Veteran tourism entrepreneur Ian Crawford will be missed
Veteran Eastern Cape hotel and tourism magnate Ian Crawford died on Monday morning after a long battle with heart disease.
Crawford, 71, is the founder of well known establishments such as Crawfords Beach Lodge in Chintsa, the Haylards Hotel in Port Alfred and the Ocean View Hotel in Coffee Bay.
His son Mark posted about his father’s passing on social media with hundreds of tributes following soon under the post.
Crawford was born in Johannesburg but subsequently moved to the Eastern Cape, where he built a name for himself in the business world.
He was the father of two boys, Justin and Mark, husband to Lynn, and a grandfather of three.
Mark regarded his father’s death as inevitable, but he was relieved that he had died a happy man.
Crawford was hit by a stroke while having tea with his family on Monday afternoon and died soon after.
According to Mark, his father was not just a family guy but an entrepreneur who valued his business and the community in which he lived.
He said his father loved life and that his contributions to society and as a father were valued by his family.
He expressed gratitude for having a strong father who prioritised his family above all else, for the life lessons and guidance he provided, and the pledge that the business he left would be inherited by the next generation.
“Everything my father did, he did for our family.
“He established everything for the rest of our lives, not in terms of money, but in terms of business and jobs.
“His entire goal was to establish a family company so that we could provide for the following generation as well.
“My father was a visionary; he could see things that other people couldn’t see and areas that didn’t appear to have promise or economic opportunities.”
Mark said his father would be remembered for his loving heart, overcoming adversity, and never being afraid to follow his dreams despite the odds.
“If my father desired anything, nothing could ever stop him, and he would not allow anybody to sway him. Therefore I will remember him as someone who never gave up.”
Though his death was unexpected, the family are relieved that their father and husband died peacefully.
“Our father died happy and we are happy that he died on his own terms. He lived life in the fast lane and he died quickly. We were together as a family when he passed away but everyone was happy.
“It ended well and on good terms; he was home drinking his favourite tea,” he said.