Ian David Naismith, formerly a teacher at Montclair Kimberley Academy, passed away peacefully on Oct. 3, 2020, at AdventHealth Hospice Care East Florida in Palm Coast, Fla. He was 86.
The youngest of five sons, Mr. Naismith was born on Sept. 24, 1934. His parents, Alice (Cannon) and Archibald Naismith, were from Scotland. They were missionaries at the time in Narsapur, India, where he spent part of his childhood.
Mr. Naismith graduated from the University of Glasgow in Scotland and then Jordanhill College of Education, Glasgow. He majored in Latin, Greek and English.
He was an officer in the Royal Air Force, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for three years. He always had a love of sports, whether it was soccer, tennis, field hockey, paddle tennis, skiing or golf.
He began a career of teaching English at New Mexico Military Institute in 1959, taught briefly in California, and then took a post at Montclair Academy, now Montclair Kimberley Academy. He coached soccer and golf. While teaching, he acted in community theater all over the country, including Montclair.
At Montclair Academy Mr. Naismith was introduced to Elaine Deehan, whom he married in 1968. They recently celebrated 52½ years of marriage.
They belonged to Bradford Bath and Tennis Club and then Montclair Golf Club. It was at Montclair Golf Club where for over 30 years he was asked to propose the “Toast to the Haggis” by the poet Robert Burns at the club’s Member-Member Dinner.
After 11 years of teaching, Mr. Naismith went into the investment business, starting in 1968 at Goodbody & Co. He was involved with a variety of other firms, ending with Sands Brothers.
He and his wife, a flight attendant, traveled to many parts of the world and visited Bermuda each July with his wife’s parents and family members.
In September 2003 they moved from Essex Fells, retiring in Ormond Beach, Fla.
Mr. Naismith is survived by his spouse, Elaine; two brothers, Archibald (Greta, deceased), of Edinburgh, Scotland, and Edwy (Patricia), of Surrey, England; a sister-in-law, Jill Gilbert (Jack), of Scottsdale, Ariz.; three brothers-in-law, Gregg Deehan (Peggy), of Upper Montclair, Gary Deehan (Jody), of Jacksonville, Fla., and Alan Deehan (Sally), of Ponte Vedra, Fla., and 19 nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, Alice and Archibald Naismith of Carluke, Falkirk, Scotland, and two brothers, Dr. James Naismith (Margaret), of Ontario, Canada, and Dr. William Naismith (Elizabeth), of Largs, Scotland.
Ian will be greatly missed. A celebration of his life is planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to AdventHealth Hospice Care East Florida, 150 Memorial Parkway, Palm Coast, Fla. 32164.