It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Ray Paul Hoare on January 6th 2014. Ray is survived by his loving wife Vera of 55 years, Son Stephen and Daughter- in-Law Lisa. We will miss his quick wit, his caring and love he showed to us.

Ray was born on September 7th 1937 in the Montreal suburb of Ville Emard, son of Ivan and Katherine. Ray at the age of 17, met his future bride Vera who was 15 and it was love at first sight. Vera’s family had to move to Toronto shortly thereafter. But that didn’t stop Ray, with numerous letters and Ray travelling back and forth between Montreal and Toronto on weekends their love grew. The following Christmas, they were engaged much to the shock and dismay of Vera’s teachers and they’re saying that “it wouldn’t last”.

Ray and Vera were married in Montreal on a rainy August 30th 1958. Although initially they started their life in Toronto as Husband and Wife, they returned back to Montreal to start their family.

Stephen, their only son came into this world in 1966. Although Ray loved his new son, he had to go back to work early as his son was just “too loud”. Many family vacations and outings were enjoyed by this small family on the east coast.

In 1983, Ray received a job offer to relocate his family to Vancouver, although Ray liked his new home, his heart was always in Montreal. Many changes took place while on the west coast, Ray, after 30 years, left the stock brokerage business and went into tending bar at the West Vancouver Legion. Ray finally retired from bartending in 2007 only so that he could devote more time to his obsession – swizzle sticks

Ray’s obsession with collecting swizzle sticks started early in life. As a young boy when he was old enough to house sit on the occasional Friday night when his parents went out to a couple of clubs in Montreal with some friends, and as a reward they brought him home the occasional handful of swizzle sticks that they acquired. This collection lay dormant for many years until Ray and Vera along with another couple Jim and Polly Rusk created the International Swizzle Stick Collectors Association – a club just for collectors of swizzle sticks. Many friendships were formed.

Ray’s other great passion in life also started as a young boy by he and his father Ivan listening to the Montreal Canadians on the radio, and later watching them on the TV. In later years Stephen, like Ray with his father, would watch the Habs with his father. When Ray discovered a cable package that played ALL the Habs’ games, many a supper were late due to OT. Ray’s love of sports was unparalleled, be it hockey, Yankees baseball or Alouettes CFL football.

Ray had a great love of animals. Be it feeding peanuts to Stellar Jays or feeding a stray pussycat. Although, Vera picked Smokey Jack – he was Ray’s cat. Like us, Smokey misses his Daddy.

As with Ray’s life all good things must come to an end. And Ray all we can do at this time is to wish you well, thank you for being a husband, a father and a friend.

May you rest in peace.

Miss you Ray. Miss you Dad.

Love you.