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
Allison, Barb and Warren,
I was sadden to hear the news of Dennis’s passing. My heart goes out to you during this painful time. My Love and Prayers go out to you and your family.
To Barb & Family,
We were very sorry to hear of your loss. WE are thinking of you all and sending our condolences, Dennis will be missed.
Dear Barbara and family:
Kay and I were deeply saddened to hear of Dennis’ passing. Dennis will be deeply missed. He was a most unique character, intellectually curious in the extreme and, above, a man of unfailing integrity.
Please know that we are thinking of you at this sad time.
Evan Blake
PS We will be making a donation to the Dowling Scholarship Fund. Seems wonderfully appropriate in the circumstances.
Barbara, so sorry for your loss of Dennis. It was lovely to see you both at the bridge club. Dennis always had a smile and time to stop and talk. My condolences to you and your family.
Barb, Allison and Warren,
My thoughts are with you all during the difficult time and I so wish we could be there with you to grieve together. Dennis was an integral part of our family and I will be forever grateful for the love and attention he lavished on his grandkids (and the patience he showed his son-in-law!). Over the past (almost) 20 years, I have grown to have tremendous respect for Dennis as a father, a husband and a person — his integrity, generosity and authenticity. I enjoyed his company immensely and especially our many conversations on law, music and investing and various sundry things. I will miss his sage counsel and friendship and his humor but mostly just miss him. I find solace in the great music that Dennis has exposed me to which is now inextricably linked with him. I smile as I hear it — thinking about him (“76 trombones led the big parade, with 110 cornets close at hand…” and, of course, a euphonium).
Love, Drew
We are so very sorry to learn of Dennis’ passing. He will be sorely missed. We have many wonderful memories of time spent with Dennis.
Carol & Paul Molyski
I am very sad by the loss of Dennis. But I will always have my thoughts and memories of a wonderful grandpa. From mini golf, to going to Palm Desert on those perfect sunny days. As we walk along by the golf course on the way to those perfectly clear pools. As we walk along I am positive Dennis will be telling a joke. The joke probably is about a pizza and a musician. Those are some of the most wonderful memories I have ever had.
Barb, my condolences to you and your family on the loss of your beloved Dennis. I’m so sorry Covid has made a funeral and a gathering of your friends impossible at this time but know that you are in my thoughts. I know you have a close family and many good friends who will be finding ways to support you.
I really miss Dennis and I am saddened when I think about him. I have a lot of good memories of him. Whether it was mini golf, watching movies or baseball, or playing chess or just talking. I I feel really bad for Barb, Allison, and Warren. I offer my condolences. Things will never be the same without him.
Barb and family our thoughts are with your during this difficult time. Cherish the memories. We are thinking of you