Daughters remember their dad, the builder of Gastown’s steam clock [Video]

The daughters of the man who built Vancouver’s famous Gastown steam clock described their father as generous to a fault, with a rascally, quick-witted sense of humour.

On Saturday night, 84-year-old Ray Saunders joined friends for their weekly poker game. After midnight, he said his goodbyes and got into his car, but didn’t drive off.

“Up until his last moments, he was probably joking, having a good time, and then departed for the great beyond,” said his daughter, Kate Saunders.

In the 70s Saunders was asked by the City of Vancouver to build a clock to cover an unsightly steam vent in Gastown.

“He was scared out of his mind,” said his other daughter Julia. “He was like ‘sure, I can do that’. No idea what he was doing. Zero.”

He ordered parts from England and went thousands of dollars into debt, but in 1977 unveiled what would become one …