RONALD FRANCIS FACH (July 26, 1932 - January 14, 2016) United States and Canadian Mariner, Captain Ronald Francis Fach, age 83, passed peacefully on January 14, 2016. He was the son of Philip L. Fach and Lillian “Lilly” Fach. Captain Ron grew up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada where he married Donna Baden (deceased) in 1949. Together they raised three sons, Gary, Douglas and Kenneth. He was a devoted father, husband, brother and friend. Ron was a man of many talents and interests. He played the piano by ear, never having had a music lesson. Ron earned a private pilots license in 1949 and later became a commercial pilot flying for Canadian Pacific Airlines. Ron’s creativity knew no bounds. He was an inventor, a marketer, a writer and photographer creating several coffee table and instructional books for Reader’s Digest and Evergreen Press out of Toronto, Canada. Later he became a licensed sea captain and converted a retired U.S. Navy minesweeper into a private yacht. The ship, “Donalee” plied the waters of the Northwest Coast of British Columbia, the Queen Charlotte Islands and Alaska doing both private fishing charters and reforestation under contract with the Department of Lands and Forests. His sons and wife, Julie Bair, acted as crew and cook respectively. Later Ron and Julie bought the 83’ private Yacht, Etiole de Mer, docked in Grenada, West Indies. From there they travelled throughout the Caribbean and South America under charter for a company that sold fine jewellery, watches and other wares to the Duty Free shops throughout the Caribbean. Ron came to South Florida in 1977 where he is best known as the “Animal Whisperer” throughout the area. He procurred food and supplies for victims of several hurricanes, human and animal alike, in South Florida as well as Louisiana. Animals. particularly doberman pinschers, were his greatest love. His commitment to the welfare of animals and the education of those who come in contact with them is legendary. There was no such word as “can’t” in the Captain’s vocabulary and he excelled at every task he undertook, regardless of the magnitude of challenge. Ron lobbied before county commissioners to get laws passed which would end the senseless slaughter of stray animals in Broward County shelters. His home in Lauderdale Lakes became either temporary respite or permanent shelter for untold numbers of animals in need. Ron simply would not refuse, regardless of the lengths he had to go to. He is loving remembered by numerous friends, colleagues and acquaintances. Survived by his sons and one brother, Kenneth, former wife Julie and his devoted doberman pinscher, Ruby. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to any recognized animal welfare organization in his name. Cremation and to have his ashes sent out to sea along with those of his beloved dog, Toma, were Ron’s wish. A celebration of the life of Captain Ron and dispersal of the ashes will be announced at a later date. .