May 27, 1930 – July 14, 2014
Beloved Uncle of Linda, Wendy, Barbara, Suzanna, Cynthia, and James; Great Uncle, (emphasis on the great) of Gabrielle, Allyson, Jennifer, David, Adrienne, Lisa, Diana, Jeremy, Sedona and Lexington; Great Grand Uncle of nine others, all of whom he knew and cherished. Predeceased by his dear sisters Anna, Janice, and Claire.
How we will miss our champion of all the arts!
The family wishes to acknowledge the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, Hugh’s other family in Victoria, all his extended family in Canada, the United States, Britain and Switzerland and his numerous friends and colleagues in arts communities across Canada. We mourn the passing of a passionate, brilliant man who created a life of magnificent variety and beauty in work, relationships and spiritual searching. He has been our guiding light. The family is grateful for the excellent care Hugh received during his last months of illness from Zig Hancyk, his doctors and the staff at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. Hugh’s vast friendship network was a source of loving inspiration and connection for him.
A service of remembrance will be held in Victoria, BC, at St. John the Divine Anglican Church on Tuesday, August 5th, at 2 pm, reception to follow at the Victoria Art Gallery at 3:30 pm. All of Hugh’s friends are welcome. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Victoria Foundation Hugh Davidson Fund or an arts organization of your choice. Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Bros. Funeral Directors
28 Responses
Joanne Bryan, Michael and Vashti Waterhouse wish to say how sorry we were to hear of Hugh’s passing. We first met years ago when he came to Australia to see our mutual friend, Donald Harvie. We always hound Hugh to be charming and affable, the perfect gentleman, warm and generous besides. We know he will be sorely missed in the world of music, theatre and ballet and by his extended family and wide circle of friends. Our thoughts and sympathies are with you at this time
Best Wishes, Joanne, Michael and Vashti
We have all lost a wonderful man. But we can take solace from the life of superb accomplishment that he achieved, and the many friends who cherished his creativity, sensitivity and love.
Patrick and Alison Reid
Hugh was a colleague for many years at the Canada Council and it was impossible not to be affected by his enormous enthusiasm for music and the arts.
He was a charming, affable fellow with a great sense of humour, whom we loved to tease. When he left for England to work at the Canadian embassy, the Dance and Music sections created a skit as a farewell event that had Hugh presenting his credentials to the Queen. The script included an adaptation of “Malborough s’en va-t-en guerre” and the cast featured colleagues from many sections at the Council. It was a measure of the affection we all felt for him that so many showed up to rehearse, perform and wish him well.
I too am sorry to have lost touch with him over the years. I send condolences to all the family on his loss.
Hugh was truly a very good man, one who did a great deal for the performing arts in Canada – tangibly so. I worked with him only while he was at the Canada Council in touring and music, which happened to be my specialist activities at the time, working closely always with the Canada Council and External Affairs. One felt at all times that Hugh and we street-level impresarios were working towards the same end: Taking Canada’s best and giving them a viable world career. In some cases it even worked – thank you Hugh for your significant role therein! Hugh shall be remembered and missed by pros in the field, present company included.
We were deeply saddened to hear of Hugh’s passing. He was a very dear and caring man in all facets of his life. To my mother Patricia, she remembers many happy summers with Hugh at the cottage in Davidson. My father Roger specially valued Hugh for his mentorship and wise advice, to say nothing of his shocking wit. Hugh was tremendously supportive and encouraging to me in my journey though life. He always made me feel cherished and valued. He will be sadly missed by many.
Please accept my sincere condolences. Hugh was a very dear friend to me and he will be greatly missed. I can’t imagine a trip to the West Coast without seeing Hugh. Over many years he has been a trusted confidant, friend and mentor. Please know that your sadness and sense of loss is shared by me and by a host of friends and professional colleagues across Canada and indeed, around the world. Hugh was an original and his contribution to the musical life of Canada cannot be overstated. This is a very sad time for so many. His brilliance and wit will be sorely missed.
I will miss Hugh. He was a Champion, in the best sense of the word: a champion of setting the right tone, of doing things properly, of treating people kindly, of honouring a person’s uniqueness, a Champion of talent and integrity. He was refined and knowledgable (and would not hesitate to offer his opinion!) and a huge musical and literary and artistic resource. He was kind, and thoughtful, often in ways that escaped public attention. He lived his life passionately. I remember him for his support and kindness in difficult times. He was one of a kind.
My deepest sympathy to Hugh’s family who were his # 1 priority. Hugh was a delightful and kind man. It was a privilege to be his friend and he was a generous host. I’m sure that he is scoring music for the angels.
I am very sorry to learn of the passing of Hugh Davidson, but I have happy memories of Hugh in London where he facilitated a concert at Canada House for myself and two other Canadian musicians. He was most supportive of our aspirations and I really appreciate the confidence he showed in us at the start of our musical careers. My condolences to his family and friends.
On his passion for music and people, Hugh created a life that I admired greatly. Through his talent and dedication, Hugh contributed enormously to music in Canada and particularly to the Canadian repertoire. He was loving and encouraging to all, and he never stopped working and giving of himself for the cause of Canadian art. This musical legacy is a genuine gift to humanity, and if you were blessed with his friendship and knew his beautiful, romantic, bon vivant spirit, then the example of his life so joyously lived is a great gift as well. Thank you Hugh. All my love. And to your family, loved ones and friends, my sympathy.