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. The profession of the s ...

who competed in the

1956 Summer Olympics The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, from 22 November to 8 December 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, whi ...

. 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 ''Rhoda'' is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns starring Valerie Harper that originally aired on CBS for five seasons from September 9, 1974, to December 9, 1978. It was the first spin-off of ''The Mary Tyle ...

became the oldest Canadian Olympian at age 101, and Stanley Leibel 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’s junior program. In 1941, Howard enlisted in the

Royal Canadian Navy The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; french: Marine royale canadienne, ''MRC'') is the Navy, naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. As of 2021, the RCN operates 12 frigates, four attack s ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

and reached the rank of

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

. 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 th ...

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

References

1918 births 2023 deaths Canadian military personnel from Ontario Men centenarians Canadian 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 {{Canada-yachtracing-bio-stub