John Gordon German

On April 23rd, life on our world came to a peaceful end for Gordon German. A blessed release from an extended period of debilitating ill health. He was in his 95th year.

"Thou know'st 'tis common; all that lives must die, passing through nature to eternity." Shakespeare

It is said he has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much. If this is true, then Gordon German's life was a resounding success. His was a life of integrity, compassion, generosity of spirit, and an endless quest for knowledge. He was an inspiration to all who were blessed to have him in their lives.

Gordon German was born in Montreal, 1922, graduated from Town of Mount Royal High School, spent a year in engineering at McGill University before heading off to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he earned his undergraduate degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. During the remaining three years of World War II, Mr.German served with the Royal Canadian Navy as a lieutenant. Responsibilities included a key supervisory role of judiciously balancing Canadian warship technological upgrades with removal of dated equipment in order to ensure that seaworthiness not be compromised.

Following his war service Mr.German married Helen "Tommye" Sawyer whom he had met while at MIT. They moved to Michigan where he earned a Master's Degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the University of Michigan, after which he proceeded to gain additional construction experience with a Canadian shipyard before joining the family firm of naval architects. In 1953 Mr.German was admitted to the partnership, and following a restructuring of the companyin 1979, became president of German & Milne.

During those fascinating years with the firm, Mr.German was heavily involved leading design and planning of many types of floating equipment including a few deep-water drilling platforms, several ferries operating the Mainland to Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland services, shallow draft tugs for the MacKenzie River, city fireboats for Vancouver, Toronto, icebreaking tugs for harbour and coastal service, bulk carriers for the Great Lakes, a deepsea submersible research vessel, and widely known vessels such as the train and truck ferry Princess of Vancouver (circa 1951) which introduced the world's first known working "bow steering system", or "bow thrusters" as they are known today, and so forth. In 1950 Mr.German had his first brush with icebreaker design during the construction program for the D'Iberville. and later became intimately involved with leading the design project work of some 17+ icebreakers including the John A. MacDonald (circa 1950), John Cabot (1965 - the first ice-breaking under-water cable repair ship), the Louis S. St-Laurent (1969), Pierre Radisson (1978), Amundsen (1979), DesGroseilliers (1982), Kalvik and Terry Fox (1983), the icebreaking ferry Abegweit (1983), and the Sir Wilfred Laurier (1986) to name a few. A design project lead by J. Gordon German for a 110,000 horsepower polar class 8 super-icebreaker with diesel/gas turbine electric propulsion drive was completed by German & Milne in 1983. "Polar 8", the project name for the propsed ship, was designed to deal with the worst arctic ice conditions of the time. However in 1984, the National Energy Board's decision to cancel the Arctic Pilot Project (APP) energy project played a major role in the government's final decision to ultimately cancel construction of Polar 8. Before the end of the Cold War Mr. German had the honour of be included in a contingent for scientific exchange between Canada and the Soviet Union.

Much historical information about the firm may be found at the Marine Museum Of The Great Lakes site:

www.marmuseum.ca where a search for "German & Milne" will yield many results. The Alexander Henry

ship on the home page visual is one of Mr. German's designs.

Among many professional affiliations, Mr.German was a member of The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME), The Royal Institution Of Naval Architects (RINA), Honorary Scientific and Research Society of Sigma XI, Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec. Also involved with community affairs with the Montreal Rotary Club, the Montreal GRUNT Club, and the Engineers Club of Montreal.

While Gordon German's business was based in Montreal and involved a great deal of international travel, he still managed to fit in his many favorite sports and pastimes, family gatherings and vacations. He was an entertaining story-teller and also delighted in engaging in vigorous conversation and good humoured - debate about anything and everything. His memory, knowledge base and sense of humour were remarkable to the very last day of his life. His grandchildren will always remember how deeply interested he was in everything they did and how much fun they had playing a bit of tennis or playing board games with Grandpa who was always ready with affectionate banter and a hearty baritone laugh.

For all those who were lucky enough to have been part of his life, he will remain an extraordinary, and in many ways, legendary man whose legacy is not only in the ships he designed and the business he grew, but in the influence he's had on the lives of his children: David, Robyn, Ann, Tim (Debbie) and Mark, and his grandchildren: Erin, Degen, Emily, Matthew, Michael, Kimberly, Kelly, and 10 great-grandchildren. Gordon and Tommye

both endeavored to make quality lives and memories for their family.

We will cherish the memories and be forever touched by his wisdom, wit and example of perserverance, compassion and brilliance.

Gordon was predeceased by his by his wife of 58 years, "Tommye", to whom he was devoted and provided years of care as her health steadily declined; his brother William, and his parents, Dela (Adele Noble) and Horace German; also tragically, by his grandson, Robert Gordon German, who was killed in the line of duty as an officer of the law.

Profound thanks to staff and volunteers of the Saanich Peninsula and Royal Jubilee Hospitals for their most kind and professional care of Mr. German throughout his time with them.

"Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come." Tagore (1846-1941)

Arrangements under the direction of First Memorial Funeral Services, Victoria, BC.