Courtesy Vancouver Province:

No words. Nothing. The Lions had been together for nearly an hour at a previously-scheduled family picnic at their Surrey practice facility and very few could even speak after learning of the death of Bob Ackles.

The president of the CFL team, author and man synonymous with both the birth and renaissance of the franchise, passed away early Sunday of a heart attack while out for a walk by himself on Bowen Island.

Ackles had spent more than five decades with the club, starting from waterboy to his return from a 15-year stint in the NFL to become the organization’s top executive prior to the 2002 season.

Replacing him, based on his body of work, will be impossible.

“If you knew Bob, the way he would want us to handle this would be to get on with business and starting tomorrow — that’s what we’re going to do,” said business vice-president George Chayka, who will assume operational duties of the club on an interim basis.

“This is a time to grieve, but we’ll continue to move forward.”

Ackles, 69, and his wife, Kay, had docked their boat, Water Buoy, at Bowen on Saturday and he suffered a heart attack while out for a stroll Sunday morning.

If football and family represented the biggest part of his life, boating was a close second. The couple routinely would travel through Howe Sound on weekends.

In addition to his wife of 48 years, Ackles is survived by two sons, including Calgary Stampeders president Scott Ackles, who flew to Vancouver immediately upon learning of his father’s passing.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Ackles was in the Lions locker room immediately following the club’s 26-16 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders Friday listening to coach Wally Buono’s post-game speech.

Earlier in the day, Ackles met with Hamilton-based club owner David Braley and verbally agreed to a three-year contract extension.

Ackles and Buono again met briefly in the president’s office in Surrey early Saturday and went over the details of the game, as was always the case after every contest.

They would not speak again.

“Bob used to tell me, ‘Sleep on the losses and work on the next victory,’” said Buono, visibly shaken at a news conference Sunday.

The two discussed more wins than losses the last five seasons since Ackles hired Buono away from Calgary prior to the 2003 season.

And few in the Vancouver business community would not return a call from the club president, who leaves a season ticket base for the Lions that is four times higher than when he returned six seasons ago.

“It was our league that virtually adopted him when he was just a boy, and it’s our league that has looked to him as a man for counsel, inspiration and leadership by example,” commissioner Mark Cohon said in a statement.

“His contribution was so tremendous, and our gratitude is so profound, they exceed even the deep sense of loss we feel today. We’ve lost one of the true greats.”

In recent months, Ackles was the lead voice of dissent against a move to bring the NFL’s Buffalo Bills to Toronto for eight games over the next five years, saying it would have a profoundly negative effect on the CFL.

But Ackles had already done so much more, not only rebuilding the Lions but making them a brand name throughout the province.

“He built a team and as he did, he strengthened our province and our country,” B.C. premier Gordon Campbell said in a statement.

At the Surrey practice facility where office walls are littered with Ackles’ personal photos depicting the history of the franchise, staffers and players lined the hallways Sunday, some in shock and others sharing memories.

“He brought professionalism back to the organization,” said slotback Bret Anderson, the longest-serving player on the active roster. “I’d like to personally thank Bob and his family for everything they’ve contributed to this city and organization.”

Part of the legacy Ackles created was also evident outside the facility, as players and coaches met for a picnic.

“He should be here,” said assistant coach Mike Roach, next to Ackles the oldest member of the organization. “He is the Lions.”

He always will be, too.

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