George Richard Laforme passed away peacefully in Victoria, BC on May 20, 2016. Born in Revelstoke, BC on January 9, 1942. George spent 23 years serving in the Canadian Armed Forces flying Sea King helicopters. The pinnacle of his career in the Navy was when he served as the Commanding Officer of 443 Squadron. In 1983, George and his family moved to Montreal when he began a new career with Bombardier Aerospace. In 1996, George and his family moved to Hong Kong when he became the Vice-President of Bombardier Business Aircraft Division, Asia-Pacific. George retired in 2002 and he and Dianne settled in Victoria, BC. In 2015, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at their home surrounded by family and friends.
George will be remembered as a great golfer, a gardener, a pilot, a soccer coach and a man who loved life and lived everyday to the fullest. His positive outlook was like sunshine.
George will be dearly missed by his loving wife, Dianne; his two sons, Kent and Gregor; Kent’s wife, Tamara Clarke; their children, Aya and Koen (Grandpa was the best!); Gregor’s wife, Jaime Siu; brother in-law, Cliff Higano; sister, Diane Harzan; as well as the family matriarch, Margaret Laforme, and all our relatives and friends who have shared so many great memories over the years. George, we love you! Thanks for the memories. You will forever be in our hearts.
The Laforme family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Dr. Eric Shafonsky, Dr. Daniel Ovakim, their teams, as well as super nurses Shawn Stalker and Sara Sinclair.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at McCall’s Downtown, Johnson and Vancouver Streets, with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of following charities:
BCSS- Victoria branch https://www.canadahelps.org/dn/3853
African Book Box https://www.canadahelps.org/dn/3160
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall’s Funeral Home
www.mccallbros.com
28 Responses
Dianne and Family: It is always sad to learn of the passing of a Naval Aviator and friend. In George’s case the loss is deeper for he was the example of what a “squadron mate” should be, someone who had mastered his profession, loved life, and shared his enthusiasm and good humour with everyone he met. He will be remembered and he will be missed. Please accept my condolences.
Heard the sad news, how really sad.
George was such a part of our Naval Air lives.
You have lost a great family member and we have lost a great friend.
I join all the others in offering condolences.
John K. Kennedy
Cdr (P) RCN Ret’d
Dear Dianne and family,
Through the shock and sadness of hearing of George’s death, came the beautiful memories of our time together at Shearwater. We are so grateful for those memories and relive them often. You are all in our thoughts and in our prayers.
We are so very sorry for the loss of your sweet husband, dad and granddad.
Joan and Joe Paquette
Dianne and family
Very fond memories of George in Portage la Prairie. he was a big brother to all of us. My most sincere sympathies to you and all your loved ones.
Pierre & Jacqueline Allard
Our sincere condolences to Dianne and everyone else in George’s family. George was a super colleague and a fine friend. He will be greatly missed.
Frank and Mona Willis
Dianne – Although our paths went their own ways over the years, George has always been a friend and good mate. We sailed the goodship ALGONQUIN together to Brazil and back in ’76, golfed in Puerto Rico and caught barracuda off Rosy Roads after “paint ship” was done. May he rest in peace.
We will remember him.
Les and Betty East
Dear Diane Please accept my sincere condolences as you adjust to George’s passing. My years at UBC in the 60’s were greatly enriched by the privilege of knowing you both, and I know Linda would agree. I’m so thankful George took the time to connect and make such thoughtful comments by email and phone following my loss mid April. I wish strength to you and all of your family and friends in the days and months ahead. I’ll miss George and will remember him always.
Dear Dianne – I was saddened to hear of George’s death. I will always remember the kindnesses he showed me when passing through Hong Kong. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Dianne and Family
George was one of the leaders of the Canadian Sea King community in the early days. He was skilled in all aspects of his profession and he set a high standard for all of us ‘sprogs.’
Our paths crossed several times and I had the privilege to serve as his Executive Officer in HS 443. Unfailingly positive, he approached the inevitable challenges of military aviation with a chuckle before getting down to the inevitably difficult task at hand.
Please accept out sincere condolences.
John and Cheri Orr
Dianne & Family,
Both shocked and saddened to hear of Georges passing. From the HMCS Fraser in 1967 over the years we touched base from time to time. I would like to think that Herb greeted him with a cool one as he entered the Starboard Delta As you remember the love As you mourn the loss May you also celebrate the life
Paul Peacey Saanichton