Julian lived a full life, with joy in his family, satisfaction with his work, and enthusiasm for his outdoor pursuits and creative interests.
Julian Michael Henry Coward passed away peacefully, with family by his side. Loved and sadly missed by his wife Mary, sons Andrew and Michael, daughter-in-law Joan Marie, grandsons Matthew, Andrew and Patrick, his sister Tessa Kirby in England, and many relatives and friends.
Julian was born in England. He studied electrical engineering at the University College London. In 1966, he met Mary who was on an exchange year from University of Toronto. In 1968, he followed her to Canada – and also to do a Ph.D. in hydrogeology at McMaster University in Hamilton. They married in 1969 and for their “honeymoon”, drove with eight friends from England to Nepal on a caving expedition.
Julian’s first job was in Toronto with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. In 1976, the family moved to Edmonton where Julian worked for Syncrude for almost 30 years in the Research Department. Life in Edmonton was rich with family, community, and work. Julian enjoyed outdoor activities – skiing, hiking, and camping. Also, indoor pursuits – woodworking, science projects, and acting as an “extra” in the Edmonton opera.
Caving, or spelunking, was a passion from his university days. He explored the caves in England and Europe, went on expeditions to Nepal, Peru, and Mexico, and expanded caving knowledge through research, mapping and “speleo electronics”.
Travel was also an ongoing enthusiasm. He hitchhiked through Norway as a teenager, travelled with Mary as a student to Nepal, South and Central America, made many trips with his young family to visit grandparents in England and Toronto, and finally, in retirement, enjoyed tours and cruises with friends.
He took great pleasure from his children, and now with his grandchildren, passing on his engineering talents and love of “making things” as well as his outdoor pursuits and travel.
In 2005, Julian retired to Victoria, where he and Mary enjoyed an active retirement. They loved their house on the Gorge, enjoyed hiking and bridge with friends. Julian bought a small wooden steamboat named “Hotspur” to putter up and down the Gorge. He volunteered at Heritage Acres and enjoyed the Victoria Symphony. And he found time to write a history of himself and his family.
Despite coping with Alzheimer’s for 10 years, and melanoma for the past two years, Julian always found the best in life. He always expressed his gratitude for his full and satisfying life of family, work, travel, and interests. He faced his challenges with patience, humour and gentleness.
The family would like to thank the Alzheimer’s Society of BC, the Day Programs at Sunset Lodge and Elk Lake, and HandyDart. Also, thanks to the BC Cancer Agency. And special thanks to those at Douglas Care, who cared for Julian, and our family, through his final months.
A Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, September 13, 2017, at McCall Gardens Sequoia Centre, 4665 Falaise Drive at 2 pm with a reception to follow.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
36 Responses
Quiet, smiling Julian, a great, smiling volunteer for Harbourside Rotary projects.
Julian exemplified the qualities outlined by Albert Schweitzer:
“The purpose of life is to serve, and to show compassion the will to help others.”
Our sympathy to the family
Wayne Ford
Estimados Mary y familia, mi más sentido pésame por su pérdida. Cristiana resignación.
Mary Dear, I was so sorry to read of Julian’s death and send sympathy to you and yours. You were kind to me in a similar situation and I appreciated it. Julian was a lovely man (very English, that) and enjoyed life to the fullest. I am sorry his last years were spent dealing with illnesses but I know you and the boys handled those last years well.
Dear Mary. My sincerest condolances to you and family in passing of your husband Julian. My thoughts and
prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Best personal regards,
Ron Hierlihy, St. Albert,
AB
Dear Mary and Family;
I heard the sad news of Julian’s passing this morning from Trevor (Tich). I’m so sorry for your loss. The lovely obituary brought back many memories of long ago. I hope happy memories will sustain you and your sons, and lighten your burden as time goes by.
Sending you our heartfelt condolences, Monica and Gord
Sorry to read about the loss of your father Andrew. Our thoughts are with you and your family.
Neil and Gayle
Dear Mary and famly:
Yingfeng and I are so saddened by Julian’s passing. Our deep condolences. Our heart and thoughts are with you during this most difficult time.
Julian really had a great enviable life : satisfying work, happy marriage, great children, active retirement. I have always seen Mary and Julian as an inspiration and a model to follow in living life to its fullest. I remember Julian’s participation in the Edmonton Birkebeiner, the wood shelves that he made to display Mary’s collection of Altaglasses.. He was always at Mary’side, smiling and enthusiastic… He will be dearly missed, but he will always live in our memories.
Suping and Yingfeng
Mary, our thoughts have been with you & Julian in the past few weeks, and we were saddened by the news that he had passed so soon. We’re glad to have known him & to have shared the past year of Sunday morning hikes with you both. He’ll continue those walks with us all in spirit, with his characteristic long easy stride. Our thoughts are with you & your family at this difficult time.
I worked with Julian for many years at the Syncrude Research Centre. He was always a joy to be around, contributing extensively to the many projects he was involved in. Julian will truly be missed by many of his friends, both work and personal. Wishing Mary and her family my condolences at this difficult time.
I am so glad that, through Tai Chi, you and Julian came into my life.
If all the leaders and diplomats of the world had Julian’s nature, I am
sure there would be harmony and not wars. With Respect, Sympathy and Love – Marlene