The Calgary Flames shared some sad news on Monday, announcing that co-owner Alvin Libin has passed away at the age of 95.

In the media release, Calgary Sports and Entertainment board chairman Murray Edwards shared a statement of remembrance for Libin: “Alvin was a great partner and friend to all owners over the years. His passion for the Calgary Flames and the other CSEC teams was second to none. Alvin will be missed, and we extend our deepest sympathies to the entire Libin family.”

CSEC President Robert Hayes added in the release: “Today we mourn the loss of a remarkable individual and respected member of our ownership group. Alvin’s vision, generosity, and passion helped shape not only CSEC but also the broader community. He was a respected and trusted leader, a valued partner, a community philanthropist, and a friend to many. While his impact on CSEC will endure for generations, it is the relationships he built and the lives he touched that will be remembered most.”

Born in Calgary in April 1931, Libin built up considerable business interests over the years in real estate, oil and gas and financial services. He also leveraged his business skills in a variety of leadership roles for charitable endeavours, including a decade as chairman of the board of trustees of the Foothills Hospital, a decade in a similar role for the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, and several philanthropic endeavours with the University of Calgary, including the establishment of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute, which works to integrate and strengthen cardiac research, education, treatment and patient care in Calgary and southern Alberta, and the Libin Gene Therapy Unit, which funds research to explore new therapies for heart disease, diabetes, mellitus, arthritis and cancer.

Libin was made an officer of the Order of Canada in 2001 an inducted as a member of the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2004.

In addition to his various other roles, Libin joined the Flames ownership group in 1994, as part of a changing of the guard of the ownership group that saw Sonia Scurfield and Norman Kwong depart and Edwards and Libin join, along with Ron Joyce, Allan Markin, J.R. “Bud” McCaig and Grant Bartlett. During Libin’s tenure, the Flames took over operations of the Saddledome and added the Calgary Hitmen, Roughnecks and Stampeders to their portfolio. Libin helped steward the franchise through some complex and occasionally turbulent times.

Libin leaves a considerable legacy in the local community in a lot of different ways. Our condolences to those who knew him.