October 1, 1951 – November 5, 2013
It is with great sadness we announce that Dan has passed away after a long and brave battle with cancer. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family. Dan was born in Cranbrook, BC, and spent his childhood living in many communities all around the province. Dan was a proud husband, father, long-serving police officer, cook, adventurer, volunteer, baseball coach and inspiration to us all. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Barbara, son Jimmy, daughter Coralie, siblings Bob, Ted (Kathy), Donna, Mickey and Ken (Gail), cousin David (Genevieve), as well as several nieces and nephews, and many close friends. He lived every moment to its fullest and was known to always appreciate each of them by saying ‘it doesn’t get any better than this.’ He will always be appreciated and will forever be in our hearts.
There will be a Celebration of Life to remember Dan, on Saturday, November 16th at the Windsor Pavilion in Oak Bay at 1:30pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the BC Cancer Agency’s Vancouver Island Centre, or Victoria Hospice. Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Bros. Funeral Home
30 Responses
I just now found out this news, and I am so very sad. Dan was one of the best people I’ve ever met. What energy! Please accept my belated condolences. I hope the very best for all of you. He is not a man to be easily forgotten…..Mike
Late in offering but none the less, he will be remembered with affection for all he did for our son, Bruce.
Sincere condolences to the family!!
It is with profound sadness that I recently learned of Dan’s passing. As a former Principal of Willows Elementary School it was a true privilege to be talking with Dan, both as a parent and as the liaison officer. What an amazing presence. Less than a year ago I had a chance to ‘catch up’ with Dan and he recounted his recent joy at learning Italian (becoming trilingual) and spending time in Italy. He was a humble man, a man who made real differences. Though he would never tell you so, he was a man who actually saved people. I barely knew Dan but as most who came to be in his company it was as if I had known him forever. There are no words that can capture his giving spirit and how people such as myself felt richer just for the privilege of being in his company.
Hi Barb, Jimmy and Coralie,
We were really sorry to hear of Dan’s death. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
My dear friends Barb, Jim, Coralie,
I cannot express in words what my heart and soul are feeling. So sad but I smile when I think of the times we were able to meet, few though they were. I recall our road trip, as well as laughs, stories, and wine we shared in Victoria and in our yard here in Edmonton. What a blessing he was to you, and you were to him. May you find strength in in each other as you go through these difficult times ahead.
I love you all.
Dear Barb, Jimmy and Coralie,
My sincere condolences, Barb and family.
I just happened upon Dan’s obituary when I googled to see if I could find an address for your family. I will forever remember your courtship and how much fun Dan was, and how he made you laugh, Barb. Unfortunately, our lives took us in different directions, and we seem to have lost touch, but in reading the above condolences, it sounds as though you have lost a special soul-mate and a wonderful father.
Know that my thoughts and prayers are with you–Debbie
Barb, Jimmie,Coralie. It was a privilege to have known Dan for as short a time as we did but every meeting or party we attended we knew he was someone and yourselves that we needed to know. His caring outlook and positive being made him a very special person we looked forward to meeting the next time. We will miss you Dan. Our hearts go out to your family.
Dear Barb, Jim and Coralie
It’s so hard to belief that our wonderful friend, Dan, has gone. We had so many great times together over the last 26 years since we met. So many plans and schemes were hatched (remember the flower presses?) ; so many laughs and a few hard times thrown in to test us. But one thing has always been constant- our friendship. He never ceased to amaze us with his enthusiasm and many talents- linguist, artist, photographer, gardener, chef, story-teller. Dan faced these last few years with such strength and determination. He helped us face them, too. Despite his illness we grasped every moment we could share with him and we’re so glad we did. We just wanted more.
Love,
Lorna, Terry, Cam and Mel
Hello to the family that I never had the privilege to meet but whose husband and father I was blessed to know in the community. My name is Katrinka and I had an “always full” foster home in Oak Bay. Dan seemed to be on call so many times when I had a youth that was late for curfew.
I would like to tell you the story of one evening that he helped make me a Dan Fan.
I had 2 girls living with me that enjoyed walking around Oak Bay – Dan knew them – they were late – I had to call in to the station to report them. Dan arrived at my door (again) and I gave him pictures of them. He told me that there was a large group of youth partying over by the St. Pats’ School – he went to check for me, found them and offered them a ride home. They accepted, arrived at the front door and nicknamed him “Dan Dan the Po–lice man”. One of them pinched his cheek. He helped them to understand that “cops” are good men too.
At around 1am that very same evening the police received a call from an Oak Bay neighbour stating that there were kids stuck in Bowker Creek!!! Dan responded to the call and found my son and his best friend walking up and down the creek bed to drunk to know how to get out. They had been thru the tunnel with a cell phone light. This was 1 night before their grade 12 graduation.
He hauled them out of the creek, wrapped them up in his emergency blankets, allowed them into the back seat of his patrol car and brought them home. He knocked on the door very quietly and when I answered he said ” I have something in the back seat of my car but, I don’t know if you want them or not”. Going down my front stairs towards his vehicle he laughingly mentioned that “Katrinka, we all do something like this now and again”. He helped me get these 2 boys up the front stairs and we left them in the roman tub while we had a cuppa herb tea in the kitchen.
He was an emissary for the police, a lovely man, he seemed to edify all around him, always seemed to have a smile to offer and he was gracious, very gracious.
My last visit with Dan was at his house when Mike Martin told me that he was now really struggling with his cancer. We talked of Italy, Italian food and wine, learning languages and his desire to bring Barb on a holiday.
So …. to his family …. all I can say is that when the painful bite of loss hits you and those hot, searing tears stream unbidden down your cheeks, please know that his warm and giving smile is etched forever on many peoples brains and that you had an excellent husband and father.
Dear Barb and family. When I read to notice in the Edmonton Police Vets newsletter it hit me like a sledgehammer to the head. Dan was the first recruit I trained as a field training officer and we laughed hard and often. Dan was quite a character as I am sure everyone knows. Thirty years later he still comes up in our old war stories. I will never forget a serious assault investigation we dealt with involving a gang of young Chileans, As we interviewed them they mocked the two gringos in Spanish joked about their offence and beating they had given the complainants. Dan winked at me and allowed them to go on for a few minutes longer before switching to fluent Spanish, explaining the facts of life to them and advising them of their arrest. I worked with many different cops in my career and not all of them earned to title “partner”, I am proud and privileged to be able to have called Dan my partner.