Tribute Wall
In Memory of
Sir Neil McGowan Shaw
1929 - 2023
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Nancy and Richard Hamm pledged to donate to Lower Canada College Foundation, Bursary Program
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Neil was always so kind and helpful to us both
He also had a great sense of fun
He will be missed
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Nancy Gavin posted a condolence
Monday, April 3, 2023
I had the honour of meeting Sir Neil about 5 years ago. He continues to have such a huge reputation at Redpath Sugar for his invaluable leadership and strength of his convictions.
I wanted to share with his family and friends a video we made with him, about Immigration to Canada on which he had a major role for Redpath. Sir Neil was very helpful in the research we did for this and very patient on the day when we filmed this. He is a true gentleman.
I am sorry for your loss.
I hope that you can cut and paste the Youtube video address below and enjoy seeing a portion of his life that actually changed other's lives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B09wxc6TvBo&t=3s&ab_channel=RedpathSugar
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Annabel Yarnell posted a condolence
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Dear David, Michael, Cynni, Panni and Toni,
Your Father was a marvel. From chasing a fire truck to some brush fire in Knowlton, to pulling us around behind the station wagon in the snow on The Grove and the summer sleeping place on the screened in porch, he was the most kind and fun loving man who ALWAYS did make you feel that you were important. When he and Pixie came for dinner to my home in London it was like stepping back in time. I absolutely adored your Father. I am sending love in a multitude of ways.
Annabel (Ann Yarnell)
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Fred R. Gaby uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, March 26, 2023
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Dear David and Martha:I was very sorry to read about your fathers death. I remember meeting him at George E. Mara's home at 42 Park Lane Circle. Condolences from the Gaby's Regards Fred R. Gaby
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Dave Nicholson posted a condolence
Saturday, March 25, 2023
I’m married to Leslie nee Liersch granddaughter of Sir Neil’s sister “Girly” I can count on the fingers of one hand the truly great persons that I have met in my life. Sir Neil is one of those persons.
His phenomenal investment advice to me: “Pay attention!”
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Dave Nicholson uploaded photo(s)
Saturday, March 25, 2023
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Dean J. Bradley uploaded photo(s)
Saturday, March 25, 2023
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I am writing on behalf of the whole Bradley family but specially on behalf of my father John (pictured). Dad was a great pal of Sir Neil going back to the early Redpath era of his career when the Shaws lived in Chatham. I can remember as an young, awkward teen visiting the Shaw home on the river and being a classmate of Cynthia's at school.. Over the years Sir Neil and David were also frequent guests at Dad's annual Wildfowl Dinner.
In all those times and over all those occasions, Sir Neil was always kind, caring, friendly, generous and considerate. Your lovely obituary captured all the lovely qualities of personality and character that I remember and that made Neil Shaw such a great human being. Please accept our condolences on his passing but, like you, we celebrate a life well lived.
Respectfully,
Dean Bradley
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Diana Henry posted a condolence
Friday, March 24, 2023
One would have wondered how Neil’s life could be described on one page, and you did it, beautifully. It was a treat to read every word.
Uncle Neil was somewhat of a God in our eyes. His vibrancy surrounded you when he talked to you.
Tom Scott’s description of growing up on weekends in KnowLton was spot on. And we would always end up at the Shaws. I remember one winter when all the f basement furniture was moved to the 2 ends of the room, and 2 teams played “war” by whipping bowling pins at the opposite team. The girls played but always ended up in tears.
How Neil and Aud let such mayhem occur in their basement is beyond me, but as a parent, he allowed us to just…have fun. And work hard. Always interested, an incredible listener, when you talked to him, you felt like the only person on the planet.
Remembering Neil, remembering living a huge chunk of life with him in it. Feeling grateful for it.
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Cheryl Kulagowski posted a condolence
Friday, March 24, 2023
I was sorry to see Neil’s obituary in today’s Montreal Gazette.
I had the pleasure of meeting Neil and Pixie on a few occasions in Knowlton at his brother Leroy’s home. Leroy and I were good friends – a relationship that evolved from when I cared for their wonderful mother who was lovingly called “Grand-mere”, which was remarkably, over forty years ago.
