Julian lived a full life, with joy in his family, satisfaction with his work, and enthusiasm for his outdoor pursuits and creative interests.
Julian Michael Henry Coward passed away peacefully, with family by his side. Loved and sadly missed by his wife Mary, sons Andrew and Michael, daughter-in-law Joan Marie, grandsons Matthew, Andrew and Patrick, his sister Tessa Kirby in England, and many relatives and friends.
Julian was born in England. He studied electrical engineering at the University College London. In 1966, he met Mary who was on an exchange year from University of Toronto. In 1968, he followed her to Canada – and also to do a Ph.D. in hydrogeology at McMaster University in Hamilton. They married in 1969 and for their “honeymoon”, drove with eight friends from England to Nepal on a caving expedition.
Julian’s first job was in Toronto with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. In 1976, the family moved to Edmonton where Julian worked for Syncrude for almost 30 years in the Research Department. Life in Edmonton was rich with family, community, and work. Julian enjoyed outdoor activities – skiing, hiking, and camping. Also, indoor pursuits – woodworking, science projects, and acting as an “extra” in the Edmonton opera.
Caving, or spelunking, was a passion from his university days. He explored the caves in England and Europe, went on expeditions to Nepal, Peru, and Mexico, and expanded caving knowledge through research, mapping and “speleo electronics”.
Travel was also an ongoing enthusiasm. He hitchhiked through Norway as a teenager, travelled with Mary as a student to Nepal, South and Central America, made many trips with his young family to visit grandparents in England and Toronto, and finally, in retirement, enjoyed tours and cruises with friends.
He took great pleasure from his children, and now with his grandchildren, passing on his engineering talents and love of “making things” as well as his outdoor pursuits and travel.
In 2005, Julian retired to Victoria, where he and Mary enjoyed an active retirement. They loved their house on the Gorge, enjoyed hiking and bridge with friends. Julian bought a small wooden steamboat named “Hotspur” to putter up and down the Gorge. He volunteered at Heritage Acres and enjoyed the Victoria Symphony. And he found time to write a history of himself and his family.
Despite coping with Alzheimer’s for 10 years, and melanoma for the past two years, Julian always found the best in life. He always expressed his gratitude for his full and satisfying life of family, work, travel, and interests. He faced his challenges with patience, humour and gentleness.
The family would like to thank the Alzheimer’s Society of BC, the Day Programs at Sunset Lodge and Elk Lake, and HandyDart. Also, thanks to the BC Cancer Agency. And special thanks to those at Douglas Care, who cared for Julian, and our family, through his final months.
A Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, September 13, 2017, at McCall Gardens Sequoia Centre, 4665 Falaise Drive at 2 pm with a reception to follow.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
36 Responses
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Julian was competent, well-liked and very active.
One can see that with the many sad farewells and compliments that Julian had a very full life and a great affection and interaction with people.
We would all like the ‘last words’ that he received and try to live as he did.
I have come across this obituary just now and seeing the picture of Julian brings back memories. I was a 1959-1966 student and Julian’s face and glasses triggered a memory but I could not recall why. He was sadly only 71 , I am now 76, and regret I was not as successful in life as Julian which has been displayed by those who knew him.
I mourn for his wife and children and those who knew him well. He had a very active life in many ways and was good at all things he tackled from
the reports those who knew him and have given us. We may meet in heaven, but he will be remembered by all who knew him on Earth.
God bless and keep.
Dear Mary,
I was saddened to learn just yesterday, of Julian’s passing. I wish I had known you had retired to Victoria…we attend an annual reunion on the Hood Canal, and it would have been fun to get together. I was in many of Julian’s classes at Whitgift. He amazed me with his scientific brilliance, building a small robot that would follow a light beam. We had fun riding in his Austin 7 and toured the breaker’s yards for spare parts. After Whitgift, Julian and I made a tent from a parachute on his Mother’s sewing machine, and flew off to Norway. We hitch-hiked up Norway, down Sweden, and back home through Denmark and Belgium. I treasure our friendship and the memories. My sincere condolences. John Balcomb
I didn´t get to know you Julian, but I did knew Mary, your lovely wife! I know we are here for a purpose and is our job to do it with graceful, and I am sure you did it! A big hug for Mary and kids!
Mary and Family,
Please accept our deepest condolences. Our thoughts are with you.
Roger & Maggie
Mary and Family
Julian was a man to be admired and we send my condolences on his untimely death.
Terry and Patricia Ward