James Arthur "Jim" Egan

MR. JAMES "JIM" ARTHUR EGAN Inexhaustible entrepreneur, outdoor enthusiast, loving husband and father, passed away peacefully at Princess Margaret Hospital July 27, 2011 surrounded by his loving family. Mr. Egan was born in Toronto and later moved to Port Hope as a teen, where he was described by friends as "Port Hope's answer to James Dean." Jim was a fun-loving and quick-witted man. After graduating high school branded "Most Likely to Succeed" by his peers, he was accepted at Ottawa University where he studied business. He finished college and embarked on a career in sales. Ever the consummate entrepreneur, Jim happily and tirelessly worked on a dozen different business ideas at any given time. He built a house boat rental company with his brother Ron on Rice Lake. Soon after, with his brother Gerry, he catapulted a spark of an idea - a "blackboard with doors on it" - which launched not only a number of products that became industry standards, but also an enterprise that would soon grow into Egan Visual - a company he nurtured with intelligent creativity and a paternal hand. Always ahead of his time, Jim experimented with formulas and products literally decades before his competition caught on. Engaging his employees as second family, he cherished his workforce, many of whom worked with him for over three decades. Jim's insatiable appetite for life, his instinct to take the road (or ski trail) less travelled, his energetic love for his work, scuba, boating and Malpeque oysters will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by his family and friends. Jim is survived by his wife Gayle, her children Carla, Renata and Dean, his step-granddaughter Harlowe, niece Kyla, as well as a son, Patrick and three grandchildren: Sierra, Adelaide and Rohan. His brothers and their spouses, Gerry and Carol and Ron and Sondra, played a lifelong role not only as family but also as valued business associates. Jim's relentless global travels and business dealings introduced him to lifelong friends who will dearly miss his hospitable nature, ferocious wit, and small town charm. Those who wish to commemorate Jim through memorial donations are asked to consider a gift in Jim Egan's name with cheques payable to the "Princess Margaret Foundation: The Palliative Care Unit", 700 University Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9. A memorial dedicated in Jim's name and honour will be erected in a park on Queens Quay. A ceremony will take place when this memorial is erected in the coming weeks. Details will follow shortly concerning that event. Thank you again for your stories, memories and love and also for never letting us catch up to you on those powdery trails. We will miss you Jim...