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
Wonderful reading, Barb. Tears in my eyes.
I trust you’ve received my card.
Lovely to hear that Connie is joining you.
I’ve been waiting to call you until Allison’s visit was over. Now I’ll wait until the end of Connie’s visit.
You’ve been in my thoughts.
“Stay safe and be kind” (t-shirt)
xo, Clare
Dear Barb: I am so sorry to read of the loss of your beloved husband, Dennis – such sadness for you, your large family and your many friends. Thank goodness for all the many wonderful memories you have to look back on.
Love and hugs.
Paulyne
My grandfather and I were good friends. I talked to him frequently over FaceTime where we discussed politics, current events, the stock market and sports. We would watch his favorite movies like “How Green Was My Valley”, or talk about the books we had read such as “The Boys In The Boat”. Grandpa Dennis was like a mentor to me, over the countless hours we talked I absorbed many lessons that ranged from how to calculate interest, to how to live a fulfilling life. Grandpa Dennis was always a good listener, I would always share my triumphs and mistakes with him. He was always there when I needed advice. Although there are still things I want to talk to him about, I think the knowledge I’ve gained from him will nourish me for the rest of my life.
Love Nate.
Dear Barbara and Family,
I was extremely saddened reading of Dennis’s passing and wish to add my and Carol’s condolences to you all.
I was Dennis’s accountant for over 30 years. As a person, he was down to earth, friendly, humourous and had an enormous intellect, always ready with a pithy comment which woud initially baffle me but on reflection, I would realize he was right on target. But he wasn’t one-sided as his great love of music,cigars and beer indicate.
As a lawyer, Dennis was knowlegable, wise, direct, never afraid to ask the difficult questions but most importantly be completely honest, trustworth and ethical.
With sadness.
Phil & Carol Winterbottom
Dear Barb, Allison & Warren,
Like all your family and friends, I am writing to express my sadness and empathy for your loss of much-loved Dennis. I don’t think that writing about someone so recently departed is easy for anyone, so I did what Barb would have done and did my research! I read all the kind words of others and was truly moved by them. One theme I realized when I read tributes from musicians from the Moose Jaw Junior Band and classmates from USask was, “a friend with Den was a friend for life”. What a marvel alone that is!
Someone else made me laugh when they wrote that Dennis could be summed up in “cigars, euphonium and beer”. So true. I would only add “and family” as they meant so much to Den and Barb has always been his true love and partner.
I have two favourite memories of being with Den and Barb. The first one must have been in the winter of 2008 in Toronto. I swear it was the coldest night of the year, but we met for dinner on the Danforth. I was so excited as my true love, Glen, had just come for a visit from South Africa and I could introduce Barb and Den to him. We were the only people in the restaurant- it may have been freezing, but the atmosphere inside was filled with warmth. We talked and laughed for hours with, of course, Den interjecting a few probing questions about life in South Africa.
The other is the occasion of Den and Barb’s 50th anniversary luncheon in Toronto. Glen and I were so happy to be invited! Again, surrounded by friends and family, the room was full of love and good food and, like Barb and Den, unpretentious and sincere. It brings tears to my eyes to remember that lovely gathering.
And now, dear Lathams, carry on with love and strength without your favourite euphonium player.
Much love,
Rob & Glen
Johannesburg, South Africa
Barb and Family
My sincere condolences.
We were so sad to learn of Dennis’ death. He is one of our longest standing friends with whom we were still in touch and we’ll miss him greatly, in all sorts of little ways.
It was always wonderful running into Dennis in the grocery store, at a restaurant or at bridge and never knowing what the topic of conversation was going to be. He made me think more deeply and wonder why more often. A talented, caring man and I’m sorry to see him go. Much love to all of you.
Patrick and Gail
Dennis was our family lawyer for many years. Over time as we got to know him better he became more than a professional advising us and providing legal services but he became more like a trusted friend ready to help any way he could. He often asked pointed questions which sometimes made me squirm but he always had the best interest of our family in mind. As my children became adults they too engaged him as their lawyer and grew to appreciated his candour and wit.
Our sincerest condolences to the entire family, he was a great guy. He will be missed by all who had the good fortune to meet him.
I always appreciated his sense of humour and the way he spoke about baseball. The passion and understanding of the players as individuals was something I could relate to. He would always ask questions about what was going on in my life and I appreciated that. I think is comment after our wedding was one of my favourites! Uncle Dennis will definitely be missed!
I remember well how kind and supportive he was to my wife and I when we first opened Koreangardens, how he and Barb supported our small business when we were struggling and needed it most. He and Barb even passed us a card with a $50 bill when he discovered Su Mei and I were getting married in 2003, long before he knew us well. How he spoke to me about how he loved and sacrificed some of his passions so he could provide a better life for his children Warren and Alison was inspiring. He even pulled me aside once and a while and let me know it when he thought I could be doing better, as difficult as it was to hear, I am very grateful for it today. His guidance, his friendship and his actions which always spoke louder than words. Thank you Dennis for your example, I will endeavour to be half the man you were.