Dean Sawyer, a personable entrepreneur and philanthropist who operated a sewing-machine business in Victoria for more than 30 years, has died.
Sawyer was the second generation to run Sawyers Sewing Centre, taking over from his founding parents and working his way up from cleaning floors and fixing machines to running the retail business. He took it into the digital age and expanded the customer base to include mothers who made clothes for their families, male and female hobbyists, fashion designers and quilt makers.
Sawyer was 75 when he died on Nov. 2 from pancreatic cancer.
Like his father before him, Sawyer in 2009 passed Sawyer Sewing Centre to his son, Jarret Sawyer, who continues to operate the largest sewing store on Vancouver Island at 3400 Douglas St. The business was founded by Marion and David Sawyer on Fort Street in 1953.
Friends said Sawyer’s tenacity and positive outlook on everyday life was infectious, which helped make him a success in business.
Daughter Melanie Blecic said her father’s life motto was “life is good, no bad days … and he really lived like that. He really loved the business and he really cared about people.
“He would walk into a crowded room of strangers and come out with friends. That’s the way he was.”
Sawyer’s business acumen and success naturally led to philanthropy.
Sawyer helped to supply sewing machines and fabrics to a Victoria friend, Carol Romain, who lived in Mexico, where Sawyer sponsored children in need over the decades. In his office, he posted photos of the children in new school dresses made by parents and outreach workers and some from his own customers in Victoria. He paid for their dental work and put several through university.
Sawyer would visit them often, family members said, and their smiling faces brought him a lot of joy.
He supported Goward House, a seniors wellness facility in his own Cadboro Bay neighbourhood, and was a regular volunteer at the Rainbow Kitchen in Esquimalt, where he served soup and sandwiches every Monday until a few weeks before his death.
Steve Miller, who had known Sawyer since high school and remained life-long friends, said Sawyer was always positive.
“He was one of those guys who was always thoughtful, very caring,” said Miller, who lives in Nanaimo and visited Sawyer often. They called each other several times a week over the past four years.
Miller was diagnosed with ALS about the same time Sawyer found out he had cancer.
“We’ve shared a journey the last little while,” said Miller. “But it was always Dean who was asking me about how I was, how I was feeling … he just cared so much. It’s the type of guy he was, always thinking about someone else, not himself.”
The two met at Brentwood College, where he said Sawyer struggled with dyslexia, a lifelong learning disorder that affects reading and spelling. He received intensive tutoring at the Mill Bay school and took an extra two years to graduate, but it paid off.
He was named head boy in his senior year after serving as assistant head boy in his Grade 11 year.
In a 2004 interview with the Times Colonist, Sawyer said dyslexia taught him early lessons.” You learn to work around it and it brings other qualities out in people,” Sawyer said, adding he wanted others to know that they can be successful even with dyslexia.
Miller said Sawyer’s record in the 100-yard dash stood for more than 30 years at Brentwood and he was a standout rugby player. “Dean had tremendous leadership qualities,” said Miller. “But he never gave anyone the impression he was better or higher up. He always found the positive things in people and that why everyone liked and respected him so much.”
Miller named his son, Thomas Dean Miller, a Victoria firefighter, after his good friend. In a social media post this week, Thomas Miller called his “uncle” a generous and humble man. “He always had a smile on his face right to the end,” said Thomas Miller. “He was a big part of our lives … he and his laugh and charm will be dearly missed.”
Born in Qualicum Beach where he spent his younger years as a paper boy and swim instructor, Sawyer joined the family business in 1969 after graduating from Brentwood.
“He taught me the business just like he was taught,” said son Jarret. “You start from the bottom by emptying the garbage and cleaning the floors and learn every aspect of the business.”
He said his father was a mentor and a role model who excelled in customer service and lived life in a positive way.
The Sawyer family said their father loved boating and crabbing, often sharing his catch with passersby on the beach in front of their Cadboro Bay home. On summer days, he would commute to downtown via his boat to the Inner Harhour, waving to people along the way. In the front of his home, Sawyer had a flagpole where the flags would change almost weekly — from Christmas and Halloween greetings to the colours portraying friend’s countries of origins.
“He was pure positivity in everything he did,” said Jarret.
Sawyer is survived by Barbara, his wife of 43 years, children Jarret, Melanie, Jason and Krista and seven grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held on Nov. 24, 2 p.m. at the Uplands Golf Course, 3300 Cadboro Bay Rd. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking friends to consider donating to Victoria Rainbow Kitchen Society.
>>> To comment on this article, write a letter to the editor: [email protected]
