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May 28, 1953 - May 15, 2017

Dave has gone for another long walk... After two years of dealing with, fighting against and coming to terms with cancer, he passed away surrounded by love that he helped to create. In the midst of our roller coaster ride, Dave focussed on being true to himself. He shared as much time as possible with his family and friends, continued to create lasting memories, made us laugh as often as possible, played his favourite sports and taught us some new lessons in life. Family and friends will miss his unconditional love and loyalty. He was dedicated to his mom and dad, Olive and Al, his daughter Christina, his wife Debbie and his brother Doug. Everyone who knew him best will miss his wicked sense of humour, the famous maniacal laugh, his kindness and generosity, and his excitement when it came to learning new things. That idea of learning new things was especially evident in his teaching career. He modelled the attitude that risk-taking was a good thing. After moving from Robron to Timberline, Dave and a core group of students experimented and formed the foundations of a diverse, amazing program. He also became well known for his summer camps, evening courses and visits to elementary schools. In 2011, he received the Prime Minister’s Certificate of Achievement at the regional level. In 2012, he was recognized as one of the top 15 teachers in Canada and travelled to Ottawa to receive a Certificate of Excellence from the Prime Minister. He appreciated the recognition he received but was quick to share the credit with others who helped make the magic happen. Since moving to Campbell River, people have come to know him through hiking, kayaking, biking, floor hockey, badminton, table tennis and pickleball. While he could be fiercely competetive, one of his strengths as an athlete was his willingness to mentor others. He had the skills, patience and experience to be a great coach. As such, he encouraged many people and added to the enjoyment of their given sport. Parting reminders from Dave: The family that plays together, stays together. Truth is truth. Reality sucks...but it doesn’t go away. We are not lost, we just arrived at an unexpected destination. You can never have enough fuzzy blankets. The phrase “Yes dear” is an important relationship tool. Retire as soon as you possibly can! Very special thanks go to Dr. Meckin, Dr. Prinsloo and a host of wonderful nurses who helped to take care of Dave. Key members of Team Coad deserve big hugs - Kim, Heather and Charlotte.

A gathering is planned for September 2017. More details will be shared at a later date.



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