ARCHIE GERALD KAY

Lived his way. Loved his people. Left a legacy of strength and courage - and a few good stories. It is with heavy hearts (and a fair bit of disbelief that he didn't outlast us all) that we share the passing of our beloved father, Archie Kay, at the impressive age of 94. He left peacefully, with his children, Robert (Anh) and Linda (David) by his side, just as he would have wanted, quietly in charge to the very end. Dad was born in Bangalore, India, in 1932 to Dorothy and Robert Kay. Alongside his sister, Christine, he spent his early years in a plantation-style home that clearly set the tone for a lifetime of adventure. They had a lovely little Mongoose called "Ricky-Ticky-Tavi" who used to keep the cobras at bay in the backyard. They also had two little family dogs, Scruffy and a Penny - the Dachshund, who was quite cheeky. Dad would throw her into the pool, to which she would respond by rolling in the dirt and getting under his bedsheets! Needless to say, his mother wasn't very happy! At the tender age of five, he was shipped off to boarding school; character-building, as they say, following which he carried on all the way through to earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Glasgow. Not one to linger, he promptly said farewell to his parents (then in Croydon), boarded a ship with his friend, George, in 1955, and headed for the Americas. Canada, at the time, was the land of opportunity, and Dad wasted no time proving it. He began his career at A.V. Roe Canada and went on to work on the legendary Avro Arrow (which, in his opinion, was "mysteriously" cancelled far too soon). He quickly found his people, joining fellow expats on the rugby field with the Toronto Scottish Rugby League. But winter? That simply wouldn't do. So, in true form, the wee gaggle of Scotsmen decided to fix the problem by helping start a ski club in Collingwood, established and named Craigleith Ski Club. And yes, he could ski … exceptionally well, and he made sure everyone knew it! In 1957, Dad joined the Air Force, where he learned to fly (including Harvards, T33s, F86s, and Beechcrafts) and formed lifelong friendships while doing so. Somewhere along the way, he met Isobel and, with a little strategic assistance from her secretary, managed to convince her to go out on a date with him. The rest, as they say, is history. They married in 1960 and began their life together in Willowdale, where Dad was working with IBM. Robert arrived in 1962, Linda in 1965, and after a brief stint in Montreal (cut short by the FLQ crisis - Dad preferred his adventures a bit less political), the family settled in Port Credit in 1970, alongside many familiar faces from Montreal's West Island. Dad's love of sailing began in India with his own father, where they sailed "Snipes" on Lake Hesragatta. After arriving in Canada, he carried through to Lake Ontario, where he spent countless happy years on the water after buying his first sailboat in 1971, occasionally venturing further afield to the British Virgin Islands and other international destinations, just to keep things interesting. He was, quite simply, loved by everyone. His friendships ran deep, particularly with two cherished groups: his Air Force comrades and his rugby mates, both of whom remained close throughout his life. We sadly lost Mum, Isobel, in 2006. While deeply affected, Dad showed his resilience in his own way, spending more time with his grandchildren, Ewan, Catherine, James, Hannah, and Griffin, and embracing family life with renewed energy. There were many cherished weekends at the cottage, trips to Mexico, visits to London, and countless moments together. Archie was one of a kind: adventurous, sharp, energetic, endlessly funny, extremely intelligent and impossible to replicate. Truly, there will never be another like him. Godspeed, Dad. You've earned the final word. Ad Astra!