September 21, 1952 – June 12, 2015
It is with deep sadness that Dave’s family announces his passing at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, British Columbia.
Dave grew up in Victoria and started his journalism career as the editor of the University of Victoria’s student newspaper. He was hired by The Province newspaper to cover the BC Legislature where he met and married Jackie Melville.
Southam News came calling and Dave spent many years working for the prestigious news service, first in Toronto and then in Ottawa on Parliament Hill. Dave set up Southam’s Latin America Bureau and spent four years covering unrest in Central and South America. He was always able to get to the heart of a story and to write about almost anything with clarity, insight and wit. He was a talented, caring and passionate journalist, qualities he took with him when he later became the editor of the UNDP Choices Magazine in New York City and then editor of Power Week Canada.
Dave’s love for the written word never faded; he always had a newspaper or book in hand. His kids liked to joke that they never had to go to the library for a school project. Just tell dad what it was all about and he would emerge from his library with everything they needed on the subject. An avid football fan, Dave loved nothing better than a long ride on his bike or a walk by the ocean.
Dave’s adventurous, witty, and kind spirit will be lovingly remembered by Jackie and their children: Matt, Katie (Dan) and Elizabeth; his sister Dale (Bill) and nephew Nathan and the Fike and Melville families. Dave is predeceased by his parents Dorothy and Alfred Todd. The family would like to thank special friends Jeanne Lesoway and Doug Rushton and the staff at Beacon Hill Villa.
A memorial for Dave will be held at a later date. If you would like to make a donation in his memory, please consider Pacifica Housing in Victoria. Condolences may be offered to the family below.
To live in the hearts of those we leave behind is not to die. – Thomas Campbell
McCall Bros. Funeral Home
11 Responses
Sorry for this late note of condolence, Jackie. I was so saddened to hear of David’s passing…all too soon. I enjoyed his visits to my home in Qualicum Beach, once with one of your lovely kids. I lost touch with him when he changed his email address, so this news came as a complete shock.
I am holding you and your family in my heart.
Maureen