KENNETH WILLIAM MACAW

Condolences & Memories (3 entries)

• Dear Sidney and family, I am sorry to read of your Dad's passing. I love the opening lines of his obituary: "I died. The end." A pragmatic man, eh? I hope all your memories of times with your Dad carry you through this difficult time. Janet - Posted by: Janet (Ramsay) Goddard (Friend, Victoria Crescent neighbour) on: Jul 05, 2016

• We met the Macaw family when we both moved to cottages on a lovely bay, just south of Keewatin. The Bowles into a 50-year-old mouse infested, rickety foundation tear-down; the Macaws into a cottage Ken and Donna were constructing on land which had been in their family since the mists of time. From the cottage foundations (no doubt based on Ken's engineering formulas for railway bridges) to the beautiful views down the lake, plus decks galore, and a fabulous bedroom wing the cottage was, and is, unique and a masterpiece of craftsmanship that stands as one of the lake's premier properties. This is being written looking across the bay at that cottage and if you listen carefully you can hear the tinkling of the rigging on Ken's sailboat, even though it's been gone for years. Ken, Donna and children Sidney and Art, all proved to be perfect neighbours, and soon, wonderful friends. Ken was always the go-to guy with any problem at the cottage, he had an encyclopedic knowledge of how to repair anything that might break, and was able to advise on shoring up crumbling cement pads under rotting foundation blocks without breaking into fits of laughter at the disaster that faced up. One time when our family had made an imprudent investment in a long low apartment block --- the centre started to sag significantly some five years after it was built --- Ken and Art were able to pin point the exact problem and recommend a relatively inexpensive fix. Total cost, as it always was for any Ken Macaw advice: zero. When it came to fixes, we couldn't have had a better neighbour. However, in all other things Ken was also a great neighbour. From drinks on his deck, to lunch at the Winter Club, to sailing lessons, he was the best. We learned a great deal from Ken but one lesson has kept our family safe from all sorts of risks for years. When Ken stopped flying I was incredulous. He explained he had set, long before, a frequency standard. I forget exactly what it was, but it was something like if he wasn't flying a minimum of once every two weeks, it was time to stop. Why? Sheldon asked. Lots of private pilots didn't fly that often. Ken's reply: Some of them don't fly because they are dead. He said, if you don't fly (as often as was his standard) you can't keep your skill level where it needs to be. This lesson has paid dividends time and again. Basic Ken Macaw risk management. From skiing, to oversight of stock market investments, to driving in blizzard conditions, Ken's risk management plan of having a pre-determined familiarity level which, when not achieved, means not taking the risk, has served us well. We were lucky, and honoured, to call Ken friend. We shall miss him. - Posted by: Sheldon and Penny Bowles (Friends) on: Jul 02, 2016

• Enjoyed the few times I met your mom and dad. Sorry for your loss, thinking of you at this time. - Posted by: Faye Ostrove (Friend of Sidney) on: Jul 02, 2016