David (Dave) Joseph Spurrell passed away on Saturday, January 22, 2022, at Vancouver General Hospital after a short illness. David was predeceased by his eldest daughter Sharon, his parents Marjorie and Willis, his sister Laura (Gerry), and his brother John (Margaret). He leaves behind Alice, his wife of 62 years, his daughters Julie, Susan and Allison (Joe), his sister Jan (Morris), and his cousin Celeste (Frank).
Dave was born October 8, 1934, in St. John’s Newfoundland. He graduated in 1955 from Memorial University of Newfoundland with a BSc in Engineering and earned a BEng in Electrical Engineering from McGill University in 1958. Just after graduating he met and married Alice, and they remained in Quebec while he worked for Southern Canada Power.
In 1965 Dave and a then-pregnant Alice packed the kids in the car and drove across Canada to start a new life in Vancouver. Dave had been hired by BC Hydro to work on the Columbia River power project, and Dave spent the next 30 years working in a variety of areas at BC Hydro as an Engineer and Project Manager. He loved this work, and the fine colleagues in Vancouver and across the province he had the opportunity to work with. He forged friendships there that lasted the rest of his life.
Outside of his work and family, Dave’s biggest passion was for wine. He and some friends started the Vancouver Wine Club in the early 1970’s, importing wine from Europe at a time when very little was available in BC. This club grew significantly over the next years, as did Dave’s interest in wine.
Dave was involved in many areas of the local food and wine community and belonged to several groups including the German Wine Society, the International Wine and Food Society, and the Commanderie de Bordeaux. Dave loved great meals and debating the qualities of a good vintage with Alice and his many friends.
Dave was also an early supporter of the Vancouver Playhouse Wine Festival, and until recently, when health kept him away, volunteered countless hours each year for this event. There was nothing Dave loved more than convincing new friends, colleagues or people on the bus that they needed wine in their lives, and the festival was the perfect place to do that.
Dave and Alice traveled all during their life together, and their favourite destinations were in Europe. Dave loved to visit wine growing areas, and between visits to Châteaux and wineries, even visited the occasional museum. Dave also enjoyed trips to the UK, Australia, China, South Africa and Brazil.
Dave retired from BC Hydro in 1995 and spent his retirement years pursing his many hobbies and enjoying life. He was a good friend, a raconteur, and had a great sense of humor. The most important thing in his life was Alice, though, and with a few short exceptions, they have been together every day since their wedding in 1959. Dave loved his friends and his family, but Alice was his true love from the day he met her.
The family would like to thank all the physicians and staff who helped Dave during the past three months at St. Paul’s, Holy Family, and the Vancouver General Hospitals. Their kindness and care are greatly appreciated.
At Dave’s request there will not be a funeral, but a Celebration of Life will be held later in the year when we can toast him properly. In lieu of flowers, donations to The Canadian Red Cross, The BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, or The Greater Vancouver Food Bank would be appreciated.