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In Memoriam W Bro. C. Ian P. Tate
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W Bro. C. Ian P. Tate November 14, 1921 - June 23, 2009 TATE, C. Ian P. – Known as “Ian” to most, as “Tof”
to his family, and as “Tater” to his few remaining ex-Naval friends.
He died June 23, 2009 at the age of 87. Born in Toronto to a Scottish
mother and an English father, in 1921, he was proud of both heritages.
After eight years in Public Schools in Toronto, he was sent to Trinity
College School, Port Hope, where he obtained his “Senior Matric” in
1941. After a brief six months at the University of Trinity College,
U. of T., there followed four years of what he called “a notably undistinguished
career” in the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR). He served
first in the naval base just outside the town of Gaspe during the
navigation season of 1942, followed by appointments as Anti-Submarine
Officer in the Bangor class minesweeper HMCS Mulgrave and a new frigate,
HMC Ships Valleyfield, on convoy escort duty. He was one of two officers
to survive the torpedoing of Valleyfield 50 miles south of Cape Race,
Newfoundland the night of May 6/7, 1944. Of her ship’s company of
163, including 14 officers, a total of 125 were lost. Returning to
sea, he served as Anti-Submarine Officer in another new frigate, HMCS
Coaticook, until the war’s end. He remained in the RCN Reserve until
being retired with the rank of Lieut. Commander, in 1952. Having had
a few months at Trinity College before going on Active Service, he
returned there. He had an outstanding career at Trinity before earning
a B.A. with honours in Psychology, class of 4T8. Employed by the Hydro-Electric
Power Commission of Ontario for the next 17 years, he had four distinct
careers: on major hydraulic generation construction projects (Des
Joachims, La Cave, and Sir Adam Beck Niagara Generation Station No.
20; in the Employment Office of Head Office; as one of four Organization
Analysts; and finally as Training and Information Coordinator in the
ground-breaking Data Processing Dept. centred on a Univac II computer.
He was lured from Hydro to create a Personnel function in the engineering
and project management company, Stone & Webster Canada Ltd., Toronto.
After seven happy years there, he was again offered a position he
couldn’t refuse, with Russell M. Tolley & Assocs., primarily administrating
multi-employer employee benefit plans. Another seven years saw him
joining four others to form Employee Benefit Plan Services in a similar
capacity, until deciding to retire in 1987 to their 57-acre property
near Kinmount, ON. In 1950, he married Stella Davidson, she having
first turned him down when he asked her to marry him on their first
date, shortly after the Valleyfield incident, six years earlier. Ian/Tof/Tater
was active in many areas. He was Chairman of the Canadian Audubon
Society. (Subsequently steering its evolution into the Canadian Nature
Federation). But his chief interests were Trinity College and the
University of Toronto. Re the former: he served as Chairman of Convocation
and as a long-time member of the Corporation of the University of
Trinity College, was appointed a lifetime member. At the U. of T.,
he was Chairman of the U. of T. Alumni Association. He served as one
of Trinity’s two representatives on the U. of T. Senate until it was
replaced by today’s Governing Council. He was then appointed Chairman
of one of four of its standing committees. He and his wife moved from
Toronto in 1987, first to their newly built home near Kinmount, ON
then two years later, to Port Hope, ON where both became active in
that lovely town. Stella played a major part in the creation of the
Northumberland Lakeshore Hospice Assn., while Ian was twice given
Community Awards for his part in the restoration of the local Sea
Cadet building and of the Corps itself. Stella pre-deceased him in
1999, after 49 years and four days of marriage that produced two sons,
one daughter and five grandchildren. It was his wish that his ashes
be placed so that they could join those of his beloved Stella’s in
the Atlantic Ocean. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July
18 at T.C.S. at 1 p.m. in the Davies Centre, with reception following
until 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, those wishing may make donations
by cheque to The Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps 116 Skeena Port Hope,
Hospice Northumberland Lakeshore or to Northumberland Hills Hospital
Palliative Care. Condolences received at www.MacCoubrey.com. W Bro. C. Ian P. Tate, passed peacefully to the Grand Lodge above Tuesday June 23rd, 2009. We cherish his memory in our hearts
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Hope Lodge 114, Ontario District of Ontario