we could just call Ian and it would be there on our arrival back on shore and of course he would have a cooler full of the coldest beer in Key West, he even filled in and sailed with us the first year! Ian had so many good ideas for the club and you could gaurantee that if you had an idea and he liked it, he would talk to evevryone around to drum up support. Lots of good things and improvements happened at ABYC thanks to Ian who was always able to get a collection of funds donated by members to complete something as simple as New Bar Stools, a Fire Place etc. It has been hard for the past 7 Months to walk into the Bar and not see Ian sitting there to shoot the shit with him over a beer or 2! He was a great human being and I will truly miss him:(

Ian's willingness to share his knowledge and his experience with everyone he met made him a truly inspirational figure in all his dealings.

Ian was one of the first friends that I made at ABYC who was eager to share his knowledge of sailing to a newbie racer. He was never short of Rambo stories nor kindness. If you ever needed help, he was there.