Colin Brown

Brown, Colin Ralph
"In his 90th year," as he was wont to say, Colin passed away peacefully at
The Ottawa Hospital, with family, on Sunday, October 2, 2016. He will be
greatly missed by his much loved grandchildren Evan, Graham and Laura,
daughter-in-law Karen and the Gardiner clan, daughter Anne (Bob Beaty,
Georgina and Lawson), the Hogles and Rivards, the UK side of the family,
friends from St. Matthias, naval associations and the Friday Lunch Club, and
anyone who's enjoyed the wonders of Ashby Lake. Dad was predeceased by
Helen, his beloved wife of 53 years, and by his son David. The youngest of
three brothers, Colin staked out a different path from his siblings from the
age of 15 when he joined the RN as a Royal Navy Artificer, beginning a
lifelong love affair with engineering, ships, travel and the sea. Colin met
Helen during a 1949 posting to Bermuda; they married in 1953 in England,
once Colin, frustrated in securing a return posting, had finally persuaded
Helen to move to the UK. After transferring to the RCN, Colin moved with
his family to Halifax. Following a 35-year naval career, Colin worked as a
marine engineer for Transport Canada, Marine and Ferries Branch. After
retirement, Colin, with Helen, indulged a mutual love of travel and the sea,
many times enjoying gardeners' cruises that married their respective
passions for ships and gardening. Colin's soul will forever live at Ashby
Lake, where, 40 years ago, he and Helen bought a rustic cottage; no summer
residence this, it was an engineer's dream, replete with plumbing and
structural challenges requiring endless hours of contemplative puttering, to
the background strains of loon cries and jumping fish. The cottage was
Colin's pride and joy; no place else could more perfectly marry Colin's love
of family and friends, sense of fun and mischief, and marvel at the natural
world. Friends may call at the Westboro Chapel of Tubman Funeral Homes,
403 Richmond Road, Ottawa, this Friday, October 7, from 2 - 5 pm. Funeral
Service will be held at All Saints Anglican Church, Westboro, 347
Richmond Rd, Ottawa on Saturday, October 8, at 11 am. In memory of
Colin, donations to the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra or Boy Scouts of
Canada would be gratefully received.