Frederick Ian Sacré

It is with heartfelt sadness that we share the news of Ian’s passing on October 7, 2026 at the age of 94. Ian passed away peacefully at the Comox Valley Aitken Community Hospice, with his loving family by his side.

Ian will be deeply missed by his daughters, Jillian (Jason) and Pamela (Desmond), his grandchildren, Jessica (Nicholas), Jonathan, Clara, Emily and Beckett, and his dear friend, Jillian Blair. Ian was predeceased by his beloved wife, Brenda (née Hamer; 1930-1997), his brothers Keith and Phillip, and his parents Tony and Nancy (née Burdett).

Ian was born in Ashford, England on September 20, 1932 and immigrated to Canada with his family in 1948. Shortly thereafter, at the age of 18, Ian set off for the sea, the start of his distinguished career as a Master Mariner. Ian met his love, Brenda, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where they married in 1960 and made their home. In 1969 Ian left the sea to be home with his young family, living first in Kleinburg, Ontario, and later in Baie Comeau, Quebec, where Ian served as a marine surveyor for Transport Canada. In 1979 the family moved to Manotick, Ontario, where Ian worked first for Fisheries and Oceans Canada and then for the Department of Defence, in charge of the civilian fleet. From their Manotick home, the family enjoyed fond summers sailing their boat, Gallivanter, in the Thousand Islands of the St. Lawrence River. In 1989 Ian and Brenda moved to North Vancouver, BC, where Ian served as Western Canada’s Regional Manager of Fleet Systems for the Canadian Coast Guard until his retirement in 1996. Sadly, Ian lost his beloved Brenda only a few months after his retirement. In 2022, Ian moved to Royston, BC, to his home by the sea.

Ian was blessed with good health and a sharp mind over his 94 years, allowing him to pursue many of his passions during retirement, including travel, camping, hiking, canoeing and sailing. He was joined on many of his adventures by his dear friend, Jillian. As a skilled craftsman, Ian always had a project on the go, which often involved refurbishing treasured items, including his many sailboats. He engaged in many volunteer pursuits, including serving as the Canadian representative for the Arthur Ransome Society, whose Swallows and Amazons books helped inspire his life-long love of the sea.

Ian remained a charming English gentleman until his final day, and will always be admired for his boundless sense of curiosity and the wonder he showed for the world around him.

Ian’s family would like to thank the medical professionals who provided him with compassionate care: his family doctor Dr. Nigel Walton, his urologist Dr. Aaron Clark, and the doctors and nurses at the North Island Hospital and the Aitken Community Hospice.

A celebration of Ian’s life will take place at St. George’s United Church (505 6th Street) in Courtenay, BC on October 29 at 1 pm. A reception will follow at the church hall and then an informal gathering will be held at Ian’s home from 4 pm to 8 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations made to the Comox Valley Hospice Society would be welcomed.