Hal’s sudden passing on July 23, 2021 at the age of 88 from a rare brain infection has shocked his friends and family. Hal will be greatly missed by his wife, Garnet and his 5 children Drew (Laurie), of Sidney, Heather-Anne (Scott) in Toronto, Caitlyn (Caius) in Victoria, Jonathan in Victoria and Christine in Edmonton, his 7 grandchildren, and his two Chiweenies, Monty and Lola, who don’t understand why Hal hasn’t come home.
With an affinity for numbers Hal began his accounting career in Toronto becoming Partner at Deliotte in 1968. He moved to Kitchener, Ontario where he was tasked with opening the local office specializing in small business. After 8 years there he made his way west to Edmonton as Managing Partner till his retirement in 1992. Knowing his retirement was coming Hal looked into his next career and found the boating oasis around Vancouver Island.
The day before he showed no symptoms, it was like any other day for him; he went to work at the Boatyard, driving his 1968 Morgan. Philbrook’s Boatyard in Sidney, BC is a ‘going concern’ he and son Drew acquired in 1987 and have run ever since. Hal was the youngest of 2 boys born to Dunning and Viola Irwin in Toronto. Hal was a natural athlete, starting horseback riding at 6, learning to ski with his young family, playing tennis into his 70’s and golf into his 80’s, playing better than an occasional player deserved.
He had a love for craftsmanship, especially in cars and boats. His first wooden boat was an outboard runabout on Kahshe Lake in 1962, eventually followed by a beloved Gravette on Lake Joseph. It was craftsmanship that drew him to musical instruments, art, Morgans and to Philbrook’s. He loved everything about boats and owned many over the last 30 years. Hal was happiest with family around him exploring the waters around the Gulf Islands on a summer’s day.
Hal was a renaissance man with a sharp mind, he was involved in politics, the arts, sports and was concerned about the legacy his generation was leaving behind. He had a way with words and no one was better with a spreadsheet. Hal will be truly missed, but his legacy lives on.
In lieu of flowers donations to Beacon Community Services can be made online at www.beaconcs.ca
A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday August 12, 2021, 2:00 pm at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC, please RSVP for the celebration at 1-250-656-1157 (Philbrook’s Boatyard).
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
30 Responses
It’s been many years since we’ve been to Victoria, Garnet, but we remember fondly our last visit with you and Hal in your beautiful yard. Our sincere sympathies to you and your family. May your many wonderful memories of Hal help to ease your sorrow.
Linda and Harry Bridges
My condolences to Garnet and all his great family .Hal was a fantastic loving person always ready to help if needed.
He was a mentor and I was a lucky person to have had the chance to work for and with him for many years.
He will be greatly missed by all his loving family and by everyone who knew him.
Rest In Peace Hal you will never be forgotten .
Dear Irwin family,
I am so very sorry to hear about Hal. He was such a caring man and always looked out for me and my family. I will miss him greatly. Thinking about you Garnet and sending big hugs to you all. My prayers and thoughts are with you during this very sad time.
Karen Ravenhill
It is with heartfelt sadness that I read Hal’s obit in Saturday’s Times Colonist. My name is Kellie and I am the wife of the late Russ Paterson (Accutemp/Johnson Controls). Russ and I were both fortunate enough to have met Hal for the first time in 2007 when we purchased your “Caitlyn Jane” (CJ). Although we didn’t spend a lot of time with Hal (more so Russ than me), he was good enough to show us the “in’s and out’s” of the CJ and Russ would always deal with Drew and his staff on any work needing attention. I became known as the “Brightwork Queen” after Jimmy taught me how to maintain the lovely brightwork on the CJ. Hal was such a kind gentleman and we would often see him at the Vancouver and Victoria boat shows. Russ and Hal often talked of cruising together to Victoria, Hal in the Island Raven and us in the CJ. Regrettably, it never came to be.
My deepest condolences to you all for your loss. “Mourn not too long that he is gone, but rejoice forever that he was……”
Sending condolences from the Fowles Family.
Very sad to read of Hal’s sudden passing. I had the pleasure of meeting Hal in the early 2000s. An extremely fine man, very interesting in many ways, very kind. He became a friend and neighbor in North Saanich where we would meet walking our dogs and enjoying semi-retired life. We will miss seeing him greatly. Our very deepest sympathies to Garnet, to Drew and family and to the two family puppies.
To the family and all of us who knew him he will be missed. He was indeed a man of quality and kindness with an infectious smile.
We lose a friend who has had a profound impact on our lives. His focus on everything he did was a reminder of “how to” whether it was building or sailing boats or an managing accounting practice.
Hal is a person that we will never forget.
Our deepest condolences to Garnet and the Irwin family.
Jackie, Len, Linda and family, Trevor
We were so sorry to hear of Hal’s illness and death. We have many fond memories of times together. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Our thoughts and sympathies are with you Garnet and family. It was good of you to call Garnet after Hal’s sudden and unexpected illness.
Take care.