Photo courtesy of Ed Nixon
Dennis Allister Latham died on February 6, 2021 at the age of 80 in Victoria, BC. He would often say he had had a good life but still he didn’t want to leave his wife Barbara of 54 years, whom he adored, or his beloved children Allison (Los Angeles) and Warren (Toronto). He loved his grandchildren Eric, Nate, Calandre, Sullivan and Bronwyn and marvelled at their different talents (they did all eventually figure out that despite his enduring quote “I’m Johnny Cash” that he wasn’t). Playing the euphonium was his life-long love starting from when his mother signed him up for the Moose Jaw Junior Band when he was 10 years old. He could have been “the greatest there ever was” (The Natural) but as he would say, “a pizza can feed a family of four but a musician can’t” so he became a lawyer where he built a successful practice based on his trustworthiness and intelligence. He believed in education – a lot of it – getting his Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan and his MBA and his LLB from Queen’s University. He was not known for sugarcoating the truth and was willing to ask direct questions, making sure conversations with him were never boring and certainly never about the weather. He read voraciously, knew everything about baseball there was to know, enjoyed managing his stock portfolio and was always ready to watch his favourite movies again.
He valued his extended family, friends and community and appreciated the love and kindness he received especially in his later years, including from Brian Sagar, Jennifer Wells and their kids Cohen and Marlowe who he thought of as family. He has left an empty seat at the table and we will forever miss him.
Due to COVID19, no memorial will be held. In memory of Dennis, donations may be made to support young musicians at UVIC through the Eugene Dowling Scholarship Fund: https://extrweb.uvic.ca/eugene-dowling-scholarship
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
77 Responses
Our heart felt condolences to Barb & Family! So sorry to hear Dennis has passed.
Dear Barb, and Allison, Warren, and your children: I am so very sorry for your loss. Dennis had a dear family and many communities. He will be very much missed by all. Please accept my sincere sympathy.
Dennis was one of the founding members of our men’s book club in 2003. He brought a disciplined and well thought out contribution to all our discussions. He also gave us a different perspective on the books when he thought the discussion was in too much agreement. There was never a discussion that Dennis could not bring back to an analogy in baseball. However, he was never able to convince the group that we really should read more baseball books. Dennis will leave a great void in our group. We will miss his humour, insights, disciplined approach to evaluating the books but most of all his honesty. He called it as he saw it.
Gordon Banta
Dennis was a brilliant musician. Playing in the MooseJaw Junior Band with him was a joy. I had a great time with him attending a Bette Midler concert at the Cave in Vancouver back in the sixties. Barbara and he created a wonderful life together. Love and peace be with her and the family.
To Barb and family.
You have my deepest sympathy at the passing of Dennis. I remember you telling me of your love for Dennis almost at first sight. We were in the Band and I believe you said to me you were going to marry that man (15 yrs?).. And you did and were married to your soul mate and best friend for 54 yrs. Dennis was everything to you Barb .. He will be so missed by all that loved him and treasured him. I was always so thrilled to hear about how he kept up his playing his euphonium almost all of his life… He had such a gift with his skill at playing in bands etc. There will be a huge band ready for him to play in now… thinking of you all. Sending my love and support at this time and always.
Dear Barbara. Please accept my condolences. I always enjoyed Dennis’s wit and admired his attitude over the past few years. I’m among many who will miss him, but you most of all.
Ralph Stanbridge
To Barb and Family
So sorry to hear of the passing of Dennis. Gerda and I send you our deepest condolences, and wish you the strength to
endure this most trying of times.
Kindest thoughts, Ralph
Barb & Family
So very sorry to hear that Dennis has passed on.
Know that our heartfelt prayers and thoughts are with you.
He was one in a million, a very special guy.
Regards, Ray & Marge
Barb and family.
I am saddened by your loss. I knew Dennis to be hard working and intelligent and a man who loved to make music.
Much love to all of you from New Brunswick.
We are thinking of you all.