David Sanborn Scott

SCOTT, David Sanborn
1935 - 2026

The family of David Sanborn Scott is heartbroken to announce that he sailed over the horizon from his home in Victoria, BC on Sunday, February 22 in his 91st year. David's wife, Marianne, his four children, five grandchildren, and one-year-old great-granddaughter were at his side surrounding him with love, admiration and good stories as they bid him farewell, fair winds and following seas.
One of David's favourite phrases was, "It's perfectly fine!" and this usually referred to some situation or mishap that actually wouldn't be perfectly fine to most people. He was an optimist who delighted in life.
David was born in Quebec City to Gilbert and Alberta Scott, and he spent childhood summers horseback riding, hiking and sailing at his aunt Bebee's cottage, Happy Hollow, in Kamouraska. These Quebec connections fostered a deep affection for "la belle province."
David grew up in Belleville, Ontario where he attended Albert College, excelled in track and swimming, captained the football team and played tenor saxophone. David earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering at Queen's University and was an active member of his Science '59 class. He received a Ph.D. in Aeronautical Sciences and Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University and subsequently joined the University of Toronto's Department of Mechanical Engineering, teaching there for 23 years. David then moved to the University of Victoria to become the founding director of the Institute for Integrated Energy Systems (IESVic).
David was a globally renowned researcher and pioneering visionary of the hydrogen economy - receiving multiple awards, leadership positions and honorary doctorates. His seminal book, "Smelling Land, the Hydrogen Defense Against Climate Catastrophe," has become an important reference in the field. After leading IESVic for 10 years, he left a legacy of scholarship in sustainable energy. At both UofT and UVic, David inspired and cared deeply for generations of students, many of whom developed careers in alternative energy. Some also followed his passion for sailing.
David served as sailing school director and commodore at Ontario's Oakville Yacht Squadron and as commodore at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. His interest in sailing began as he pushed model sailboats around the "big puddle" in Kamouraska, and when his father designed a 16-ft wooden sailboat (the "Wee David"), he graduated to learning the halyards, sheets, winds and currents. David later taught his young family to sail and navigate. During a sabbatical year they lived aboard a 30-foot sailboat in Lymington, England and sailed the English Channel. Later, David and Marianne were fortunate to sail 30,000nm in the waters of BC, Alaska, French Polynesia, the Baltic and the Atlantic. Their longest voyage took them from Victoria to Bora Bora with a return via Hawaii, for which they received the RVYC award for Blue Water Cruising Achievement. David was also an avid Mini-12 sailor and he was happiest on those Saturdays when his yellow Mini-12, "Canary," crossed the finish line with a bullet.
David had a love of life that was infectious and a curiosity that defined his time on earth, even as he lived with health issues during his final years. He cared deeply for each of his friends and relished the shared discussions and adventures. For all his designations-professor, chairman, commodore, captain - we know that the titles David wore most proudly were Pop Scott and PopTop. He was a magical father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend.
David is survived by his wife, Marianne; his first wife and mother of his children, Sylvia Scott; his children, Lee (Greg), Sue, Doug (Taryn), and Peter (Alicia); his grandsons Dylan (Holly), Devin (Jess), Jason (Manjulika), Dashel and Eason; his great-granddaughter Eloise; and by his nieces and nephews, Beverly, Bryan, Laurie, Heather, and David Arthur. David was predeceased by two of his children, Paul and Elspeth, when they were young. He was also predeceased by brother Malcolm Scott.
A celebration of David's life will be held on Sunday, April 12, 2-4pm, at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, 3475 Ripon Road. In Toronto, David's life will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 15, 2-4pm, at the University of Toronto's Faculty Club, 41 Willcocks Street.
Those wishing to honour David's memory are invited to donate to the charity of their choice.