Obituaries

Holding hands with his son and daughter, Malcolm and Toni, Douglas Crow passed peacefully on
April 22, 2026. He left this world as he lived in it: surrounded by the deep love of his family. Beside
him were his grandchildren Sophie (Harrison), Meaghan (Titoe), and Hamish (Josipa); his son-in-law
Bob; and his daughter-in-law Carolyn. Douglas now joins those who went before him, including his
parents Philip and Louie, and his siblings Sheila, Denis, and Leslie.
Douglas was perhaps most at home on the water. He introduced countless people to the joys of
sailing, with adventures stretching from the Caribbean and Mediterranean to the Gulf and San Juan
Islands. When not on deck, he found peace in gardening, hiking, and both downhill and cross-
country skiing.
He was a man of extraordinary depth, a "great explorer" of the human experience. Whether the topic
was philosophical, scientific, or practical, he came alive in conversation, possessing a rare ability to
turn his head and his hand to just about anything. He navigated life with a quiet dignity, a restless
creativity, an appreciation for the human condition, and a caring for others that inspired all who knew
him.

~~~

Douglas’s journey began in 1937 in the idyllic village of Kilmacolm, Scotland. Growing up in the
family home of Ulverscroft, he had a challenging youth that was also tapestry of outdoor adventures,
camping, and sailing with friends—passions that would define his character for nine decades.
The duty of mandatory service and a desire for adventure on the sea led him to a two-year stint in
the Royal British Navy, a period that expanded his horizons as he served in Malta, Cyprus, Egypt,
and Norway. Upon returning to civilian life, Douglas channeled his creative intellect into the study of
textile arts and technology at Strathclyde University. This paved the way for his entry into the family
business and, later, the launch of his own venture, McCaw Textiles. Ever the innovator, Douglas
eventually sold his business to become a pioneer in the then-emerging industry of double-glazing
window technology.
Central to Douglas’s life story was his thirty-five-year marriage to Dory Crow (nee Cameron) and
their children, Malcolm and Toni. Together, they built a life defined by shared adventure and a deep
commitment to family. Their journey began in Langbank, Scotland, overlooking the River Clyde and
Dumbarton Rock, before they made the bold leap across the Atlantic to Canada in the early 1970s.
They lived in a little red cabin at the Yashodhara Ashram near Nelson, BC, nestled in the Selkirk
Mountains west of the Rockies, where they studied to become yoga teachers. Eventually, they
settled in Calgary for the family to start the journey toward citizenship.

In those early Canadian years, Douglas’s resourcefulness was on full display. While at the Ashram,
he supplemented the family’s living through tree-planting ventures, where he became legendary for
his capability to build saunas at camp—bringing a touch of healing warmth to the rugged wilderness.
As the family put down roots in Calgary, Douglas had the opportunity to manage several leather
goods establishments before finding his niche in executive personnel recruitment. He spent over a
decade as a partner in his own firm, Gerald Douglas Associates, finding great fulfillment in helping
people.
In 1984, Douglas and Dory moved to Canada’s west coast to be closer to the ocean. He created
Shipshape Enterprises, and under this banner, he worked as a carpenter and renovator in nautical
and home projects. Around this time, he became more serious about his art. He was a gifted painter,
using his "explorer’s eye" to capture the world around him with the same precision and creativity he
brought to every other facet of his life.
While Douglas and Dory eventually chose separate paths, they remained close friends throughout
their lives, united by their shared history and their mutual dedication to their children and their
extended families in both Canada and the UK.
In his later years, Douglas was fortunate to enjoy a second close relationship with Gloria Giglio for
many years. More recently, they enjoyed weekly walks, talks, and being in nature that Douglas so
cherished.
Douglas was a pillar of support for many years in the community, including men’s groups, peer
counselling, workshops with first nations, work with CNIB, head injury rehabilitation and art therapy.
His tireless dedication to improving the lives of those with vision loss was recognized with a British
Columbia Community Achievement Award:
“Douglas Crow touches the lives of many on Vancouver Island with low or no vision. With his
warm, cordial approach and genuine concern for people, he is an outstanding volunteer with
the CNIB. A coordinator for the Peer Support Program, he recruits, trains and mentors new
peer counselors. As a Peer Mentor himself, he provides one on one support to people who
have recently experienced vision loss. As a community advocate and ambassador for the
CNIB, Douglas also reaches out to the greater community to encourage understanding of the
challenges faced by those with vision loss.”
He didn’t just observe the world; he worked to ensure others could navigate it with dignity.

~~~

Douglas Crow leaves behind a legacy of curiosity, kindness, and a life lived with "shipshape"
precision and heart. He will be deeply missed by his family and all those who had the privilege of
sharing a conversation, a painting, or a sunset on the water with him.
Before he passed, Malcolm read one of Dad’s poems, “Misty Morning.” We imagine him setting sail,
a captain of his next journey, one with the ocean, the sun and the wind. The poem is included below.

~~~

The family would like to thank Victoria General Hospital (VGH) staff for their outstanding
compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, we invite you to consider donating to VGH or to the charity of
your choice.
A private life celebration for Douglas will be arranged for July.

~~~

A Misty Morning
By Douglas M Crow ~ 1984
A multitude of masts mingling with the misty morn’,
silent Sentinels of stillness.
Slowly, so slowly starts this soundless day
that even the birds delay their songs;
and my intentions of another busy day of doing are wondrously shattered in the silence.
To be at peace, alone and silent.
To be released from tension, striving and hurry.
What a release that is – from doing into being.
Now the mist is thinning, and gentle air moves the many arrows of the masts to herald change.
A faint glow of promised sun struggles through the thinning vapors.
Soon sounds sift sensually through the stillness
A gull, a crow, a lapping by the bow.
How uplifting are such sounds when, one by one,
they come and beckon my awareness,
touching the inner depths of my soul
and awakening a new spirit of aliveness.