Jan Nablo (1939-2013)

We are deeply saddened to announce that Jan Nablo passed away on August 7, 2013 after succumbing to complications from diabetes. Jan was born in Toronto on September 5, 1939. He moved west in 1968 and has been a resident of West Vancouver since 1976. 

In his early years in Vancouver, Jan could be seen touring around in his convertible Mercedes sports car, often heading in the direction of the Hastings Racetrack. On many occasions Jan was able to cheer on one of the horses that he and his partners owned, an investment that he said rarely paid off, but was always good fun. 

Jan was also interested in film and television, which became his full-time career during these same years when he wrote for the CBC, and was particularly proud of the scripts he delivered for the long-running Beachcombers series. Jan also worked with his long-time friend, Red Robinson, writing the Timmy’s Telethon show for many years. 

Jan began teaching screenwriting in night courses for what was then Capilano College. He would return to school himself and earned his Masters degree in education. The teaching would turn into a two-decade commitment when the college decided to initiate a full-time film program and Jan became one of the founding members of what has developed into the Capilano University film school, now situated in the Nat and Flora Bosa Centre for Film and Animation. 

When Jan retired a few years ago, the faculty held his retirement party at the Hastings Racetrack. Since then Jan took up lawn-bowling and became a member of the West Vancouver club. In the mornings, he could often be found having his coffee at Delaney’s at Park Royal, then he was off to the West Vancouver library to read and study, and Friday evenings he could be found having a friendly glass at the Legion. A lifelong bachelor, Jan is survived by his niece Kim Demay, and the many friends who were his family, and we are all going to miss him.