William OTWAY Obituary
OTWAY, William (Bill) John 1935 - 2010 Bill succumbed to a long battle with cancer on October 17, 2010. He is survived by his loving wife Carol of 56 years, his children Alan (Pat) Otway, Airdrie, AB, Daniel (Hilary) Otway, Maple Ridge, and Karen (Gary) Williams, Kamloops, his brothers John (Frances) Otway, Penticton, and Bob (Judy) Otway, Penticton, his 9 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. Bill was predeceased by his 3 brothers Clifford (Helen) Otway, Albert (Dolores) Otway and Ernest (Georgia) Otway, his father John Edward Otway, and his mother Anne Marie Otway. Bill was born June 15, 1935 in Fort William, Ontario. He moved to Port Coquitlam in 1948, and Merritt in 2005. His love of fishing and hunting at an early age directed his career into the field of conservation. After some years with the CPR and CNR, he served as Executive Director of the BC Wildlife Federation for 9 years, and was the Sports fishing Advisor/Ombudsman for Department of Fisheries for some 12 years. After retiring, he continued serving on several committees to help preserve fishing for sportsmen and women for the future. Bill was an Outdoor Writer and Author of some renown, and his often thought provoking articles were always popular in Outdoor magazines. He never wavered against his convictions for the sake of popularity either from fellow sportsmen or government. Bill had the honour of receiving several awards throughout his life from Ducks Unlimited, BC Wildlife Federation, several Conservation Organizations and Rod and Gun Clubs. He was the recipient of the Winchester Outdoorsman of the Year Award in 1982, and the Canada Recreational Fisheries Award in 2003. Special thanks go to Dr. Ross, and the wonderful staff of Gillis House Palliative Care Unit in Merritt. No service by request, but a Celebration of Life will be held at the Executive Inn in Coquitlam from 1:00 - 4:00 on November 14, 2010 for his many friends. In lieu of flowers, donations to the BC Wildlife Federation, No. 101 - 3060 Norland Ave., Burnaby, BC, V5B 3A6, would be most appreciated.
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10 Entries
Bill hiking in the Purcell Mountains
Bill Bennett
October 29, 2010
I will miss you at the Fed annual meetings, Bill. You never gave up, never stopped working for fish and wildlife, never stayed silent when something important needed to be said out loud. I am honoured to have known you Bill Otway.
Bill Bennett
MLA, Kootenay East
Yunbo Xie
October 28, 2010
What a wonderful man! and I had the fortune of knowing him personally. Bill struck me not only as an advocate for sports fishing and hunting rights but also a man with a very broad vision that embraced, tolerated and sometimes put up with innovative ideas, technologies and sciences in fisheries management. He extended a warm welcome to me when I started my job w/ PSC 15 years ago as a snobby physicist who knew nothing and had no interest about fish or biology in general (still knows very little). He later (around 2005 and 2006) introduced me and personally invited me to BCWF to present to its members some hi-tech sonar applications to monitoring and enumerating salmon passages. We met again at AFS annual meeting in Anchorage, Alaska in 2007. Bill went out his way gathering a gang of his colleagues to attend my presentation. Later that day, we went out for a dinner and had a wonderful time and laugh w/ Bill’s humor and jokes: Bill had overcame his serious illness at that time and was full of optimism. I am very saddened with his passing: I lost a wonderful friend who mentored me to see and understand those Canadians who co-exist with the land and the river by responsible hunting and fishing. Bill’s devotion to the protection of salmon and wildlife made a difference in keeping a harmonic co-existence between people and our environment in BC. His life has touched many individuals like me. I’ll always have a fond memory of him as a friend.
Yunbo Xie, Hydroacoustics Scientist
Pacific Salmon Commission
Yunbo Xie
October 27, 2010
What a wonderful man! and I had the fortune of knowing him personally. Bill struck me not only as an advocate for sports fishing and hunting rights but also a man with a very broad vision that embraced, tolerated and sometimes put up with innovative ideas, technologies and sciences in fisheries management. He extended a warm welcome to me when I started my job w/ PSC 15 years ago as a snobby physicist who knew nothing and had no interest about fish or biology in general (still knows very little). He later (around 2005 and 2006) introduced me and personally invited me to BCWF to present to its members some hi-tech sonar applications to monitoring and enumerating salmon passages. We met again at AFS annual meeting in Anchorage, Alaska in 2007. Bill went out his way gathering a gang of his colleagues to attend my presentation. Later that day, we went out for a dinner and had a wonderful time and laugh w/ Bill’s humor and jokes: Bill had overcame his serious illness at that time and was full of optimism. I am very saddened with his passing: I lost a wonderful friend who mentored me to see and understand those Canadians who co-exist with the land and the river by responsible hunting and fishing. Bill’s devotion to the protection of salmon and wildlife made a difference in keeping a harmonic co-existence between people and our environment in BC. His life has touched many individuals like me. I’ll always have a fond memory of him as a friend.
Yunbo Xie, Hydroacoustics Scientist
Pacific Salmon Commission
Jim Gable
October 25, 2010
My condolences to Bill's extended family for your loss. Bill's voice as a conservationist and a conscience regarding government poilcy issues will be greatly missed.
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October 23, 2010
Carol,
Our thoughts are with you and your family.
Ruth & Al
Kirsten McDougall
October 23, 2010
Bill will be missed. It has been a long and special friendship between a Naturalist and a Hunter. Most important we were both environmentalists who shared the earth and its beauty.
Hella Prante
October 23, 2010
Our sincere condolences for your loss. I know Bill will be sadly missed.
Hella Prante and family
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