Ian James Herron
14 September 1946 - 18 June 2017
The eldest of three boys born in New Zealand to Mary Kathleen Holland and Clifford Thomas Herron, Ian grew
up on the family’s sheep farming properties in Southland at Balfour and later Walter Peak Sheep Station near
Queenstown before training as an aero engine tradesman with the Royal New Zealand Air Force from 1967 to 1975.
In Canada he was employed in the 1970s and ‘80s as a fixed and rotary wing aircraft engineer. Like his father, he
was a Mason and a licensed private pilot. He attained his Instrument Rating and Senior Commercial Pilot License in 1990 and logged some 1300 air hours overall, some of
which he flew in Piper Aztec and Cessna 206 aircraft to northern communities to do repairs and maintenance. Unfortunately, the later onset of an inherited vision disability ended his
career hopes of becoming a full-time pilot.
Joining CP Air/Canadian Airlines International’s heavy maintenance department at Calgary in 1986, Ian was transferred to Vancouver in 1996 and then Air Canada when CAI left the
scene, remaining in Surrey after retirement.
Soon after moving to B.C.’s coast, Ian discovered the joy of running and joined the members of Peninsula Runners, with whom he trained. Over the next twenty years he ran some 15
Vancouver Sun Runs, and in his 60s completed 10 full and 21 half marathons, posting times that often put him with the faster runners within his age group. Streets of Boston, Chicago,
New York, Eugene, Newport, Vancouver and others felt the beat of his feet as he competed at these demanding events.
Having survived cancer in recent years, in 2014 Ian rode in the 240 km fundraiser Ride to Conquer Cancer from Vancouver area to Seattle, volunteered with the event’s support crew in 2015, and rode again in 2016 with The Silver Bullets. He was determined to do the ride this year but was diagnosed in December with a different type of cancer and after a brief stay in Peace Arch Hospital passed away in the presence of family only six months later--far before his time after all he had done to remain healthy and fit.
Kind and generous to others with his time and efforts and with a quiet, unique sense of humor, Ian was a caring family man and valued friend, and known by his colleagues to be an excellent aircraft mechanic and highly competent pilot. He loved flying, the sunshine
and the outdoors, and treasured the friendships and camaraderie gained through his work and his running, cycling and other pursuits.
His memory will be forever cherished by Jean, his wife of 27 years, stepdaughters Marion and Caroline (Sarah), brothers Alistair (Pen) and Gerald (Saow), stepbrother Rod, aunt Alexa Herron, cousins Bill Gordon (Beth), Ron Munro (Gay) and their families, many nephews, nieces and other family members -- most of whom reside in New Zealand, Australia or
Thailand--as well as his many friends near and far.
The family thanks Dr. Benitez-Gomez, Dr. Tyrell and staff at Peace Arch Hospital, Dr. Chris Lee and staff at Surrey Cancer Clinic and Dr. Paul Klimo for their attention and care.
A “Goodbye Gathering” will be held in Ian’s remembrance on Sunday, September 10th, at Kwomais Point Park, 128th St./13th Ave., Surrey, B.C., 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Ian’s ashes will ultimately be returned to the country of his birth, New Zealand, where his heart always lay.