James Craig Low

This is my personal honouring of Craig’s life. I invite you all to add a note, a poem, a photo, or an experience you had with Craig to this memorial.

We honestly believed we never die. We believed we have a choice after death in our cosmic suits to either return for the lessons we have not yet learned or remain in the heavens. Typical of him, on several occasions, Craig has threatened to come back and haunt me.

Thought I would share some of Craig's history during his lifetime. Craig first arrived in this realm on June 5, 1954. He was born at Women's College Hospital in Toronto. Who knew that 30 years later, his first-born and daughter would also be born there?

He grew up on Palace Arch Drive in Etobicoke. During his high school years, he became part of, what I call, The Four Musketeers: the other three members being Stew, Arn and Paul. They spent many enjoyable times together and had a yearly "Boys" weekend at our cottage on Balsam Lake. There was also "The Group", originally Craig's brother, Bruce's friends, but they all became good friends to Craig as well. Craig's parents, Cliff & Isobel designed and built their summer home on Juniper Isle in the 50's. Craig and I spent many weekends and holidays there over the years.

Craig and I first met at Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown, where Craig was completing a co-op with Ryerson. He did achieve a degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management. We started off working together and then eventually became great friends and had many a lunch at Sagi's at Yonge & Dundas Streets.  We both left the hotel around the same time, and I didn't see Craig for a year. Then one day in July 1979, (43 years ago), we ran into each other again on Wellington Street. We verbally exchanged our phone numbers. I never thought I would hear from him. Then, two days passed, and the phone rang, and the rest is history.  We would have celebrated our 41st wedding anniversary on September 26, 2022.

Craig's favourite place was always at the cottage. He became a skilled boatsman, (from the age of twelve), and an impressive water skier. We have so many happy memories from times spent at the cottage before the children were born and after Sheena and Elliott arrived. They both spent their first week of life, outside the hospital, at the cottage.

Craig was an excellent viola player and was a member of the Bach Youth Ensemble in high school and played in several major cities in Europe, as well as playing in an orchestra in Toronto and Cobourg. I always enjoyed watching him play and discussing classical composers with him.

He also loved classic cars and we went to many car shows over the years. I think he would have loved to have driven a classic car again. We always regretted selling the Beaumont.

Craig enjoyed riding bikes. In the early days, we used to bike back and forth between our apartments in Toronto. One of the reasons we moved to Vancouver Island was so we could travel on The Galloping Goose Trail, which is right outside our new home. Unfortunately, Craig wasn't able to enjoy this trail. When I'm bicycling the trail in the future, he will be in my thoughts, and I will certainly miss him riding beside me.

While living in Vancouver, and in particular, English Bay we enjoyed our lion's share of oysters. Craig loved oysters and we were also known to shuck a few ourselves! He even asked for oysters at Hospice and advised the docs of his favorite, Raspberry Point!!

Music has been a common interest for us, especially the Blues. We have seen many, many artists play live over the years, including some of the greatest blues artists to grace the planet - John Lee Hooker, Johnny Winter and Muddy Waters to name a few. Mannish Boy and Rocky Mountain Way were two of our favourite songs. Going to clubs and concerts to enjoy live bands was a big part of our lives.

Last year, we came to Vancouver Island with the boys to celebrate our 40 ^th wedding anniversary. Craig and I were both taken aback by the beauty of the Island. It felt like home, so we decided to move here. We spent our first three months in Cowichan Bay. Craig finally had a chance to enjoy retirement until he was hired at an upscale restaurant, The Masthead. However, we did enjoy our time at this part of the island immensely.

While Craig remains in our hearts, he will not be forgotten.

I would like to share with you the last letter I wrote to Craig. I gave it to him on our 40 ^th anniversary and he opened the card and note on Vancouver Island.

September 26, 2021

“On the road of life, it’s not where you go, but who you’re with that makes the difference.”

Dearest Husband of a Gazillion Years, o.k. 40!! So glad I said, “I Do”.

I hope you are enjoying our anniversary trip to Vancouver Island. It is another adventure to add to our list of adventures since July 1979. What a wild ride it has been, my Love.

This card is not the most glamourous card I’ve ever seen, but when I saw it, looked at the picture and read the inscription, it really said it all.

It reminded me of how you have carried our luggage and household belongings across these 40+ years. Thank you for putting up with me and the many, many moves.

Sometimes, you were a willing player in some of these adventures, sometimes not. Thank you for joining me on these adventures and keeping the faith that the journey was towards a better life for you, the children and me.

Who truly knows how many lifetimes we have done this dance? However, thank you for allowing me to be a sovereign being with free will. You let me fly and I always returned to you. I have been content, more so in recent years, to just spend my time with you.

I want to thank you for being my best friend. Someone I could always talk to about anything, without judgement.

