Obituary of Douglas Thomas Anakin
Douglas Thomas Anakin, age 89, of Invermere, British Columbia, Canada, passed away on Saturday 25th April 2020. He was a much loved husband, father, friend, athlete, teacher, mentor and small business owner.
Doug was born on November 6th, 1930 in Chatham, Ontario to Leslie and Mary Anakin. He graduated from high school at Chatham Collegiate Institute, gained his Bachelor’s degree from Queen’s University, and completed his Master’s degree at the State University of New York. Among his notable accomplishments, he won a gold medal in the 4-man bobsled competition at the 1964 Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria. He also helped to introduce the sport of luge in Canada. He met the love of his life, Mary Jean in Montreal in June 1964 and after a whirlwind courtship, they got married six weeks later on August 8 and they raised their two daughters in Beaconsfield, Quebec.
During his teaching career, Doug inspired students in Ontario, England, Quebec, and British Columbia. His most notable teaching years were spent as a physical education teacher at Dunton High School, Montreal, and, as a driving force that established the outdoor education programme at John Abbott College, in Ste Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec. In the 1970s and 1980s, Doug owned and operated a sports shop that helped to spread his love of skiing and outdoor sports with the families and friends in Montreal’s West Island. In the early 1990s, he and Mary Jean retired to Windermere, B.C., to enjoy skiing, hiking, golfing, and soaking in the hot springs. Doug enjoyed almost thirty years of retirement in the Rockies, his joie de vie inspired countless adventures with friends and family. Doug always had a smile on his face, a twinkle in his eye, love in his heart, and a story for everyone he encountered. He will be missed deeply and thought of every day.
Doug was preceded in death by his father, Leslie and mother Mary. He is survived by his wife Mary Jean, his daughters, Megan Grayce (Daniel) Anakin and Bridget Suzanne (Ryan) Anakin, his five grandchildren, Dylan, Rowan, Sidney, Hailey and Charlie, his sister Shirley Templeton and several cousins’, nieces and nephews.
According to his wishes, his family will remember and celebrate him on the top of several local iconic mountain peaks, with a tankard in our hands.
A celebration of life will be held on a date, that is yet to be determined.
Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Services.
Condolences for the family can be offered at:
www.mcphersonfh.com
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Douglas
Thomas
Anakin 1930 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Cranbrook, Province: Colombie britanique
Our deepest condolences to Mary Jean and the Anakin family. Doug was an inspiration to everyone he met. He was a great story teller and a wealth of interesting information. I always enjoyed his energy. As a young luger, we would often hear the tales of the sport’s founding father, Doug Anakin. I finally had the honour and pleasure of meeting him while living in Panorama, BC. I was always mesmerized by the amount of days he skied well into his 80s.
Doug, you’ll be missed. The next time I’m on a mountain peak in the Columbia Valley, I’ll raise a glass to you.
Martin Flanagan