Ian Paul Mochrie died on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre with his family close by his side. Ian was born September 14, 1943 to Ethel (née Kaposy) and John Mochrie in Hamilton, Ontario. Ian had a difficult start to life when both his parents had to be hospitalized for tuberculosis, so he was partly raised by his grandparents.
He excelled in school and skipped a grade even though he suffered frequent asthma attacks, which would later dissipate with his eventual move to Northwestern Ontario. As a boy, he unknowingly broke his neck diving into a swimming pool, forcing him to spend a long time in hospital in traction. He emerged with an incredibly muscular neck and a love of Horatio Hornblower novels.
Ian’s mother, Ethel was a devout Catholic and he attended Catholic schools throughout his childhood. Perhaps owing to surviving his near-death experience breaking his neck he decided to pursue a life as a Catholic priest. This led him to schooling in Ottawa with the Oblates and he had placements in Thunder Bay, British Columbia, Ottawa, and Mexico before serving as a priest and missionary in Peru.
After 2 years in Peru he returned to Canada after just surviving a terrible bout with hepatitis. Soon after his return he hung up his priestly duties and went to teachers college. This led him first to Geralton for a one year posting and then to Red Lake where he taught Accounting, Computers, Law, Civics, Geography and even English to high school stu.