Herbert Patrick Scow

Our dear brother Herb passed away peacefully on the morning of May 16; he was 69 years old. He will be fondly remembered as someone who was extremely loyal, very caring, a unique sense of humour and perhaps one of his greatest traits, an extremely honest work ethic. Herb was born in Alert Bay to parents Ernie and Harriet Scow (nee Wilson). He spent the first 9 years of his life in Gilford Island, attending day school until grade 3. Herb's siblings included in order Alfred, Ernie Jr, Shirley, Gary and Robert.

In a mix-up when the family moved to Fort Rupert, Herb repeated grade 3 at Robert Scott Elementary, which was fine with Herb as he stated he was way behind the other students. He cited the education at the day school in Gilford was not equal to the schooling in a small town.

The family spent one year at Fort Rupert, before moving to Cape Mudge on Quadra Island, and then a few years later, the family moved to Campbell River where they resided for many years.

Herb was very social and acquired many friends while attending Elm School Elementary, CR Jr High and then Carihi Secondary. Like many his age, Herb spent the summers commercial fishing where he quickly discovered that school was for the birds and from then on, his life would be spent out on the waters. Most of his adult life was spent on the waters as a commercial fisherman, on many different boats with different crew members. Ronnie Assu and the W No.4 being by far his favourite seine boat and skipper. Doug Assu, Albert (Tweedy) Wilson, Ivan (Tarzan) Scow, and Peter Orel certainly stood out amongst Herb's closest friends throughout the decades. Herb even had his own Gillnet boat; he was quite a successful fisherman. In the 1970's into the 1980's cash was king, and Herb always had a pocket full of cash.

A nice accomplishment for Herb was in 1973, when he accompanied a soccer team over to England, being just 19, Herb was the youngest on the team. He was an adept defender who was very savvy, and physical. He made long loping runs from defense dribbling ahead of those trying to catch him from behind. A serious leg injury while out commercial fishing, sidelined his love for soccer and other sports. Herb was always one step ahead in most things in life, he lived hard and fast.

Herb had many girlfriends throughout his life and both my parents felt, he would've been a great father. Especially with the patience he had. He made things fun and enjoyable, and he had an amazing laugh.

Herb had many fond memories with our nieces and nephews. From brother Alfie, Tracey, Holly, and Lyndsay; from Brother Ernie Jr., Corinne and Jodi; from Sister Shirley, William; and Brother Gary Shelby and Sheldon. It was with immense pride that he would recall funny moments and highlights he had with all of them as babies and as young children.

Three of Herb's absolute favourite things, first there was his 1956 Chevy with a 427 out of a 1967 Corvette, giving his car over 485 horses. Sitting in his car idling at a stoplight, the whole car would shake both from the horsepower and from the loud music .Herb was fond of his music and heavy rock and roll. Concerts were something he loved to do with quick weekend trips to Vancouver or Seattle with some of his buddies, were not uncommon. The shows he caught ranged from 3 Dog Night, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Alvie Lee and ten years after, CCR, The Eagles, Genesis, Ike and Tina, and Frank Zappa just to name a few. Herb had an amazing album collection which I often listened to when he wasn't home. Secondly, his other passions were shooting pool. Many a day Herb missed school to hang out in Dunc's pool hall which was beside the Haida Inn, for an entirely different kind of education. Herb had a love and an intellect for pool, playing 8 ball, snooker or 7 up for big time money. As a teen in the 80's I witnessed many a $100.00 game, where the other player would soon want to play for double or nothing. Herb had a gait about him when he walked around the table. I recall once a rich American walked into the bar (possibly already hearing about Herb), brought his Balabushka (for those who do not know, it is a two-piece cue). Herb beat him 3 straight, pocketing $300.00 which I held on to for him. The man shook his hand, offered him his expensive cue and Herb declined and politely said, 'the cue doesn't make the player.'

He taught me how to play pool before I was 10, Herb always told me 'only hit the ball as hard as you need too, and the most important thing is to know where that cue ball ends up, it needs to give you the angle for your next shot and the shot after that, don't be one of these wannabe's that hits the ball so hard, for no reason at all, and they usually have no idea where that cue ball is going to end up!'

Herb also taught me to play many other things like cribbage when I was 7 or 8 years old, and soon we played for a nickel a point, backgammon and chess. Herb had an underrated intellect about him, many of his friends were aware of his IQ and ability to think outside the box, and view things from a perspective they hadn't thought of.

Herb's way of expression came out in the kitchen when he was cooking, which was his third heartfelt passion, he was fearless when it came to creating dishes. He masterfully loped around the kitchen the same way he would a pool table. He once took a chef's training course at North Island College while living in Comox with our sister Shirley. He did quite well at it, but fishing got in the way and he didn't complete it.

Herb's heart and soul was for family. The apartments he lived in around Campbell River, without fail, became a crash pad for many friends and family members over the years. It wasn't just for a night or two, more than not, they would extend their stay for a week or two or longer. When my friends and I were teens, we would often be at Herb's on weekends even when he was away commercial fishing. We are forever grateful to Herb for his trust and giving us a safe place to hang out.

Whether it was providing for the family through fishing for salmon or halibut, crab fishing with our brother Ernie Jr (Edee), or prawns, he always brought home enough for friends and family. Herb's generosity was beyond measure, had he been less than generous with friends and family, he likely would've paid off a mortgage for a house before he was 45-50.

But, in all honesty Herb wouldn't have done it differently, he would do it all over again even if it meant lending money knowing full well, he would not get it back.

I will conclude with Herb's unique ability for continuity, his two biggest influences and heroes were our mother's two brothers, Uncle Pat and Uncle Hi'tla (Albert), they helped mold Herb as an individual.

Herb carried those traits and passed them on to us as his younger generation, with his work ethic, patience, unique sense of humour or dedication and reliability as a family member, this I will always remember about him. He had an ability to forgive, he had compassion, empathy and forgiveness in his heart. In his lifetime, he spent time in various places like Comox, Nanaimo, Kingcome Inlet, ultimately ending in Victoria. I was very comforted in the fact, that while in Victoria, he was true to himself and was an extremely caring individual with other people, that is inherently who Herb was. It was more than one person who told me this, and I will cherish that, hearing such high words of praise from others of our brother. We will miss him dearly, may he rest in sweet peace, go rest high on that mountain.

A very special thank you to the staff at Sunset Lodge, for taking care of Herb, we owe them all a debt of gratitude.

A celebration of life for Herb will be in Campbell River at the Quinsam Hall on July 8, at 1:00 pm

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.firstmemorialsaanich.com for the Scow family.