Eric “ACE” Mainwaring, age 76, passed away peacefully in Nanaimo on Saturday, February 24th. A man full of character and humor throughout life, he will be forever loved and remembered.
He was born to Gordon and Enid Mainwaring on Friday, February 13th, 1948 in Dawson Creek, BC, and was raised in Edmonton, Alberta. As a young man Ace went to RCMP basic training in Regina, Saskatchewan. In his first post, Port Hardy, he met his future wife Gunna, when he walked his muddy boots across her freshly mopped floor. They were married on May 20th, 1972 and enjoyed almost 52 years together.
Ace continued his career as an RCMP officer, working in Island communities around BC. He served Port Hardy, Courtenay, Saltspring Island and Haida Gwaii, before settling his family in Nanaimo.
Some of his affiliations included Admiral Lodge #170 on Saltspring Island, The Saltspring Volunteer Fire Department, and the Royal Canadian Legion. He played hockey, baseball, and loved curling. He passed on his love of sports to youth as both a hockey and fastball coach in Courtenay and Nanaimo.
Ace was also an avid hunter who did seasonal trips to Northern BC for moose with his hunting partners. Ace lived a full life and retired early to spend time with his family and grandchildren.
Ace enjoyed his Thursday morning breakfasts, strong handshakes, games of crib for a penny a point, chess, monopoly and cheezies with the grandkids, maple fudge, Kenny Rogers, watching curling, and the morning coffee routine with Gunna. He was a generous man and a great host; never wanting anyone to leave his house hungry.
Ace was also known for a lot of “Ace-isms”:
“Walk backwards so you can see where you’re coming from”
“Five bucks”
“About a four”
“To make a long story short…”
“Give yer head a shake”
“Hello, my name is John Johnson”
“Hey Alice!”
“Don’t go there…”
Ace leaves behind his wife Gunna, daughters Inga (Lyle), Loa (Dan), and his son Gordon (Cindy… his favorite daughter-in-law), along with his grandchildren Hailey, Josh, Nik, Emma, Cashel and Roman.
Respecting Ace’s wishes, there will be no funeral or memorial. As an RCMP member for 35 years, Ace’s family would appreciate it if you would take some time to thank a first responder today. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Ace can be made to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital’s Palliative Care Unit.
Ace’s parting words to those he loved were in line with his life as a cop. “Drive slow and watch the cars”.
Photo Credit: Hjordis Didi Jonsdottir
I only met Ace a few times while we both worked in policing in Vancouver Island and his lovely wife Gunna only once. I was doing some drug work in Nanaimo, bumped into the ‘ACER’ and went over to his house for a drink or two. Gunna provided some jocularity to our conversation and certainly fit in well with ACE. Once you met him you would never forget him! Their children and grandchildren certainly had their hands full with Dad then Grandpa. He was a wonderful gentleman, great guy to know and certainly a good cop. You will be missed, my friend.
I remember Ace from the Salt Spring days. What a great man. Thank you for your service and being a wonderful human being.
I grew up on Saltspring. I was a teenager in the ’80s(I was a year behind Ace’s daughter Inga in school).
On Friday and Saturday nights we would all hang out at Centennial Park. Back then you could drive through it.
Ace would take the time to get out of his car and talk to us. I still remember talking to him when I was 14.
I moved to Nanaimo in 2012 with my RCMP husband and he was our neighbour. I didn’t know anyone here, so I would go visit with him whenever I had days off. ‘Hey Alice’ was his greeting. Every time I’d roll my eyes and say ‘Ace, it’s SONYA’.
I saw him in the hospital a couple of times before he passed. It’s still weird how someone with such a huge presence isn’t here anymore.
Ace, thank you for your friendship. Thank you for your endless advice.
Rest easy.