Thursday, March 28, 2024
March 28, 2024

Ian Mahon

Ian Stuart Mahon

19 February 1936 – 13 June 2012

Ian is remembered as a person of great enthusiasm and many passions, especially cycling.

He was born in St. John New Brunswick. His parents Elizabeth and George Mahon met while they were students at Dalhousie University. Ian benefitted from a childhood that grounded him in self discipline and a love of learning.

Ian had an early affinity for bicycles and tools. His mechanical abilities came in handy during student days at the University of British Columbia when he worked in the West Coast fishing industry. He began bicycle racing at fifteen. At nineteen he was racing professionally in France and Italy. During his early twenties he trained intensively for a couple of years in Italy. Language and cooking among his passions, he learned the Italian language and cuisine while living there.

Dedicated to learning, he was a natural teacher. Cognisant of life’s challenges, he encouraged and taught young people throughout to obtain a diverse set of skills, especially bicycle mechanics.

Ian travelled widely, participating in hundreds of bike races over his lifetime. Because of his enthusiasm he made friends wherever he went. In 1960 he represented Canada on the Olympic cycling team. In 2007 he competed in the BC Senior Games winning the 16 km time trial.

Ian had his own machine shop in California where he worked for thirty years. During this time he also taught mechanics and mathematics in the California penal system.

Jazz being one of Ian’s passions, he reached his zenith as a jazz drummer the night he was in the audience at a Stan Getz concert and Stan Getz invited him to fill in for his ailing drummer

Ian wanted to keep his footprint small. A consummate recycler, he never bought anything new. He loved garage sales where he sometimes discovered things of beauty that might otherwise fall through the cracks.

He will be missed by his daughter Monica Blodgett and his grandson Andrew to whom he was dedicated, by his loving partner Sandi Johnson and friends.

Thanks to the staff at Lady Minto Hospital and Bessie Dane Hospice for their kindness.

More obituaries

GRIFFITHS, Robert John (Bob)

 Bob passed away peacefully in Victoria, BC, on February 17, 2024. Bob is survived by his son Jeffrey Griffiths and Jeffrey’s wife Anne and...

STRIKE, Arthur Kenneth (Ken)

 On Saturday March 16, 2024 our father, grandfather and great grandfather Ken, passed away peacefully at the age of 89, in the care of...

BRITT, Constance “Connie”

 Connie Britt passed away on March 6, 2024, at age 99. She was born into the Crandall family in Kalamazoo, Michigan, joining older sister...

PEAT, David Wood

 David Peat, aged 98, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 7th at Heritage Place on Salt Spring Island with family present. Born in 1925 in...

Weather

Salt Spring Island
overcast clouds
4.2 ° C
5.8 °
2.8 °
98 %
5.1kmh
100 %
Thu
6 °
Fri
6 °
Sat
7 °
Sun
9 °
Mon
10 °