VAN RIJN, Kiran. An athlete and scholar, Kiran died suddenly, of cardiac arrhythmia, while training for the sport he loved most - rowing - on Burnaby Lake, B.C., on September 21, 2005, at the age of 29. Kiran was the beloved only son of Carol and Dr. Theo van Rijn of Vancouver. He also leaves his devoted younger sister Catriana, of Vancouver and his grandmother Katherine (Stevens) Hickey, of London, Ont. He was predeceased by his grandparents Mary and Arie van Rijn, who adored Kiran. He never knew his maternal grandfather, Stewart Stevens, who died before Kiran was born. He will be sorely missed by his aunts and uncles, Susan (van Rijn) and Duncan Gow of Kingston, Ontario, and Lin and Geoffrey Stevens, of Cambridge, Ont. A brilliant student on the cusp of life, Kiran graduated from St. George's School in Vancouver and earned his B.Sc. at the University of British Columbia, his B.A. at the University of Victoria and his masters degree at the University of Toronto, where he was working toward his Ph.D. in the history of science and technology. If academic life was to be Kiran's future, his passion was rowing, a sport in which he excelled and in which he competed at an elite level in Canada and abroad. Formerly a member of Canada's national rowing team, he was a finalist in the senior men's singles sculls at the Canadian Henley Regatta in Port Dalhousie, Ont., this past summer. A memorial service will be held later at St. George's School.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to a rowing scholarship in Kiran's name St. George's (4175 W. 29th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. V6S 1V1) or to the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be greatly appreciated by the family. (continued below)
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Kiran placed fourth in the men's double with Brian Siebert of Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. at he Princeton World Cup in the men's double; Kiran also participated in several National Team trials.
On behalf of Rowing Canada:
"National Team rowers and coaches mourn the loss of Kiran. He was a fine person who was regarded highly by all. Our condolences go out to Kiran's family who were such supporters of his rowing activities." - High Performance Director Alan Roaf.
A message from Mike Bagshawe on behalf of Burnaby Lake:
"I've just returned home from a dock-side memorial that the club held to pay their respects to Kiran. [So many people were present that the dock started to sink]. Dick McClure spoke a few very-well chosen words about Kiran, we observed a minute of silence, and we scattered flowers and petals on the water prior to going out on the water." - Mike Bagshawe.