Douglas Ferguson was born in Scotland in 1939 and immigrated to Canada as a young man in 1957, carrying with him the industrious spirit and warm character that would define his life. Over the course of a remarkable 57-year career, he built a distinguished reputation as an optician, a profession he did not merely practice but truly loved. Beginning with Prescription Optical and continuing on with London Optical, Doug dedicated himself wholeheartedly to perfecting his craft. His constant pursuit of excellence and exemplary attitude of service to others turned him into a regional authority and renowned mentor in the industry, and consequently he played a meaningful role in shaping the licensing body of opticianry in British Columbia.
He concluded his illustrious optical career alongside Dr. Stephen Taylor at Mayfair Optometric Clinic in 2016, retiring with the deep respect of all who had worked with him. His passion for the profession found its most enduring expression in his son, Russ, who followed him into opticianry– perhaps the finest tribute a man of Doug’s dedication could have received.
Beyond the optical dispensary, Doug was a man of boundless enthusiasms. In earlier days he served as a flagman at Van Isle Dragstrip, and his love of motorsport never dimmed; he remained a devoted follower of sprint car racing on Vancouver Island and at Skagit Speedway. An early passion was 10pin bowling at Mayfair Bowling Lanes with many near perfect scores!! A natural “Mr. Fixit,” he approached every repair with determination and a quiet satisfaction in the work, especially when he found a novel and elegant solution to a particularly challenging problem. He was a longtime season ticket holder for both the Victoria Royals and the Victoria HarbourCats, cheering from the stands with the loyalty he brought to everything he cared about. And his Scottish roots found an expression through his years as a volunteer at the Victoria Highland Games, giving back to a heritage he wore with pride.
Some of Doug’s most treasured leisure hours were spent camping in the motorhome with his wife Sandi and visiting with their large extended family, including their beloved grandchildren–a simple joy that held the deepest kind of happiness. He and Sandi also channeled that same gift for bringing people together into something that became legendary in their neighborhood: the festive yard displays. For each holiday throughout the year their front lawn was transformed into an incrementally expanding spectacle that drew thousands of visitors from across the city for the duration of the season. Parents who had marveled at the extravaganzas as children began bringing their own children to see them, weaving Doug’s ingenuity, generosity, and sense of fun indelibly into the fabric of the community.
He was defined above all else by his selflessness, always putting others before himself, and was a man who could be counted on by so many to step up in countless ways both big and small to make his corner of the world a better place.
Doug is lovingly survived by his devoted wife of 35 years, Sandi, his children Russ (Wendy) and Alena, his grandchildren, and the most recent arrival, his great-granddaughter Juniper Rose, whom he was blessed to hold in his arms when she was just three days old.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, May 28th, at 2:00 pm, at McCall Gardens, Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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