November 5, 1934 – August 7, 2010
After a valiant battle with cancer, David passed away peacefully at the Victoria Hospice with his family around him.
Beloved husband of Susan (nee Hendren). Loving father of Tracey Leroux (Robert) and Ross (Kathleen Murphy) and loving grandfather of Jessica, Matthew, James and Andrew Leroux, and Charles McMillan. He is survived by his sister, Anne Phillips (John) and his brother, John McMillan (Robin). Uncle David will be greatly missed by his nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and by all his extended Hendren family.
Born in Vancouver, David attended Vancouver College and the University of British Columbia. He spent a long career in the food industry across Canada, including positions as President of Dad’s Cookies, Associated Biscuits and William Nielson. In 1991 he became CEO of Island Farms Dairy and retired in 2004. In addition to being Past Chair of the Royal BC Museum and the Victoria Hospice Foundation, he was a member of the Thrifty Foods Advisory Board, the Advanced E-Commerce Research Systems Board of Directors, and the Boards of a number of other private corporations. He also served on the Boards of the Salvation Army and the Victoria Hospice Society and was a member of the Victoria Executive of the Sovereign Order of St John.
David was an avid gardener who used green principles long before it became fashionable, and enjoyed sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with others. He was a late blooming but keen golfer, an eager fisherman, and a true people person who greatly enjoyed the wide range of individuals he met through his involvement with corporate boards of directors, charitable organizations and social groups.
A Funeral Service will be held in ST. GEORGE THE MARTYR ANGLICAN CHURCH, 3909 St. George’s Road, the Reverend Dr. Richard LeSueur officiating, on Monday, August 16th at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Victoria Hospice Foundation, 1510 Fort Street, Victoria, BC V8S 5J2 or the BC Cancer Agency’s Vancouver Island Centre, 2410 Lee Avenue, Victoria, BC V8R 6V5, would be appreciated. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallbros.com
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Kenneth Livingstone
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Barb & Tom Tordoff Dear Susan: We were so sorry to hear about David’s passing. He was a wonderful person – tough in business but also a great friend. We did have some great times – Xmas parties at the farm, your wedding and my stays with both of you in Victoria.
Love Barb & Tom
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Barb & Tom Tordoff Dear Susan:
We were terribly saddened to hear about David. Art e-mailed me yesterday. It is doubly hard as he and Tom are almost the same age. He was a wonderful person and we have some great memories – your wedding, the farm parties, a corn roast and of course my stays with you in Victoria among others.David was a special person!
All our love
Tom & Barb
Barb & Tom
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Mary Hof Hi Susan and family
Just returned from being away, and heard David had passed away. David will never be forgotten for everything he did for Island Farms, and for me personally. I have become a better person because of him. Being on the board I felt privileged to know this special person. May he rest in peace. May God keep you and all the family in his love.
Mary Hof
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Fred and Marjan Wikkerink Dear Susan, Tracy and Ross,
We were very saddened to hear of David’s passing. We were very priviliged to have known him as the CEO of Island Farms. David was a very special man, who cared deeply.
Our prayers go out to you and we sent you our deepest sympathies.
Sincerely,
Fred and Marjan Wikkerink
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Greg Martin Dear Susan,
I am deeply saddened to hear of David’s passing.
Joanne and I send you and your family our deepest sympathies.
David was, is, and will continue to be a very influential and special person. He left a deep impression on everyone he connected with through his discipline on working hard and playing hard; and of course his never ending compassion and love.
We will all miss him greatly.
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Michele Parker (Bissett) It is with deep sadness to hear about the passing of our long-time family friend, Mr. McMillan.
Mr. McMillan and my father, George Bissett, were colleagues and friends back in the days of Dad’s Cookies and it was always a pleasure to have ‘Mr. McMillan’ come for a visit at our house. As I remember, Mr. McMillan was a kind an gentle soul and always had a way to bring laughter into the room.
As I see from the obituary, Mr. McMillan continued to touch people’s lives throughout his career and well into retirement. I imagine him as an active member of society and a fun-loving grandfather too.
