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Rowlands, Wolfe soared through life

Elwyn Rowlands and his wife Kim Wolfe will be remembered for many things. But at the top of everyone’s list is the intense love they showered their children with and passion with which they lived their lives.

Elwyn Rowlands and his wife Kim Wolfe will be remembered for many things.

But at the top of everyone’s list is the intense love they showered their children with and passion with which they lived their lives.

"They soared through life at incredible speed," said Tanya Rowlands, Elwyn’s sister-in-law.

"Touching so many people's lives throughout the world in many different ways.

"Seeing, doing, being. If there was a line to stop at, Elwyn would be beyond it in a blink of an eye, testing what it would bring.

"If you ventured with Elwyn, you would always come back with a story."

Elwyn Rowlands and his wife were killed Wednesday, April 17 when their southbound 1979 Cadillac hit a northbound F250 pickup on Highway 99.

Their daughter, nine-year-old Stacy, who was sitting in the front of the car, suffered serious injuries, but is recovering, after surgery.

Cyrus, four-and-a-half, who was sitting in the back seat of the car, has multiple fractures, and other injuries. He is also recovering and enjoying ice-cream in the hospital. He is now able to get around in a wheelchair.

It has yet to be determined if either child suffered any long-term head injuries.

Both have had their first visit from big brother Jake, 11, who was not in the car at the time of the accident and is now staying with Elwyn’s sister and her husband in Surrey.

According to investigators, everyone was wearing a seatbelt except Kim Wolfe, 38.

Elwyn was definitely one of Whistler’s most dynamic characters, He dabbled in real estate and there’s little doubt he had a checkered past.

But, said long-time friend Brian Brown, "He was a very caring person."

"He would give you the shirt off his back. He would do anything for a friend. He doted on his children. He just loved them. There was no lack of love in that family."

The Rowlands lived with Brown for several months when Cyrus was a baby. "The baby went from rolling over to walking when they were with me," said Brown.

"This is very difficult. It's all just rattling around in my head."

Rowlands was a photographer and if you look in just about any of the coffee shops or restaurants where the locals hang out, you'll find his pictures.

He went to every Olympics except the last and unofficially took pictures. He shot ski races at Whistler, rock concerts and captured the spirit of a hundred lives and a thousand places through his lens.

An especially amazing feat since he was colour blind.

For the most part Rowlands, 49, gave away his photographs to friends or put them up where people could enjoy them. But he also sold them freelance when he could.

"He was an amazing photographer," said Brown. "There are pictures of his all over the world."

Colin Pitt-Taylor, owner of Junction Cafe and Riverside Cafe, has had Rowlands’ shots on his walls for years. There is even one of Jake as a toddler.

"He took fantastic photos," said Pitt-Taylor. "Thousands of them.

He would say, ‘Take this one if you like it. Have another.’

"He was bigger than life. He was definitely a character in Whistler."

Virtually everyone recalls the time he built his own scaffolding at a World Cup downhill ski race in 1996. He just had to get above the safety fencing to get that perfect shot. Sadly the race was cancelled due to poor weather.

Then there was the time he took off on a ski trip to celebrate a friend's birthday. On the way back from Smithers the plane crashed and Rowlands and his friends had to crawl out of the fuselage, which reeked of airplane fuel, and walk to safety.

"He was the best," said Brown. "I just saw him and he was so proud because he just got that Cadillac."

Cal Schacter, owner of Southside deli, knew Elwyn for 30 years. They first met when Schacter was just 16.

"He loved his kids and he loved to ski Whistler," said Schacter who hadn’t seen as much of Rowlands in the past few years.

"I always give the kids a donut when they come past. He would bring them in for lunch.

"He was a crazed genius who did things his way.

"You could describe him as a non-conformist."

Myrtle Philip Elementary school principal Bob Daly said Stacy and Jake are "both wonderful kids."

"Jake is one of those kids who just loves to help out around here.

He always volunteers to help with things.

"Stacy is really a very pleasant girl. We are all very sad around here."

Many of her friends have already reached out and sent stuffed animals, balloons and gifts to Stacy in hospital – all of which have brought a smile to her face, say relatives.

"She is going to be as beautiful as she was," said "Auntie" June Paley, who visited Stacy in hospital over the weekend.

A good friend of the family, Paley recalled Kim, a baker by training, as: "An intelligent, resourceful, and creative person that gave her children all the guidance and love in the world."

"Kim loved quiet, private times. She loved bubble baths. Whenever I could I would give her coupons which said, ‘good for one bubble bath and a pedicure’ and she would keep them.

"And the other coupon I would give her was ‘good for one kitchen organization.’

"She had a whole cupboard full of common sense. She made the best Ceasar salad dressing in the whole valley. You can ask anybody about that.

"She was a beautiful, beautiful lady."

A memorial service was held in Cloverdale on Thursday, at the Cloverdale Baptist Church.

A service for Kim is being planned for her birthday on May 5. Plans aren’t finalized yet but it’s likely the memorial will be at Millennium Place with a celebration of their lives to be held at Buffalo Bills afterwards.

A trust fund is also being set up for the children. Details are still being worked out. Information on this and other memorial activities can be found at www.jcrconsulting.com/rowlands