During my years of friendship with Leroy, he would proudly speak of Neil and his accomplishments, often lovingly referring to him as his ‘kid brother’.
You ‘nailed it’ in this wonderfully written tribute with regard to Neil’s many accomplishments but for me, the most resounding part was your mention of Neil’s acute interest in people regardless… and his ability to make people feel like they were the only person in a room…
After Leroy’s funeral service, when I finally mustered up the strength to walk into the kitchen of his home – a home I knew so well and would likely never go to again, I encountered a sea of people, many of whom I’d never seen before. Neil saw me enter and he immediately broke away from a group to cross the floor and embrace his brother’s profoundly sad bohemian friend. That caring gesture grounded me in that moment and meant so much. I have recalled it many times over the years and have even shared it with others who cannot fathom that someone like Sir Neil Shaw could also be the absolute ‘salt of the earth’.
I learned a lot from the Shaw family members that I had the great fortune of meeting and the snippets that remain with me are of their genuine appreciation of the simpler things in life… I have a wonderful memory of Grand-mere rolling her eyes back in utter delight at the little bit of ice cream I was happy to feed her – such an intimate connection. Leroy spoke often of the value of a handshake deal, he showed me the many faces of unconditional friendship and would take great joy and care in marking with a stick the first crocuses that popped up in his lawn. And Neil, in addition to all that was mentioned here, could also recognise and express his genuine thanks for the simple bouquet of flowers, picked from Grand-mere’s garden that were placed in a vase in his room when he visited. It’s moments like these in life that are meaningful and that continue to give us joy in their remembering.
I am extending my sincerest condolences to those who are grieving in this loss. Please take comfort in your own lovely memories and the knowledge that Neil profoundly touched so very many of us throughout his blessed life.
Yours very sincerely,
Cheryl Kulagowski
Port Bickerton, NS
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Bonny McKeough posted a condolence
Thursday, March 23, 2023
It is so sad to hear about Neil.
MARS will shine less brightly in the sky.
I send lots of hugs to all of you.
Bonny
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David and Beverley Little posted a condolence
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Beverley and I are sorry to hear of this ...our best wishes to the family ,neighbours on the Bay
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Kate Thomas posted a condolence
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
I have many fond memories of Sir Neil Shaw. As a friend of the Booth family, I spent a summer at Titness Castle tending to the care of the home and making meals for Sir Neil and his family. It was during this time that I had the honor of being present to a man who showed great generosity and spirit to all people in his presence. I baked simple foods for his family for which Sir Neil showed such gratitude. It is rare to meet a man who is both humble and visionary at the same time. In the conversations we had together, I gathered that he was decisive and open minded man. I am very grateful for the time spent at Titness and at Pit Castle in Scotland. It was an honor to know Sir Neil and his family.
With love and condolences,
Kate Thomas
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Tom Scott posted a condolence
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Dear Shaws, your dad was awesome! I am so sorry to have learned that he has gone.I sit here thinking of so many things we all did in Knowlton as families. Caddying at the golf course for Neil, Huck, Hugh and dad (25 cents for 9 holes, and a soda ). The boat club ,movies, tennis ,sailing races, and hanging out . Hilariously I remember arriving at the Grove on Friday nights in the winter and immediately getting the toboggans out to hit the hill in front of your house. When the town sanded the hill we were not deterred and swept it off the hill so we could get the full thrill of trying to get into your yard. One of my last memories of our shared family time was the new years pig roast just before we Scotts moved to Vancouver, your mom and dad invited lots of friends and then thought it would be a good idea if we teenagers acted as bartenders( what could possibly go wrong?). I think we did an excellent job and seem to recall that we were able to taste a bit ourselves. I saw your dad a few years ago when he came to visit Jano, he looked great and was not much changed. He still had the twinkle in his eye and was as ever interested in what I and the extended Scotts were doing .Your description of him is spot on, he was remarkable and he will be well remembered .all he best Tom & Laurie Scott & Families( Boulder Co.)
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The family of Sir Neil McGowan Shaw uploaded a photo
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
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