Ian Stuart Mahon
19 February 1936 – 13 June 2012
Ian is remembered as a person of great enthusiasm and many passions, especially cycling.
He was born in St. John New Brunswick. His parents Elizabeth and George Mahon met while they were students at Dalhousie University. Ian benefitted from a childhood that grounded him in self discipline and a love of learning.
Ian had an early affinity for bicycles and tools. His mechanical abilities came in handy during student days at the University of British Columbia when he worked in the West Coast fishing industry. He began bicycle racing at fifteen. At nineteen he was racing professionally in France and Italy. During his early twenties he trained intensively for a couple of years in Italy. Language and cooking among his passions, he learned the Italian language and cuisine while living there.
Dedicated to learning, he was a natural teacher. Cognisant of life’s challenges, he encouraged and taught young people throughout to obtain a diverse set of skills, especially bicycle mechanics.
Ian travelled widely, participating in hundreds of bike races over his lifetime. Because of his enthusiasm he made friends wherever he went. In 1960 he represented Canada on the Olympic cycling team. In 2007 he competed in the BC Senior Games winning the 16 km time trial.
Ian had his own machine shop in California where he worked for thirty years. During this time he also taught mechanics and mathematics in the California penal system.
Jazz being one of Ian’s passions, he reached his zenith as a jazz drummer the night he was in the audience at a Stan Getz concert and Stan Getz invited him to fill in for his ailing drummer
Ian wanted to keep his footprint small. A consummate recycler, he never bought anything new. He loved garage sales where he sometimes discovered things of beauty that might otherwise fall through the cracks.
He will be missed by his daughter Monica Blodgett and his grandson Andrew to whom he was dedicated, by his loving partner Sandi Johnson and friends.
Thanks to the staff at Lady Minto Hospital and Bessie Dane Hospice for their kindness.