Terence Carson Flood
Obituaries
Vail Daily page A9 - April 17, 2006
Terence Carson Flood died April 15 after a short illness. He was born in Montreal, Canada in 1923, the only son of the late Herbert Carson and Alice Green. Terry became a full-time resident of Beaver Creek, Colo., in 1987 and lived there until his death.Terry was a student at McGill University in Montreal at the outbreak of World War II. Putting his studies on hold, he lied about his age and enlisted in the Royal Candaian Air Force. As one last adventure before going off to war, accompanied by two buddies and an American Indian guide, they paddled a canoe through the Great Lakes to Hudson Bay and back to Montreal, all the while living off the land.Terry had learned to fly at the age of 15 while accompanying his father, a World War I pilot, on hunting and fishing trips. As a pilot officed attached to the RAF (401 Squadron), he flew the Spitfire MKV City of Westmount. The cockpit had to be specially adapted to fit his 6-foot 3-inch frame. He managed to persuade his commanding officer to post him in Scotland for basic training so that he could indulge in his passion of skiing. However, after some unauthorized daredevil flying stunts, he was dispatched back to England in a hurry. There, from airfields such as Biggin Hill and Tangmere, he saw action in the Battle of Britain, was twice shot down and wounded by enemy fire, and by the wars end, held the rank of wing commander.After the war, Terry went home to Montreal to complete his degree at McGill and returned to England to obtain an MBA at Oxford University before becoming an investment banker in Montreal and later in New York. Upon retirement, he moved to Beaver Creek and for the second time, was qualified as a ski instructor and followed his lifelong love for outdoor life. Much of his free time was spent fly fishing on the Eagle River, even in winter, and he got great enjoyment from watching the elk, deer, birds and other wildlife in the mountains.Terry was very active in the local community and served as a director of the Beaver Creek Corporation, as well as a member of the board of the homeowners association.He was married four times. In 1952 to Lucinda Vaughan; in 1960 to Joan McDonald (d. 1969); in 1970 to Ruth Cushing; and in 1987 to Joan Tribuno (d. 2003).He is survived by five children: Howard Flood, Maria Brown, Jan Allardt, Ruth Demuth, Margaret Vulliez, and three stepchildren: Russell McCandless, Nancy McCandless and Harry Cushing Jr. Terry was also survived by thirteen grandchildren and a step-brother, Peter Flood. Terry is also survived by Suzanne McFarlane, a friend of 47 years.A celebration of his life will be held in the summer, details to be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Terrys memory to the Vail Valley Hospice or Trout Unlimited. Cremation arrangements were performed by the Everett Funeral Home of Gypsum.
