“Cancer didn’t win, and it cannot don’t you see,
God’s Love is all around us, and that’s enough for you and me”

Born in New Westminster and a life-long resident of the Dunbar neighbourhood of Vancouver, Dad passed away, at age 66, after a fearless 17-month battle against pancreatic cancer.

Dad is survived by his wife of nearly 43 years Wendy, his daughters Gaelan (John Paul), Stephanie (Luke), brother-in-law Les Roblin (Carol) and close friends Dennis Pringle and Susan Davis. Dad loved animals and our family Springer Spaniels Chesterfield and Poppy will miss him. Sadly, Dad is also survived by his first grandchild who is due on November 7.

Some words to describe Dad: stubborn, grumpy, gruff, feisty and always confident. Throughout his life and right until his very last day, Dad put his family first. Dad was also nurturing, selfless and giving. He showed his love not through words (never words!) but through his actions, actions which usually involved food! One Father’s Day, Dad insisted he cook a full turkey dinner for his family.

Shortly after marrying Mom on July 26, 1969 Dad resigned his post at Hamilton Harvey, enrolled at UBC and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Education. Dad taught for the Vancouver School Board for 32 years until his retirement in 2007. Still to this day, Dad is a well-known teacher and coach and positively affected the lives of countless young people. In addition to being greatly missed by the many friends he made through teaching, his legacy will continue to inspire.

When Dad was younger he loved to play ball, swim and fish. In later years, he took up gardening and kept a beautiful yard. We decorated his hospital room with the beautiful and fragrant peonies he had planted months earlier.

Dad was obsessed with cooking dinner; starting to ponder options each day shortly after breakfast. Some favourites included: meatballs and chicken with rosemary from his garden. And although he lacked a sweet tooth, Dad also loved to bake – apple pies and banana bread and seemingly thousands (or 16 dozen to be specific) of cookies each Christmas. Dad wasn’t one for moderation.

Dad also enjoyed toiling around Dunbar – and specifically enjoyed drinking coffee at Beantown, dining at the Cozy Inn Café, shopping at Stong’s, renting videos at Nightwatch and hunting for treasure at neighbourhood garage sales. He loved running the dogs at the local school park.

We would like to thank the phenomenal nurses who cared for Dad at VGH and the friends who provided food, comfort, and compassion during his final weeks.

There will be a memorial service held on Wednesday, June 27 at 2:30pm at St. Augustine’s Anglican Church located at 8680 Hudson Street in Vancouver. Reception to follow at UBC Botanical Gardens (reception centre) located at 6804 SW Marine Drive in Vancouver. In lieu of flowers, donations to the BC Cancer foundation, Vancouver General Hospital or the BCSPCA are greatly appreciated.


Rest easy Daddypants. We love you.