Malcolm Balfour McIntosh

McIntosh, Malcolm Balfour “Mac” of Oak Bay, Victoria, British Columbia joyously entered the Gates of Heaven on December 20, 2023. Mac is now a member of Heaven’s Big Band.

Mac was born February 3, 1932 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was the first child of Alex and Ethel McIntosh. Mac’s father, Alexander McIntosh, was born in Dumbarton, Scotland and immigrated to Canada where he later worked for the Canadian Railway. His mother, Ethel Richards, was born in Manchester, England and set the musical focus for the family as an Edmonton Civic Opera Singer. Alex, Ethel and Mac joyously welcomed the birth of his sister Brenda in 1946. Mac’s athletic prowess came from his grandfather, William (Wooly) McIntosh who won the Scottish Cup Soccer Championship in 1905 for Third Lanark.

Mac was a commissioned officer in the Royal Canadian Airforce and after a short flight career, met his soon to be wife in the Officer Deport sorting mail. Mac married Marie Therese (Terry) Helen Tessier in Edmonton, Alberta on July 1st, 1954 and a year later, with big dreams, the young couple and their first son Craig, headed west in their Volkswagen to Nanaimo, British Columbia to start a new life together. With the crisp ocean air and starry nights, they soon found themselves both blessed and challenged with three more very energetic sons.

Mac spent most of his professional career as the Administrator of the Caledonian Medical Clinic in Nanaimo where his vision and initiative helped drive the transition of the medical profession administration into the modern computer age. This computerization of appointment scheduling, medical record management and early adoption of technology attracted the attention of Digital Equipment Corporation in Boston, the US Army and Mac travelled as far as Germany to demonstrate it.

He was a visionary. He came up with the idea, turned the idea into a plan and followed through by making the plan happen. No challenge was off the table.

On March 21st, 35 years ago, Mac’s advertisement in the local paper led to a meeting at the Windsor Tea Room where he first set eyes on his life partner Jane Christison. This partnership between “Elizabeth Taylor” and “Rock Hudson” was an unwavering commitment to life, mutual respect and “till death do us part”.

Mac was a father in the true sense of the word. He was a friend, a coach, and a teacher. He was always a humorous story teller, never repeated himself and could command an entire room by pulling out his saxophone or clarinet. He taught his sons to be well behaved and respectful men and helped develop in them the many talents that have served them well in life. He was by nature steady and committed in his ways and he lived his life like a thoughtful observer that never gave up on anyone. Mac was always there for his family.

Mac’s biggest talent was his music. He could pick up almost any instrument and fill the air with beautiful sounds. In his youth he played the saxophone at local dance halls. Later he accompanied Dianna Krall during her performance on Gabriola Island. The formation of “Mile Zero”, which made appearances at the famed Oak Bay Tea Party and headlined St Patrick Day and numerous charity gigs, was the passion that kept him mentally agile and young at heart into his 90’s thanks to his talented Band mates.

His favorite morning ritual was a quick spin on his electric bike to meet up with his many friends and sweet talk the waitresses at the Oak Bay Marina Dockside Eatery.

Mac is survived by his life partner Jane and her son David and her 2 grandchildren; his four sons: Craig, Forbes, Scott and Angus; his four daughters-in-law: Melanie, Donna, Gina and Sue, nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Our hearts will forever remember and miss the time that we shared with “Mac”.

One of Mac’s last requests was to share these words “Thank you everyone who made my wonderful life possible.”

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