May you find peace with your loving family and friends,
Love from,
The Bissett Children (Diane, Maureen, Craig and Michele)
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Barbara & James Lang Susan,
Barbara and I are sorry to hear of David’s death. We send our sincere condolences. David was always friendly toward us when we were in your company, and we know what a great loss it is to you and the family at this difficult time
Regards
Barbara & James
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David Beatty Dear Susan,
I had learned from Ralph Robinson that David was not well but it was still a shock to learn of his passing.Debby & I remember our trip to England and Ireland with you both; the horse races with George & Edie McCullough of Brown Thomas. As I recall there was significant Irish lubrication, great company and hilarious times.
David was a wonderful leader and his contributions to our world have made a significant difference to many Canadians. He was most certainly a vibrant member of the community and a model we should all aspire to recreate.
Our best regards at this very sad time.
David & Debby Beatty
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Rob Harrison Dear Susan, Tracy and Ross:
I was deeply saddened to hear about David!
I have had many thoughts and fond memories of our times together. Wedding, parties, sleepovers and and lots of travel.
David was a great guy, a good friend and mentor and a fabulous businessman.
We were all lucky to have known him.
You have my deepest sympathies and my prayers go out to you.
Hugs and love,
Rob Harrison
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Anna Nyarady Susan and family:
My sincerest condolences to you and your family.
Although I have only known David for a few years through our work with the RBCM, I came to know David as a very caring, thoughtful and compassionate man. He was a great board member and Chair and was very passionate about our work. I very much enjoyed working with him and especially enjoyed our many conversations as he shared his wisdom on business and life in general. He will be missed by many people including myself.
My sincere sympathies to you and your family,
Anna Nyarady
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Marilyn Knox Susan
Paul and I were so sad to see The Globe today and read about David’s passing. Please accept our sympathy.We were thinking that David’s business acumen was so well regarded. It was wonderful to see how he “gave back” with all his Board work. He really made a difference. I always remember his opening line, “How’s business?” He was truly interested, inquisitve and smart.
His relationship with you was special. You two were always great hosts. We particularly remember a great salmon BBQ at your home on Summach.. Fine food, stories and laughter. We have thought of you often over the years.
We hope you are surrounded with lots of caring people.
Take care of you,
Sincerely,
Marilyn and Paul
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Bob and Louise Quart Louise and I are deeply saddened by David’s passing. While we have only know him for a few short years he became an instant friend. A very special man. We will miss him very much.
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Janet Lowe I am very sorry to hear of the passing of David McMillan. He was such a support to my father, Dan Maloney, during Dad’s illness.
Dad enjoyed the time spent working with David at Island Farms and had such great respect for him. He spoke of him often with great admiration and warmth.
My sincerest condolences to his family and friends.
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Brian T. Eccles Susan and all of David’s family,
So sorry to hear of David’s passing.
He was always pleasant and exuberant whenever I ran into him in the hallways at Island Farms. And he was the first to greet and congratulate me warmly as I left the stage after performing a song at one of the Xmas dinners.
I wanted to attend his service, but regretfully I also lost another dear friend to cancer this week-end and her service in Comox is on the same Monday. My thoughts will be with you, and David, that day.
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Phil Vanderpol I am so saddened to hear about David’s death. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of loss. David was a wonderful man and will be sorely missed. Please accept my sincere sympathy.
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David & Mary Saunders Dear Susan,
Mary and I were sorry to read of David’s death. He was a client of mine during his Neilson years and we became friends of you both then, too. He was a man of many parts, interested and in business as well as in Nature, and a gifted business leader. He impressed as a generous man, and we were not surprised to read of his social service work in Victoria. We are sorry there was such a distance between us.
Our sincerest condolences to you and your family.
Mary & David Saunders
Dear Susan, Tracey and Ross,
I’m sorry to hear about David. I came across his obit only recently, so I thought I should extend my condolences from the Livingstone family, your BC cousins. My dad, Don Livingstone and my uncle Alastair knew David when they were all growing up in Vancouver from the 1930s onward. Our Aunt May thought very highly of her nephews and nieces, but David was one of her favourites and she had many good memories of him, which she passed along to our family.
Sincerely,
Kenn Livingstone