Thursday, July 26, 2007

remembering Kenny Lim


July 26, 2007 sucks.

It's the day I learned the news that CTV Vancouver (VTV) graphics guru and all-around-decent human being Kenny Lim died while rescuing his son from drowning.

Here's the original note along with with the script for the news story that aired in Kenny's memory.

For those of you who may not have been at work today -- on one of the saddest days in our memory -- I wanted to make sure you knew about the tragic passing of a beloved member of our CTV family, Kenny Lim.

Kenny died last Saturday trying to save his 10 year old son Dexter from drowning at a campground near Thunder Bay, Ontario. Dexter survived, but Kenny lost his life. He was 47 years old.

Kenny, as most of you know, was a VTV original. He signed on the day that the station signed on, Sept. 22, 1997. He was one of the gentlest souls most of us have ever known.

Funeral arrangements are still being made but the service will likely be next Tuesday.

We ran a video tribute to Kenny as a show-closer in the 6 tonight, and it will run again at 1130. For those of you who may not be able to see it .. I've attached the script below.


[KENNY DEDICATION]
[SHOW=6:00]
[WRI=mha]
[TAPE=050219 @ 51:00]


[ON CAM](**ON CAM**)
WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH A TRIBUTE TO KENNY LIM --- A BELOVED MEMBER OF OUR CTV FAMILY.

[VO](**V/O**)
KENNY LIM LOST HIS LIFE LAST WEEKEND TRYING TO SAVE HIS TEN YEAR OLD SON DEXTER FROM DROWNING DURING A FAMILY CAMPING TRIP NEAR THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO. EVEN THOUGH HE COULD NOT SWIM, KENNY DID NOT HESITATE TO TRY TO RESCUE HIS SON. DEXTER SURVIVED. KENNY -- SADLY -- DID NOT.

KENNY IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE CYNTHIA AND HIS THREE CHILDREN -- 14 YEAR OLD MALIKA, 10 YEAR OLD DEXTER AND 7 YEAR OLD AKITA. OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THEM AT THIS DIFFICULT TIME.

KENNY WAS A GRAPHIC ARTIST HERE AT CTV. HE WAS AN ORIGINAL -- JOINING THE STATION THE VERY DAY WE SIGNED ON TO THE AIRWAVES -- SEPTEMBER 22, 1997. WE -- AT CTV -- WILL BE SETTING UP A SCHOLARSHIP AT A LOCAL ART OR FILM SCHOOL IN HIS MEMORY.

[BLACK=:50]


(**ON CAM**) [ON CAM]
KENNY WAS A TALENTED ARTIST, A BOY-SCOUT LEADER AND A GREAT FRIEND TO SO MANY OF US. BUT MOST OF ALL HE WAS A PASSIONATE AND DEVOTED FATHER. THE KIND OF FATHER WHO WOULD NOT HESITATE TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS CHILDREN. THAT IS HOW WE WILL REMEMBER KENNY LIM.

-30-

Kenny Lim was a talented, warm, caring, gregarous character that made CTV a better place to be.

I would often seek refuge in the graphics room and talk with Kenny about life, computers, travels. He was always interested in my travels and listened to my endless babble about borders.

Life wasn't always easy for Kenny and yet he always overcame his struggles... and was always quick to smile.

I was lucky to have met someone like Kenny Lim. And it is a testament to his life that he died an honest-to-goodness hero.


I'll miss him.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am sorry for your loss. True heros come few and far apart. It sounds like he was a hero during his life, giving refuge from the daily grind to those who needed it, as well as at the end of his life trying to save his son.

CanuckOnFire

Anonymous said...

I saw Kenny's memorial on the news yesterday and was devastated. He was a teaching assistant when I was at VFS/Digipen in 1990. Kenny was an awesome mentor and one of the nicest guys I've ever met. It was just like him to risk his life for another. He'll always be a hero to me.

Casey

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry for your loss. Kenny helped videotape my choir's year end concert at the Chan Centre last month. It was a milestone concert in my choir's history, and I am so grateful that Kenny helped put it in on DVD. Thinking of all of you during this tragic time.

David

Anonymous said...

Words can not describe on how I feel, I lost my father figure.

Don

Anonymous said...

Hello There. I know you don't know me. Or maybe you do. I don't feel I know you but I thank you for these kind words about my father. He was a great man. And to this day. Will now and forever missed. A hole in my heart is there for him, and will always be till I meet with him in Heaven. I wanted to know his memory is here always. I know that you have memories with him and that you idolise him so perfectly is so beautiful to me.

May your life be happy.
Malika Lim