Danny was born to move; soccer at Bobolink Park, delivering newspapers after school and, on his one speed bike, delivering telegrams downtown for the CN and Friday orders of fish and chips all over Fraserview. At eighteen he got his first adult job - working on ‘the gangs’ servicing poles along the CN tracks in northern BC.
Danny was a teacher. Though the majority of his teaching was in Vancouver secondary schools he began teaching in rural Australia (Gulgong) and spent three years in small missionary schools in Zimbabwe (Dette, Hwange).
His earliest years beside the railroad tracks at CN repeater stations in Woodcock and Burns Lake cemented his desire to travel. And travel he did. His best trips were on foot carrying all his needs in a backpack - hiking for weeks through the Grand Canyon and the Escalante River systems; climbing mountains – Kilimanjaro, the Inca Trail, to Everest base camp; rafting in northern BC down the Taku and Tatsenshini Rivers. He loved taking off in the old van or trailer to dry camp by some BC lake and keep the fire going all day; watching animals – Canadian bears, African wildlife, whales; sailing rivers around the globe on small boats. His last trip was up the BC coast on a tiny freighter in October 2021.
Danny judged his advancing age by the things he could no longer do: play Teachers’ and Red Wing hockey or run Marathons. He hated when he was no longer able to bike around the city or run his grueling hill runs.
Dan will be deeply missed by his best friend and constant travelling companion, his wife Donalda, and their extended families.
Our thanks to the VGH and BCCA doctors who helped him fight his cancers for eight years. Our gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff in the ER, Ward 8 and the Palliative Care Ward at VGH for all their care.
At Dan’s request there will be no gathering at this time.