Brian A. Hume of Victoria B.C. passed away on December 11, 2025 at the age of 86 years. He was born in Te Kuwiti, New Zealand on April 21, 1939, the second son of Henry Roy Hume and Ailsa Hume. Sadly, he was just 2 years old when his father was killed in action In Libya during World War II. The young family then moved into his grandparents home in Auckland where he and his brother were raised by three loving and supportive adults. He was surrounded by a very large extended family, including the Humes, Otways, and Culpins who emigrated from Ireland in the 1800’s. He joked that he was probably related to half the population of New Zealand, as his ancestors grew large families. A photo from 1906 shows the ancestral Culpin family, with mother and father surrounded by their 12 children, ages 3 to 21.
Brian had an idyllic childhood, enjoying the youthful freedom and independence that is rare today. He sailed on the open ocean with teenaged friends, and thrived on hiking adventures in remote parts of the North and South Islands. He was known for being able to strike up a conversation with just about anyone, a skill he claimed he learned while hitch-hiking as a teen. He said good conversation was the price of a long ride, and maybe a free lunch. In the summers his mother packed up and took the two boys to a family farm in the high country where he rode on horseback to help herd sheep with the “musterers” and Border Collies.
After grammar school, he attended King’s College which was committed to ideals of leadership, service and personal growth. Early on he occasionally skipped classes to have a short round of golf, and his history teacher told him if he kept it up he would amount to nothing. But in his senior year he was named “Head Boy”, so the ideals must have worked their magic! He made many lifelong friends, forging close ties through athletic teams and sports events, including rugby, wrestling, and cross-country races run in bare feet Kiwi-style. Although he spent most of his life in Canada, he stayed in close touch with “the old boys”, visiting them in New Zealand and having them as guests in Victoria.
Brian earned his B.A. at the University of Otago in Dunedin, with post-graduate studies in History. He joined the New Zealand Foreign Service, and was appointed Vice-Consul for NZ in Los Angeles. The Vietnam War intervened, so in addition to diplomatic duties, a number of young men facing the draft approached him for help emigrating to New Zealand. He later moved to Toronto and earned an M.B.A at York University, where he had a group of friends who remained close over the years. He worked as a Manager at Eaton’s, and then moved to London, Ontario to manage his own business. This was certainly a life-changing event, as he met Martha at the Dobinson’s farm and soon had the trappings of a wife and two children in his 40’s! Justin was born in 1983, and Elsa followed in 1985.
By the mid-80’s Brian was ready for a career change. Looking to escape the 10-month winters of Ontario, the family moved to Vancouver Island in 1987, choosing to live in Victoria B.C. because it reminded Brian of Auckland. He worked on developing his financial consulting business, which was a good fit for his background in business and economics. He had many loyal clients over the years who appreciated his easygoing manner and astute financial advice. There was little doubt that he always had their best interests at heart. His goal was to work until age 85, and he just about made it!
He became a devoted father, picking the children up after school and encouraging their interests and athletic activities. He was a regular at their sports practices and games, and volunteered for coaching duties as well. We always looked forward to the adventures he planned for the family, including skiing holidays, kayaking, cycling, and road trips to see National Parks and historical sites of the American West.
Brian enjoyed a number of his own pastimes as well. Memorable ones include his 12-day canoe trips down the Atttawapiskat River in Ontario with friends, serving on the ski patrol at Collingwood, and riding “Art”, a retired racehorse who didn’t know what “whoa” meant. Most of all, he enjoyed a lifetime of golfing into his 80’s. He was a prolific reader with a floor-to-ceiling library of books on economics, politics, history, and religion.
But there was one thing he professed to have no interest in. As we were considering becoming a couple, and knowing I was keen on growing flowers and veggies, Brian said, “There’s just one thing you need to know…I will never be a gardener!” But as soon as the kids stopped using the backyard as a soccer pitch, he started building garden boxes, eventually 31 in all, where he tended an abundance of flowers and veggies along with the fruit trees. He welcomed almost all creatures great and small into his garden. If someone was looking for him, we’d say “Oh, St. Francis is out feeding his birds just now…”
For the family, Brian was our “Good Shepherd”, always keeping a watchful eye and taking care of us. His stated mission was to be of help to others where he could. We will remember him as a kind, unassuming man who loved life, his family, and his friends.
He is survived by his wife Martha (Keller), son Justin (Hume), daughter Elsa (Hume), and close members of the extended family, including the Landwehrs, Askews, and Phillips in Portland, Oregon.
We wish to express our gratitude to all those who came alongside to help Brian during his illness: the doctors and nurses at BCCC, the Palliative Care/Hospice Team, caregivers from Saanich Community Health, and special thanks to staff and caregivers from Comfort Keepers. We also deeply appreciated the way friends and clients reached out with comfort and support near the end of his life.
If you wish, memorial donations can be made to one of Brian’s favorite charities (Victoria Hospice, Victoria Cool Aid Society, The Red Cross) or a charity of your choice.
There will be a Celebration of Life on July 11, 2026 at 2 pm at the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens. 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC, V8Y 1B4.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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