Ian Boyack Bruce died peacefully on the morning of March 21, 2016 surrounded by loved ones, following a year-long battle with cancer. Predeceased by his father William Douglas Bruce, mother Pamela (née Robison), wife Barbara (née Brittain) and brother-in-law Donald Brittain. Survived by his daughters Tracy and Tobi (Greg), grandsons Will and Luke, sister-in-law Brigitta Brittain, nephew Christopher Brittain (Susan), grandnephews Patrick and James, niece Jennifer Brittain (Kate), his dear friend Lynn Pyfrom Holowesko, and her loving family.
Born June 7, 1933 in Kingston, Jamaica, Ian moved with his family to The Bahamas in 1945. His father had been asked by Eustace Myers to open the corporate headquarters of “Myers Rum” in Nassau. As a result, Ian spent his teenage years here and made many friends with whom he remained in close contact throughout his life.
Ian lived his life to the fullest. Industrial designer, sailor, ballroom dance teacher, Olympian and boat-builder, his achievements were considerable. As a young man of twenty he found a love of sailing that would become his life's work, although he would never have called it work. This passion saw him represent Canada at two Olympic Games (Naples 1960 and Kiel 1972), and win the Prince of Wales Trophy twice, marking him as the world's fastest International 14 sailor. But it was never about winning; it was about the pure joy that came with being on the water, tiller in hand.
In 1970, following a boat design by Bruce Kirby with sails cut by Hans Fogh, Ian built a small sailing dinghy that would become known as “the Laser” and entered it into The America's Teacup Regatta. The event changed his life forever. Ian soon began building Lasers by the thousands at Performance Sailcraft Inc. in Montreal. The next forty-five years were filled with designing and building boats, including the Finn, Fourteen, Fireball, 470, Laser II, Tasar, Laser Radial, Byte, 29er, and Bruce 22.
In 2009 Ian was made an Officer of the Order of Canada for his contributions to the development of sailing in Canada and internationally.
A celebration of Ian's life will be held on Saturday May 7 at the Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club, 1350 Lakeshore Road, Dorval, Quebec, from 4-7 p.m., and in Nassau, where he had recently made his second home, at a date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Bahamas Sailing Association, c/o P.O. Box N 7776-348, Nassau, Bahamas.
• Partially taken from an obituary published in The Montreal Gazette on Mar. 26, 2016.
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