David Ewart Howard (5 March 1918 – 21 January 2023) was a Canadian

sailor A sailor, seaman, mariner, or seafarer is a person who works aboard a watercraft as part of its crew, and may work in any one of a number of different fields that are related to the operation and maintenance of a ship. While the term ''sailor'' ...

who competed in the

1956 Summer Olympics The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XVI Olympiad and officially branded as Melbourne 1956, were an international multi-sport event held in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, from 22 November to 8 December ...

. Just prior to his death at age 104, Howard was the second oldest Olympian in the world after Uruguayan sailor Félix Sienra who died 9 days later at age 107. With Howard's death, alpine skier Rhoda Wurtele became the oldest Canadian Olympian at age 101, and

Stanley Leibel Stanley Leibel (21 March 1927 - 17 February 2021) was a Canadian sailor who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics. His grandson Blake Leibel On May 26, 2016, Ukrainian Iana Kasian was found dead in the apartment that she had shared with her fian ...

became the oldest Canadian summer Olympian at age 95.

Early life and military career

When young, Howard and his four brothers were yachting enthusiasts, all having graduated from the

Royal Canadian Yacht Club The Royal Canadian Yacht Club (RCYC) is a private yacht club in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1852, it is one of the world's older and larger yacht clubs. Its summer home is on a trio of islands (RCYC Island, South Island and North Chip ...

’s junior program. In 1941, Howard enlisted in the

Royal Canadian Navy The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; , ''MRC'') is the Navy, naval force of Canada. The navy is one of three environmental commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. As of February 2024, the RCN operates 12 s, 12 s, 4 s, 4 s, 8 s, and several auxiliary ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and reached the rank of

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

. On 18 February 1945, he was named commanding officer of HMCS Dundas.

Athletic career

Howard participated in the 1954

Canada's Cup The Canada’s Cup is a silver trophy, deeded in perpetuity in 1896, to be awarded to the winner of a series of match races between a yacht representing a Canadian yacht club and one representing an American yacht club, both to be located on ...

yacht race along with his younger brother, Clifford Howard. Howard competed in the dragon event in the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, on a team with his brother Cliff Howard and

Donald Tytler Donald Alexander Tytler (2 May 1925 – 1992) was the 8th Bishop of Middleton. A noted liberal, he was born in 1925 and educated at Eastbourne College and Christ's College, Cambridge; theological training at Ridley Hall, Cambridge. Ordained ...

. Howard continuing competing in yachting, including the 1975 Canada's Cup race. He became a manager, syndicate member, and commodore of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.https://rcyc.ca/About_RCYC/Board_of_Directors_Committees/Previous_Commodores In 2018, he was inducted to the Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame.

Personal life and death

Howard was chairman of Citicom Inc., a Toronto-based property developer and management firm. In 1989, Howard became president of the

Toronto Symphony Orchestra The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 1906, the TSO gave regular concerts at Massey Hall until 1982, and since then has performed at Roy Thomson Hall. The TSO also manages the Toron ...

. Howard died on 21 January 2023, at the age of 104.

References

1918 births 2023 deaths Canadian military personnel from Ontario Canadian men centenarians Canadian male sailors (sport) Olympic sailors for Canada Sailors at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Dragon Royal Canadian Navy officers Royal Canadian Navy personnel of World War II 20th-century Canadian sportsmen {{Canada-yachtracing-bio-stub