Thanks for:  Mailing my packages at Holiday Inn, lunches at Sagi’s, coming to my apartment in High Park for tea, bumping into me again after our separation on Wellington Street, calling me and asking me out, Powder Blues Band, the Disco Duck dance at Floating World, sharing your friends, being so kind and respectful of my parents, who I believe, loved you like a son, times at the cottage on Balsam Lake, having romantic dinners, for all the times we made love, all the boat rides, skinny dipping, The Pattie House, loving blues as much as me, helping to make our residences our home, assisting in throwing some fabulous parties, trips to Benmiller Inn, trips to England, Scotland, Kingston, Quebec City, Montreal, most of the provinces, including Expo 89 in B.C., letting me drive on back roads, teaching me to drive, dancing with me, cooking dinners, marrying me, impersonations, making me laugh, company Christmas parties, bbqs, firepits, being there when Sheena, Elliott and Nicholas were born, moving to Martha’s Vineyard, helping me at Circus & Stars, being a wonderful father, taking the children for walks so I could sleep a little longer, working hard to support the family, thoughtful gifts and cards, being a part of family celebrations, going with me on trips with Mom, taking Mom and Aunt Jane for drives, swimming with me in the ocean, putting up with my friends, introducing me to oysters, Mannish Boy and Downchild, playing Rummy, watching sunsets, bike rides, running errands, carrying my library books, allowing me to enjoy to watch you play viola, turning a disastrous wedding day into a beautiful one, baking cookies, helping me equally around the house, being not just a husband, but my partner on this journey called life.

This weekend we are making some new memories. I know we will want to return soon, especially when the pubs reopen.

There are so many more things I am grateful to you for. I appreciate everything you have done and are doing.

So, come on, my Love, let’s go on a new adventure, it’s just waiting for us, up the road.

All my Love, Juliet xxoo

Here is surely an incomplete list of friends, family and acquaintances who touched Craig’s life or whose lives he touched. *If I have left anyone off of this list, or due to not being able to remember, it is purely accidental. Names may not be in any particular order:

Craig is preceded by his parents, Clifford Thomson and Isobel Low, brother Bruce, Aunt Jane, Uncle Bob, Aunt Alma, Uncle Frank, Aunt Marion, Aunt Ruth, Uncle Alex, Nana Madge and Grandfather James Low, Nana and Grandfather, Isobella and George Cummings, and Charlie Haynes.

Remembering cousins, Danny, Philip and Andrew.

Much loved by in-laws, Olga and Russell Horner, brother-in-law, Jack and the entire Horner & Milco clan; In particular, cousins; Tim Thomas and Jan Lanz, Uncle to: Lori, Vicki, Christine, Michelle, Amanda and Matthew, Christopher and Brennan. Great Uncle to Andrew, Christian and Aiden.

Friends; Paul Breen, Arn McPherson, Stew Sereda, Karen, Dave and Patsy (Onazuk) King, Bill Cruickshank, Gord (Donna), Julie, Rip, Sandra, Joe D., Dave Guest, Steve, Ann, Jenny, Tim and Bonnie, The Watsons, Chris and Pat Showers, Gord Hillier, Rene, Kevin, Greg, Emily, Ewa, Colin, Drew, Trevor, Kalin, Dan, Justin, Sheena Thompson, Dan Reid, John and Jayne Keefe, Michael, Ethan, Andy, Diane and Ron, Trish, Amber, Kathy, Mrs. Hardcastle, Marc Jenssen, Kim and Rowan, Marguerite, Terri Kavanaugh, Sheila Hawkins, Katrin Heinsoo, Viv, The Beave, Leslie Burford, Mike Mao, Leslie Hurd, Terri Keech, Maria and the children, Marzy, Jim M., Tiffany, Michael and Lynn Peters, Daryl and Charlotte, Ruth and Thor, Adriaan, Janet, Tony and Alden, Heidi, Paul, Caroline and Eric, Tony and Joyce, Joe and Bob, Nora and Reg, Raj and Mike, Ray Wickens, Scott, Shelley Wilson, Clay, Timoko, Andre, Sandy, Todd, Shola and Rob, Joanne Elliott, Rev. Paul and Susan Walker, Claire and Lawrence Crowfoot… and so many more.

Juniper Isle Friends; Bill and Joanne Johnston, Ann, Sue, Barb, Jim, Rick, Neil (and the Thompson family), Donald, Genevieve, Bob, Dale and many more.

Pat Burroughs and the members of the Bach Youth Ensemble; Phillip Schauss and the members of The Northumberland Symphony Orchestra; The East York Symphony Orchestra.

