Tributes have been paid to Fermanagh man Marty Ansfield, who passed away on the day he was recognized for his volunteering efforts with Sailability NI, a charity that supports disability sailing.
The 63-year-old volunteered for many years at Lough Erne Yacht Club, Foyle Sailability and Belfast Lough Sailability.
He was due to be awarded ‘Volunteer of the Year’ at the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Northern Ireland annual awards last Friday, April 19.
Hours earlier, however, Mr Ansfield passed away.
His wife of 37 years, Jenny, still went to the awards ceremony and accepted the award on his behalf in his honor.
“They changed the whole event just so I could accept the award and he got a standing ovation,” she said.
“The award is now donated to Sailability at Lough Erne Yacht Club in his honor, something I cherished so much.”
Jenny and the other volunteers have pledged to continue Mr Ansfield’s legacy of helping others enjoy watersports.
Mr Ansfield had a life-long love of sailing and watersports and worked as a jet-skiing, powerboat and water-skiing instructor for many years.
Last year he spent 24 hours at the helm of various boats on Lough Erne — at times with just two oxygen cylinders for company — and battled high winds and fatigue to smash his fundraising target raising £8,000 for two charities close to his heart – Pulmonary Fibrosis NI and Sailability NI.
Mr Ansfield was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis six years ago and was on oxygen therapy 24/7 as he awaited an assessment to see if he was suitable to go on the lung transplant list.
Unfortunately, Jenny said her heart wasn’t strong enough to receive a transplant.
Mr Ansfield is survived by his wife Jenny, his sons Steven and Alan, and five grandchildren.
His funeral took place last Tuesday in Inishmacsaint Parish Church followed by burial in the adjoining churchyard.
When he was first diagnosed six years ago, Mr Ansfield was working part-time as a ferry driver on the crossing to Devenish Island after a 35-year military career.
When his symptoms began, he made stopped driving the ferry, although he continued to work as a disabled sailing instructor for Sailability NI.
He and his wife Jenny had been supported by Pulmonary Fibrosis NI, and they were the first people to enjoy a week’s respite in the charity’s Puffin Lodge, an oxygen-equipped static mobile home in Ballycastle, two years ago.
Jenny said that the support the family received from Pulmonary Fibrosis NI was “first class.”
“All the doctors and nurses and healthcare professionals all just treated him like royalty, they were brilliant,” she said.
“Marty was always one to put others first, if he could help anyone in any way he would have.
“I was always by his side in all he did, he taught me all there is to know about boats, so I just hope I can continue on the great work he did.”
Marty Ansfield
Lough Erne Yacht Club, Belfast Lough Sailability and RYA Northern Ireland were among those paying tribute to Mr Ansfield.
RYA NI described him as “an inspiration to people of all ages through his incredible determination, passion for sailing and fantastic sense of humour”.
Kenny Donaldson from the South East Fermanagh Foundation victims group said: “I’ve never known Marty to be anything other than being there to serve other people and help them; “he seemed to have a natural trait to want to care for other people.”
Mr Ansfield volunteered for the organization for almost two years as a ‘community calling’ volunteer and would make contact with approximately 15 members a week to check in and connect. He was a member of SEFF for around 10 years prior to his volunteering.
Marty met Princess Anne just two weeks ago during her visit to Enniskillen
Mr Donaldson added: “Right up until the end he was determined to live life to the full and we can safely say Marty lived life well and left a legacy behind of the good he’s done for people right across the community.
“He also enjoyed bringing veterans out onto the lough as he was a very competent and capable sailor who knew the lough very well.
“Jenny also deserves a mention, his loving wife, as she was always by his side no matter what he was doing. “They were a very special couple.”
