Donald Ian Victor

Died suddenly and peacefully, surrounded by his family and the prayers of his friends, on December 26th, 2014, in the ICU of the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, BC. 

Born in Toronto on May 21st, 1952, and raised in Montreal, Ian studied at McGill University, where he earned a BA, a Bachelor of Theology, and a Master of Divinity from the Presbyterian College. In 2010 he was recognised for his outstanding contributions to ministry and was conferred with a Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa) from his alma mater.

Called Dr. Victor by his students, Rev. Ian by his parishioners, Ian by his friends and family, Dad by his kids, Papa by his grandson, and Don by telemarketers and the unscrupulous, he wore many hats and was as a mentor and friend to many.

Ian was ordained in Montreal in 1979, and he served as minister at churches in Duvernay, QC; Eckville, AB; Petrolia, ON; West Vancouver, BC; Ottawa, ON; and Victoria, BC, where he semi-retired in May of 2013. During his over thirty year ministry he also acted as a moderator in the presbyteries of Sarnia (ON), Westminster (BC), Vancouver Island (BC), and the Synod of British Columbia. He served on many national boards and committees, including as the Convenor of the Committee on Church Doctrine. He was a prolific writer and speaker, he was a contributing editor to the Presbyterian Record, wrote many feature articles and book reviews, penned weekly newspaper columns in both Alberta and Ontario (where he also hosted a radio show), and he twice received national writing awards from the Canadian Church Press Association, for Best Feature Article and Best Creative Writing. He told the best jokes. In 2013, he took up the post of Acting Director of Pastoral Studies at the Presbyterian College in Montreal, where he took tremendous joy in supporting students and helping to shape the life of the College and the Church.

He was madly in love with Cathy, his wife of nearly 40 years, with whom he shared a life of service. He adored his children, who inherited his bad jokes, vices, and thirst for justice. He was smitten with his grandson, who returned the feeling. He doted on his dog, whom he named Johann Sebastian Bark. He loved music, popcorn, books, hockey, TV, God, and a good fart joke, in no particular order. An intellectual who never made anyone feel inferior, a pastor with boundless compassion, a friend full of charm and laughter, a devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, and grandfather, and a nightmare to restaurant employees, he was an awesome person in all senses of the word. Ian had his own flaws, but it was all the better that he could relate to the most broken-hearted people with disarming and sincere love and empathy.

He leaves a gaping hole in the lives of his wife, Cathy (Victoria, BC); son Dan, daughter-in-law Jen, and grandson Matty (North Vancouver, BC); and daughters Rachel (Vancouver, BC) and Letha (Toronto, ON). Ian is also survived by his sister Maggie (Vancouver, BC) and many nieces and nephews in Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec.

We, his family, are grateful to the professional and caring staff at the Royal Jubilee Hospital, as well as to his friends and family for their innumerable prayers on his and our behalf.

A visitation will be held on Friday, January 2nd, from 6pm to 8pm at McCall Bros., Johnson & Vancouver  (1400 Vancouver Street, Victoria). A service of witness to the resurrection, in thanksgiving for his life, will be held at 2pm on Saturday, January 3rd, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Victoria, BC (680 Courtney Street).

In lieu of flowers, we would be grateful for contributions to Presbyterian World Service & Development (50 Wynford Drive, Toronto, ON, M3C 1J7) and to the capital campaign of the Presbyterian College of Montreal (3495 University Street, Montreal, QC, H3A 2A8).

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Bros. Funeral Home
www.mccallbros.com.

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