Don was born in Nordegg, Alberta and raised in Red Deer. He graduated from SAIT with a Diploma of Technology in Electronic Technology in 1968. He continued his education at the University of Calgary graduating in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He started his teaching career in Castlegar, BC then moved to Victoria where he taught Computer Science at Camosun College for 30 years. He was a lifelong Ham radio enthusiast connecting with many people including King Hussein of Jordan. At age 23 while travelling around the South Seas, he brought radio to Tonga. He also lived and worked in Iran for a period. Don was an accomplished musician playing both acoustic guitar and accordion. He loved to cook and had a vast array of secret delicious recipes. He was an enthusiastic hockey dad always cheering on his children. He was a kind, gentle and generous man devoted to his family and friends and he just wanted the world to be a happy place.
Don is survived by his loving wife Lorraine, his children Laura and Jeff, his stepchildren Darren and Brent (Laurie) and grandchildren, as well as many cousins and lifelong friends.
Thank you to the doctors, nurses and staff at RJH for the care and kindness they provided Don in his last days.
A Memorial Service and Reception will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at McCall’s Downtown, Johnson and Vancouver Street, Victoria, BC.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Parkinson’s Society British Columbia would be gratefully appreciated.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall’s Funeral Home
www.mccallbros.com
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Elaine & Dom Piluso
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Murray Owen Having worked with Don on variety of tech projects, Don was always optimistic and the most supportive person on the team. Don would always seek success and commit his time and resources as necessary often going beyond what was asked of him. His entrepreneurial spirit, openness to new ventures, and kindness in business made him one of kind. I will miss Don and hope that one of these projects bears his name some day. My deepest condolences to Lorraine and family. Murray.
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Darrell Cho Lorraine, Laura and Jeff. My sincere condolences. Don will be missed.
Darrell Cho
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Vern Hilman Thinking of all Don’s family and the many friends this genuine man had, with hipes that there is comfort felt and strength given for now and the times to come.
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Jim & Julie Hilman Don was one of those cousins that I didn’t get to be around much. I wish I had. Through my brothers that did know him well we were always updated, and told of how special he was. Even though our paths didn’t cross often, Don was family, and that makes him special to our hearts. Our condolences to the family. He will be missed.
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Dana Geddes Lorainne and family,
Chris and I are sorry for your loss. Don was a gentle, kind and friendly person who we were fortunate enough to have had the privalage Of meeting the few times he passed through on your trips to Alberta. Please know that we are thinking of you all.Dana, Chris, Calem and Logan Geddes
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Bruce & Julia Layzell Lorraine, our thoughts are with you & your family at this time.
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Donna-Marie Lacey I was fortunate enough to work closely with Don during my early years in Trades and Technology. He was incredibly kind and patient with me as I learned my way through the maze of a totally new position. I will be forever grateful for how welcome he made me feel and how he encouraged me to be part of the CTS team. After retiring, I saw Don rarely, but when our paths did cross, he always made me smile. The last time I saw him, he told me of his Parkinson’s diagnosis and I could see that horrid disease was already impacting him physically. My sincere condolences and prayers are with his loved ones during this most difficult time.
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Sheila Schubert Dearest Laura and Jeff,
I am so sorry to hear of your dad’s passing. I have many fond memories of Don and spending time with you all. I know he loved you very much and he was so very proud of you both. Hold onto his love for you and all the special times you shared together. He will forever be in your hearts.
Much love, Sheila
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Wayne and Heather Campbell Our heartfelt condolences Lorraine, Laura and Jeff. He was a special person in my life and uncle Don will never be forgotten in our minds and our hearts. He will be terribly missed!!
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Janie I am sending my heartfelt condolences to Don’s family and multitude of friends as he has so positively influenced our lives. I was just talking about Don a week ago, as he was the first IT professional that I bonded with as we chatted in the Camosun hallways during breaks from other courses. Years later I was referred to Don for info on the CST program. He was concerned as I was a solo parent of 2 young children, (I didn’t even own a computer with a hard drive!), and this was an intense course, so he first sent me to talk to the 1 single mother in year 2 of the course.
Don gave me permission to take courses out of the program early with my prerequisites which confused admin so much that they totally refused my next IT courses altogether. I went to see Don who immediately marched down there to sort them out and confirm that I was absolutely already in the program. Don’s sense of humour and encouragement to assist me as “CST Student Zero”, (which is what they finally classed me as because I did not fit the normal course process), was unwavering and much appreciated.
He was always a strong presence as our Dean of IT, on the first day of Java with the amazing Saryta, and on the first day of the official welcome into the course. Once again there were more admin issues to fix for “CST Student Zero” which he and his assistant took care of.
Although I didn’t have Don as an instructor, we would have many office, hallway and parking lot chats on my progress during the program. I was one of the few single mothers to graduate from CST and have had over 12 years in the industry so far. When I last saw Don at a retirement party just over a year ago at CC, I was glad to be able to hug him and thank him for all the help and encouragement he gave me as this course made a vast difference in the quality of my life and that of my children’s. Thanks again Don, you will be greatly missed but never forgotten.
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Michelle Johnston-Watson I will remember Don popping into visit the printshop at Camosun for a chat and talk about hockey.
Very sorry to hear of his passing.He will be missed .
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Marla Weston My deepest sympathies to you at this sad time. It is still hard to believe that I won’t again see that twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face as he talked about his newest electronic toy. He had such joy. That joy also extended to his family. It was clear his family meant the world to him. Don will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
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Katy My condolences to Don’s family. I was one of Don’s students at Camosun, and I greatly appreciated his kindness and encouragement to keep learning. His empowering way of teaching really helped me and many others succeed.
Katy Earl
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Saryta My condolences to Don’s family. Don was a great man. He did so much at the College for the faculty and students. He was a great mentor and knew so very much. I’ll never forget the day I invited him to my wedding. He looked at my invitation and then laughed. I was not sure how to take that. Don said to me, “I guess I cannot invite you to my wedding, we are getting married on the same day!” He will always be remembered and missed.
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Ron and Joan Sending our heartfelt condolences to all the family. We will greatly miss our dear friend of many years with whom we shared so many good times. Much love from Ron and Joan.
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Brooke sirianni Our condolences to Aunty Lorraine and his children Laura and Jeff. Don was a lovely man who brought joy to everyone in his presence. It’s obvious he lived every day to its fullest and took advantage of this greatest blessing called life. He will be missed by many.
Ryan, Brooke, Danilo & Danika Sirianni
Dear Jeff, Laura and Lorraine & family.
We were very saddened at the news of Don’s passing and wish to convey our deepest sympathy for your loss. Our neighbour Don, and his family, will always be remembered, as they were first to welcome us in our new home in 2001. I enjoyed chatting with Don often in his front yard or when I called to have my son Adam sent home. He will be remembered and missed, for the kind gentle soul he was. Our thoughts are with you all, at his difficult time.