A life well lived. Howard Sturrock, a true gentleman, believed in making the most of every moment and living life to the fullest. His interests and accomplishments would take more space than he would want spent (he was, after all, a thrifty Scot!) but here is a small sampling of the man behind those sparkling blue eyes – rally car driver, radio announcer, movie musical aficionado, world traveler, devoted husband and family man, consummate host of parties, snow/water skier, tennis player, opera buff, politician, TV show host, engineer, golfer, ballroom and Scottish Country dancer, bridge player, lover of history as well as current affairs. Howard always offered a kind word to all who met him and for those of us who were privileged to call him Dad or Papa, we cannot begin to convey the hole he leaves behind. He was a model of a man who lived for his family, contributed greatly to his community, and brought much optimism, cheerfulness, and common sense into the world. Unlike Jimmy Stewart’s character in “It’s a Wonderful Life” – he will never know how many people’s lives he touched, but we feel blessed to have shared our lives with him.
Howard is survived by his wife of 57 years, Faye, and his four children and their families, Ian (Rona, James and Katie), Michael (Mary, Robert and Alison), Christopher (Marianne and Dafydd), and Airlie (Scott). Howard was born in Wormit-on-Tay, Scotland, grew up in Crieff, and graduated with an honors degree in Civil Engineering from the University of St Andrews. He later immigrated to Canada, settling in Vancouver where he met Faye (nee Rodriguez) at the Jericho Tennis Club. Howard worked for several engineering firms in Vancouver before establishing his own. In 1974, Howard entered the British Columbia Public Service as Deputy Minister of Highways. Following his service at the provincial level, Howard became an active member, and eventually Chairman of the Board, of the Cadboro Bay Residents Association. Howard entered municipal politics as a Saanich Counsellor (Alderman) in 1977. After serving five terms as a Counsellor, Howard was elected Mayor of Saanich in 1987, a position which he held until 1990. During his public service with Saanich, Howard also served as a member or chaired several Boards, including the Capital Regional District, the Municipal Finance Authority, the Saanich Police Board, and the Victoria Transit Commission. After retiring from political life in 1990, Howard served as a Member of the Board of Directors for both the BC Assessment Authority and Pacific Opera Victoria, and Produced and Hosted the Mayors’ Edition on Shaw Cable TV in Victoria. Howard was respected for the honesty, integrity, and civility he demonstrated in municipal politics. His ability to bring consensus to difficult issues was often noted by his peers.
In 1988, Howard was awarded the Association of Professional Engineers of BC’s Community Service Award in recognition of his substantial contribution to the well-being of his community. In 2013, he was named a Freeman of the District of Saanich — the highest honour a municipality can confer and only the 12th person so named. Along with his wife Faye, he was a longtime supporter of the First Unitarian Church of Victoria and a founding member of the North Shore Unitarian Church in 1967.
Howard was an ardent and talented golfer and longtime member of the Victoria Golf Club where he first shot his age at 73 and again, a decade later. In 2012, he was thrilled to have shot a hole-in-one.
Howard and Faye loved travelling all over the world. Other activities Howard thoroughly enjoyed were the opera, dances with the local Scottish Country Dance community, and gatherings of the Saltire Society of Victoria.
The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to Howard’s caregivers and to Victoria Hospice for their compassion, support, and professionalism.
A celebration of Howard’s life will be held at the Victoria Golf Club, 1110 Beach Drive on Sunday, June 26, 2016 at 2:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Red Cross or Victoria Hospice.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall’s Funeral Home
www.mccallbros.com
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Wendy Gedney
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Juliana Sandahl To the Sturrock family,
I met Howard during line dance classes at July Eliot not too many years ago and knew nothing of his prestigious background and career which I have now read with great interest. Even though I spent only a few hours with him, I knew he was someone special, willing to learn something totally new, and then perform with us on stage. He was a true gentleman with a great sense of humor and I feel honored to have met him. My heartfelt condolences.
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Jim Ritchie It has been a great pleasure knowing this very special man Howard Sturrock, he will be sadly missed at the Saltire Society.
Please accept our deepest condolences,
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Christina Dodds Phil and I send our condolences to the entire Sturrock clan. What a remarkable man!
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Ted Kaye I first met Howard when he and Faye brought their family to Seabeck in 1971. For 45 years my family has enjoyed all of our Sturrock connections. With unassuming gravitas, Howard set a wonderful example for all of us. I am flying my Saanich flag at half staff in his honor. Debbie joins me in extending our condolences to the entire family, and we will toast Howard next month at July Eliot at Seabeck.
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Nancy Panitch Michael, Mary, Alison, and Robert , I am so sorry for your loss. The memory of his wonderful life will certainly be cherished by you and so many others.
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Peter Joyes My Seabeck friends called you “how-wierd”. With love
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Jacqui (Lynch) Emanuel To Michael, Mary, Alison, and Robert Sturrock – your Dad and Papa was certainly an amazing, loving man. I am so sorry for your loss. May you cherish your memories of him always.
Much love to you and to all of his loved ones.
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Gayle Knoepfler I served on the Eliot/Seabeck board with Howard and was struck by his strength, kindness, dedication, and love of life. He will live on in so many ways.
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Prudence Kaye Though I have not seen Faye and Howard in years, I remember him with great affection. Knowing some of his progeny gives me sense of his character. He will be missed by all whose life he effected.
With a sore heart, Polly Kaye
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Kari The Easton family sends all our love and blessings to your wonderful family. And here’s to missing monuments in our lives!
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Teri I love and loved this man. He was such a wonderful father to his children, yet he also embraced our community of ‘kids’ in a way that made us all feel special. a Kind, loving, engaged, intelligent, funny, warm and loving man. I feel blessed to have had Howard as one of my special adults when I was a teenager, and blessed that he brought so much integrity to many of my personal life decisions. Such a lovely person, feeling sorrow for his passing and gratitude that he was one of my big huge influences……
Fly free, Howardteri
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Bill Neilson Howard was an extraordinarily gifted leader, conciliator and listener in every field of service he entered. It was my honour to serve with him in the BC Public Service and later in the successful efforts to bring necessary change to municipal governance in Saanich. Civility, positivism and genuine love of family and community stand as his deserved legacy.
My sincere condolences to Faye and all Howard’s family on your loss. The obituary described this wonderful man so well. I had the pleasure of sitting on a citizen’s task force committee in 1979 to start Saanich’s curbside Recycling pick up. Howard chaired that committee and I could see immediately that his stellar reputation as a gentleman & an astute & effective leader were indeed very accurate. Such an honour to have known him and he did indeed leave the world a better place.
Sincerely,
Wendy Gedney