The Magic Pan, Eaton’s Centre Team; Gerry Ryley, Jim McRae, Mark Houghton and the Midland Doherty Team; The P. Lawson Airport Team; The Olive Garden Sherway Team; Chris and the Dover Seafood House Team; Mothercare/Othercare, Crazy Wings & Hare of the Dog Pub Teams; Mad Martha’s, Martha’s Vineyard Team; Rick Convery and the R.C. Painting Team; Daniella and The Lighthouse Pub, Niagara Team; Daryl, Char, Steve and the Window Centre Team; Extendicare Peterborough Team; Dan and The Pattie House Team; Patrick Monaghan, Canoe FM, Haliburton;

Kathy Crowe, Diane Smith and the Caressant Care, Lindsay Team; Chris and the Fanny Bay Team; Vincent, Jennifer and the Joe Fortes Team; Chef Jeff and The Masthead Restaurant Team; Kelly & the Route 66 Team, Victoria Hospice, especially Alina, Dr. Schneider, Nurses Erica, Finn and Beth and the entire Hospice Team.

Our furry friends; (Resting) Rory, Dynment, Birch, Valentine, Mario, Tina, Gypsy, Pig, Marius, Pandora, Midnight, Jade and Hobo. Jazzabella is still with me.

Craig and I recently put a playlist together on Spotify called "Transition". I have added the link below. If you wish, have a listen. "The Swan" was Craig's favourite classical piece featuring violas. Please feel free to share the Spotify or Earth’s Options links with anyone you feel would like to know about Craig’s transition. Thank you.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7mgLWZO487pyrdaEsQcKTn?si=piQrvIP1RcG43dzl3SMnwA&utm_source=copy-link

We all have pasts; we all make choices that weren’t the best ones. None of us are completely innocent but, we all get a fresh start every day to be a better person than we were yesterday. I think this is how Craig tried to live. Craig was a friend to all, always there to answer the call. He possessed a big heart of gold and I loved him.

Craig was a superb Father to Sheena Anastasia 38, Elliott Thomson 36 and Nicholas Alexander Gordon, 31. He loved them all dearly and was a living example of a loving Father. He was so proud of all of their accomplishments.

Just prior to entering hospital, the children and I took Craig on a whale-watching tour. This was on his bucket list, so we were happy to join him for a memorable day on the Salish Sea. The picture at the top of this obituary was taken on the upper deck of the boat, with Nicholas beside him, June 5 ^th , Craig’s 68 ^th solar return.

During the last couple of months, Craig and I began a bedtime ritual. We would hold hands, facing each other and say out loud: “Thank you. I am sorry. Please forgive me. I love you.” This prayer brough us much peace at the end of the day. When you start using Ho’oponopono in your life, your recurring problems are cleansed, released, and erased. They are replaced with Divine Love flowing through you. Often, we are so occupied and consumed by our fears and issues that we are not receptive to the Love of the Divine. This prayer, as a regular practice, assists in starting to heal yourself and your memories. So now, I pay this prayer forward to all of you.

I know he treasured the friendships and relationships he had with all of you. Thank you for your communications, kind words and wishes for Craig these past months. Thank you for being his old or new friend. For accepting him for who he was. It has meant a lot to both of us.

The children and I thank you for all the support, flowers, planting of a memorial tree, and condolences we have received during this time of sadness.

Tributes from the Children:

From Sheena:

My dad always supported my unique lifestyle and never made me feel like I had to be any specific way. That is a wonderful thing for a parent to offer their child.

When I was 16 I read a book on Buddhism and told him I was going to a monastery to seek enlightenment, and he heard me about and said "Red, (one of his nicknames for me) I think you should experience life as a young adult before you go and do that." and I'm glad I did.

He was the friendliest guy, chatting up every person he was near like they were old friends. He was my friend. We used to bear hug and try to crush each other, giggling. He loved humour and was always joking around and making silly voices and burping the alphabet to make us laugh.

He played viola and loved classical music and candlelight with a nice dinner.

He loved music and would tell me to look up silly songs he thought I would like.

I'll always think of him sitting on a porch with a beer, listening to classic rock or golden oldies, chatting away and just happy to be sitting there enjoying the sun with his cats and family.

——

(Context: the city suddenly cut down the massive, beautiful tree in our front yard the morning that dad died. I cried all afternoon watching, thinking of how sometimes we cannot save those we love. Dad passed that evening.)

-

Yesterday, they took my tree,

and then they took my dad.

They chopped them both down, as I stood by,

Watching helplessly.

I loved them both.

I watched them grow.

I sheltered in their protection.

They should have had more time on this earth,

Stretching arms to the sun and sky.

They should have rest now,

Stretching their roots down into the ground.

I`ll miss you dear dad, I`ll miss you dear tree.

I`ll plant a seed in your memory.

And think of you where new life grows.

From Elliott:

Dear Dad,

It hurts to miss you.
You taught me the finer things in life.
Thank you for everything you have shown me and I'm sorry you didn't get to see everything you                                          wanted.
I love you Dad.