My favourite memory of Don is our daring canoe trip down the rapids of the Grand River at Paris Ont. a few years ago. It was my first (and only) time attempting rapids. Our skill level was not the highest, but our spirits were . A grand time on the Grand!

It was peaceful reminiscing with Don, looking out over the lovely gardens from his room at Sunnybrook. We talked about the heady days of luxury ships, his grandfather having captained the Assiniboia on the Great Lakes, which Don also sailed on. Don was always a gentleman, even in those last months, very politely telling us when he got tired. In our last conversation as he got sleepy, he said he was “heading out now” and he laughed when we said we would meet him in the wild blue yonder. He was not at all worried.