Mr. Elliot John Birch

Master Mariner,

BC Ferry Corporation

Memorial at St. Francis-in-the-Wood Anglican

Church, 4773 South Piccadilly Road, West Vancouver

on Sunday August 18th, 2019 at 1:00pm to honour

the life of Captain Jack Birch, passed away in his 90th

year.

Elliot John Birch (1929-2019)

The morning of Thursday, April 25th 2019 marked the final sailing for Captain Jack (Elliot John) Birch. It was with loving respect and sadness that family, kind friends, Dr. Andrew Sear and the special nursing staff of Hollyburn House supported him through a brief and final illness. Jack is survived by his son, Robert John Birch, daughter and son-in-law Catherine Patricia and Kenneth Lawrence Smith with their three children Robert Lawrence Smith and his wife Josephine Roche, Caitlyn Patricia Smith and Victoria Elizabeth Smith. Jack was born in Wales on September 24th, 1929 and grew up in England during the Second World War which inspired both his marine career and a life of international study and awareness. He was commissioned to the Merchant Navy (UK) as an apprentice in 1945 which led to the life of a seaman and eventual emigration to Canada in 1956 where he married his wife of 54 years, Patricia Jean, in 1959. Jack sailed around the world 2 1/2 times; was a Ship's Officer on the Great Lakes with Imperial Oil; participated in the Canadian Militia expansion and joined the BC Ferry Corporation in 1964 rising to Master Mariner in 1973. He took on the role of Skipper of the Howe Sound Queen in 1975 and remained as Captain until his retirement in 1992. Jack’s younger sister, Mary Wrong, lives in Ottawa with her daughter Tracy Bellefeuille Wrong and son Jason Wrong of Toronto, Ontario. Jack was predeceased by his sister Audrey and brother Bob who leaves a son Captain David Birch of Florida, US. A Celebration of Life with the spreading of his ashes in the Howe Sound will be held for Captain Jack in August 2019 with gathered family and friends. Jack remained always mentally acute and emotionally astute with a passion for the activities of life. His final, poignant written notes were in honour of “Notre Dame”.