Paul D. PHELAN

Dear Rosemary and Gail,
I am sorry this is so late and I am sorry to hear of the death of your brother. I did want to say that during my year at U of T I visited your parents often. I met Paul David at there home several times and he was always very nice to me. I had no idea he was such a sailing enthusiasts and I suppose he had that in common with your Dad. It is such a shame to see him die so young with all those kids and grand children. Condolences from our de Ste. Croix-Laframboise family.

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

I feel pretty fortunate that Paul was willing to give so much - through his generosity I was able to make tons of great sailing memories with friends and peers on multiple continents. I don't sail much anymore but still do offshore racing..also greatly in part due to Paul’s support of the O’Canada program. Very grateful to the opportunities Paul opened up for a bunch of us. Thank you Paul.

We would like to express our sincere condolences to the Phelan Family our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Condolences to family & friends. I echo the kind and remarkable sentiments expressed. I remember Paul with the sparkle in his eye as the north wester cranked up on Georgian Bay as he rigged up his windsurfer.

My condolences to family and friends. I had the pleasure of knowing Paul during the inaugural days of windsurfing. He was an early enthusiast, embracing and supporting the sport in its formative years. Organizing local events that he also competed in, supporting upcoming kids through to the world stage. He was instrumental in bringing and supporting a number of Canadian and North American Windsurfing Championships in the Collingwood area during the ‘70s and ’80s. I have fond memories of Paul’s windsurfing prowess in the strongest of winds, both in Hawaii at the Pan Am Cup, a forerunner of World Cup Windsurfing, sporting a big smile as he held his own against the world’s best in gale force winds; and at a Canadian Championship in Quebec as the only windsurfer not to get knocked down when a wind squall flattened the entire fleet! Sail on Paul.

If you knew PD your life was better for it. Sail on old friend.

Over the 15 years on CST as a paralympian in the Sonar class Paul was a huge supporter of the paraplegics and of my team. The foundation provided incredible assistance with boats and adaptive equipment purchases that took my team to multiple world championships and to Beijing for the 2008 games. Always supportive, always be remembered.

Paul was a great supporter in the Sailing World but he also lent his philanthropic hand to start the National Ski Academy in Collingwod.
Thanks Paul, you will always be in our hearts.

Paul was such a presence and so supportive of us all in the sailing community. We have all lost a true friend. My condolences to Paul’s family and his many friends. Sail on Paul.

I some very wonderful and funny memories of Paul. We hung out together at windsurfing regattas in our younger days and worked together later on to support Canadian competitive sailors. He had a very unique personality that combined so many wonderful attributes: generosity, humour , empathy, competitiveness and much more. I cherish the times we spent together and will miss you Paul.

Paul had the unique gift of seeing what was to be. He was able to guide his support to others by offering his unique insight. I was fortunate enough to be one of those whom he went out of his way to help. He's a key influence in who I've become. Thank-you Paul.

Thank you Paul for helping bring so many dreams to reality, and all of your generosity and passion for the ocean!
May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face!

Thank you Paul for everything. You are a generous as you were joyful.

My condolences. I hope you are sailing amongst the stars!

I have wonderful memories of Paul when I worked at the National Ski Academy from1986-2001. His generosity and big hearted love of life quite literally lived in the walls of 200 Oak Street. I feel extremely fortunate to have known him during those exciting times.

The first time we met was at the lagoon on Toronto Island in the cut between Snake and Algonquin Islands. PD was stuck in the willows with his Firefly and I helped extricate him and his boat. We were next door neighbours on the Island.

That was the beginning of a friendship that led to PJ, PD and me competing in the 1968 Olympic Trials on the Dragon Mia and finishing in second place.

Paul and I had many other adventures as well. I was sorry to hear of his passing ... an end of an era. Irie old friend.

I had the chance, later in life, to thank him for championing all the fledgling efforts of my teen years. He was a constant source of support, as was his mother. I simply would have had an entirely different life had our paths not crossed so intensely. Our shared Irish heritage, our Catholic and Protestant sensibilities, our mutual love of all things natural and beautiful led to adventures by land and sea. He is forever in my heart. He will be missed.

Memories from the 70’s - Paul and Rundi in their orange van, babies, sails and boards surrounded us all. Off shore breezes, beers, trick boards, riding the rail in tiny bikinis, the Gonzo races and lots of blonde hair - what a life we had at Northwinds Beach in the good old days. Sail on. Miss you Paul. XxRandall

We would like to extend our sincerest condolences to the whole Phelan family in this time of grief, please know our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
May he rest in internal peace.
Keep sailing Paul.

He was a great pal when we were together in the Prep a million years ago. And I remember fondly some wild parties in the basement of his parents’ ski chalet at Osler. And I enjoyed the birthday parties at the old parental home in Forest Hill. The Phelan family was always so welcoming and fun to be around. Never a dull moment. Paul was a gentleman.