Brian T. Baillie
Born In: Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada
Born: July 4th, 1946
Passed in: Glace Bay, Canada
Passed on: July 7th, 2016
In the early morning of July 7, 2016 a great man was lost, and the world is lesser without him.
Ace was born July 4, 1946 in Port Alberni, BC and spent all of his childhood on the west coast. Once graduated from Como Lake District High School in Coquitlam, BC, he made his way east and began college at the newly opened Canadian Coast Guard College in Sydney, NS. In 1969, he graduated as part of the first graduating class of the C.C.G.C as first ranked cadet overall and was awarded the Canadian Centennial Medal.
Ace began his career serving the Coast Guard fleet at all positions from Jr. Engineer to Chief Engineer on a variety of vessels. He was also qualified as a ships diver and received 1st Class motor certificate. In 1972 Chief Marine Engineer Brian T. Baillie became a Marine Engineering instructor at the C.C.G.C and helped several cadets go on to have careers they were proud of and many accredited him for this over the course of his life. He received his First Class Steam certification in 1977, became Senior Engineering Instructor, acting head of Engineering and Chief Engineer of the training vessel at the C.C.G.C. in Sydney NS, all of this accomplished by the age of 35.
In 1981, Ace left the Coast Guard and started a very successful career in the private marine industry working as Chief on a variety of different types of vessels spanning the globe, and continued to assist and inspire many to achieve their Chief’s ticket. There are not too many seas left on earth that Ace has not sailed. He had many stories to share.
Not only did he have such an accomplished career, Ace managed to balance it out with creating a very loving family at home and always kept his mom, dad and brother, Brad close, even though they lived on the opposite end of the country. There were so many memories made at family BBQs and get-togethers, many a story told at his basement bar, memories that will be cherished forever by all of us.
Brian "Ace" Thomas Baillie will be missed by many but will live on in the hearts of his beloved wife, Peggy E. Baillie, brother, Brad Baillie Chilliwack, BC; daughters, Peggy Campbell (Gerald), River Ryan, NS, Sherry Legnaro (Donnie), Glace Bay, NS, April Yakabuski (Mark), Ottawa, ON, Amanda Baillie-Cameron (Kyle), Glace Bay, NS and one son, Master Warrant Officer Tony Legnaro (Robin), Trenton, ON; grandchildren, Samantha, Victoria, Kandice, Connor, Anthony, Nathan, Paul, Hayden, Brody, Marcus and Emerson and a great-grandson Riley.
Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 from 1 p.m. until the time of the service at 2 p.m. in V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home Chapel, 16 Reserve St., Glace Bay, with Martha MacDonald officiating.
Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca.
