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Roper Dayment, who donated the camp sailing race award in his name, died in April in his 101st year.
Roper was on the founding staff when Taylor Statten started Ahmek in 1921, after having been enticed by the Chief at the Rotary Club of Toronto to be an Inky (now Bantam) counselor and sailing instructor with his experience from the RCYC.
He and his first wife Katie became leaseholders in 1936 on Blueberry Island in Bonito Lake (on the Oxtongue River between Canoe and Tea Lakes) until a freak tornado sent the cabin roof flying off to the mainland.
They rebuilt in 1938 on the east mainland, and were in residence from "ice out" to "ice in".
He and his second wife Nancie did the same.
Roper was a fine photographer, and established a respected printing and photography business as a second career.
Nancie is a painter whose work she only would give to friends as gifts, modestly enjoying the art and the giving.
They became great pals of Couchie and Harry Ebbs who also spent six months a year on Little Wap.
As well, they were all members of the Rotary Club and the Arts and Letters Club.
Roper and Nancie said goodbye to the Park after their boat dumped in the off-season and left them in the water for a considerable time.
Somebody from the Roots' cabin heard their cries and a near tragedy was averted.
Roper was well into his 90s when this occurred, and decided it was time to leave.
Roper's love and knowledge of the Park will be missed, as will his incredible vitality and his gift of the gab.
He surely would have won the Talk Fest at every Council Ring!
We'll always be able to picture Roper in his small tin boat wearing his Hudson Bay coat with his natty plaid beret set at a jaunty angle on his head.
Fires of Friendship sends our condolences to Nancie and thanks her for the friendship and fun she and Roper shared with so many in our community.
Sue "Swebbs" Ebbs |