CCW
Dragon Boat Virgin
 Offline
Posts: 18
|
 |
« on: February 21, 2010, 10:24:51 PM » |
|
Alex passed away of a heart attack on Feb 6th, 2010. For those of us, who were fortunate enough to have known Alex (especially the Canadian Construction Women Dragonboat Team) we will truly miss him. Alex was one hell of a man, with a huge heart. I truly believe the success of Nanaimo's infamous beer garden was truly one of greatest things of the festival that Alex took extreme pleasure in making it better each and every year. If you were ever looking for Alex.. you knew where to find him! Please find it in your hearts to raise a beer at the next Nanaimo festival for Alex! Anita
Loss of dragon boat festival founder felt across community
Cause of Alex Marriott's death remains unknown, family awaits results of autopsy
By Darrell Bellaart, The Daily NewsFebruary 8, 2010 Alex Marriott, the man who helped make dragon boat racing synonymous, with Nanaimo died unexpectedly on Saturday.
Friends and those who knew him consider say his death a huge loss for the community.
Marriott, 54, was involved in a variety of community activities, such as coaching sports and fundraising for various events.
Mention his name and chances are good the phrase dragon boats will come up. Marriott is credited with starting the Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival.
He backed off from the event once it got started, but no one doubts his role in making it the wildly popular event that it is.
Others had the idea, but he had the ability to make it happen. When others mentioned it to him, he got behind it to become the first president of the Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival Society. For Marriott, the cancer fundraiser had a special significance since his late wife, Lorri, was battling breast cancer at the time.
He wasn't known for doing things in half measures.
"Without him, we wouldn't have a dragon boat festival," said Frank Mazzei. "He had the vision of what we could do and how to do it. He grabbed people and cajoled people to do it. He had a tremendous amount of energy."
He stayed on as president for three years. The three-day paddling event is now an annual event each July in Nanaimo, attracting thousands of people and generating thousands of dollars to fight cancer.
He was also involved in starting Rotary clubs' annual James Bond community fundraising gala.
He came to Nanaimo from Kelowna to take a sales job in 1991 and soon became a member of Oceanside Rotary. It was his incredible ability to sell others that stood out.
Cathy Power first met him after moving here in 2002 when Marriott came into her store looking for support for a fundraiser he was involved with. She couldn't say no.
"He could pretty well talk his way into anything," Power said. "I think he could probably sell snow to an Eskimo."
Later, she learned just how persuasive he could be in getting others to help out with whatever community project he decided to take on.
"I just hated it when he got involved in something, because I knew I would have to be, too."
He headed up the Friends of the Games committee for the B.C. Summer Games when it came to Nanaimo. It beat all previous records for fundraising for that event.
Power remembers him as a "larger than life" character who always thought big.
"He always said: 'It's going to be huge.' Everything was huge."
Despite Marriott's active role in the community, his daughter Andrea van Rossum remembers him as always being there for the family. While doing things such as organizing the finish line for the Great Nanaimo Bathtub Race, Marriott still found time to coach softball.
"He had magic, he was just so special," Andrea said. "Anything for me and my brother, he was there 100%."
The cause of Marriott's death remains unknown. Family members are awaiting the results of an autopsy.
One thing is clear, though. The Marriott's loss is one that is shared by the community.
"He was just a warm, happy gentleman, full of life and it's a sad, sad day," Mazzei said.
"Alex was very active in the community and will be sadly missed by the whole community. He was one heck of a guy."
A funeral and a celebration of Marriott's life are being planned. The dates, times and locations will be announced once finalized.
Marriott would have turned 55 on Feb. 21.
|
