David Henderson

Our dad, Dave Henderson, passed away on August 19 at Langley Memorial Hospital after a short illness. He is survived by his wife, Lauraine, three children, Todd (Diane), Dave (Lisa), and Christina (Phil Robinson). Also surviving are six grandsons, Brandon, Ryan, Mitchell, Matthew, Spencer and Taylor and one great grandson, Max, who was born on July 21, 2022. We are so grateful that dad met Max before he passed. Dad is also survived by his sister, Jean Bilozir of Penticton, and many extended family in B.C. and Great Britain.

Dad was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on July 2, 1936. Together with his parents, sister and grandmother, they immigrated to Canada in1948, settling in Penticton where one of dad’s aunts and her husband were living. They were simply seeking a better life.

Dad spent his high school years in Penticton, where he met our mom, Lauraine. They were engaged at their high school graduation and shortly thereafter moved to the Vancouver area, dad receiving his Bachelors of Education at the University of Victoria in 1955, and mom receiving her Nursing Degree at Royal Columbian Hospital in 1960, the same year they were married.

Mom and dad began their family in 1961 with the arrival of Todd. This was followed by Dave Jr. in 1963 and Christina in 1967.

Dad started teaching in the Surrey School District in 1956 at Port Mann Elementary. In those days, the Superintendent of Schools completed evaluations of new teachers, and during the evaluation the superintendent discovered that dad could play the piano and thus had a “music background”. Dad was transferred mid year to West Whalley Junior High School to start the band program. Word got around through a bowling league that the Superintendents of Surrey and North Vancouver belonged to that Surrey had a band program, and so the North Vancouver Superintendent, wanting the same for his district, “recruited” dad. Mom and dad moved to North Vancouver where they raised our family.

Dad started at Sutherland Secondary School in North Vancouver in 1962, and would remain with the school district until his retirement in 1991, except for 1974-76 when he taught band at Baden Senior School on the Canadian Forces base in Baden- Soellingen, Germany. The years in Germany were a fantastic time for our family, living, learning, and travelling throughout Europe on weekends and holidays with our Volvo station wagon and tent trailer.

Dad was transferred from Sutherland to Windsor Secondary in 1968 to start the band program there. He also started and taught a before school band program at the Windsor feeder elementary schools. When we returned from Germany in 1976, dad went back to Windsor.

Over time, band was offered at all of the North Vancouver high schools thanks to our dad planting the seeds and nurturing them.

Dad contributed to the community as leader of the North Vancouver Youth Band from 1985-1991. He was passionate about music and music education and always wanted to share it. A particular highlight of his time with the youth band was travelling to Edinburgh, Scotland and leading the band in a parade down Princes Street.

Dad also contributed to the community through membership in the Kinsmen Club of North Vancouver. It became a central part of mom and dad’s social life, resulting in many lifelong friendships. Dad was Governor of the Kinsmen Clubs of B.C. in 1970 and through his Kinsmen involvement served as a Director of the G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre, recognized as a Life Member.

After retirement, Mom and Dad traveled to various places and lived in Qualicum Beach, Westbank, and Kelowna before moving to Langley in 2008. During their time in Qualicum Beach, dad played the piano for the St. Stephens United Church choir. For the past three years, while living at Chartwell Renaissance Retirement Residence, dad started and led a choir of fellow residents.

Dad dedicated his life to his family, music education, and community service.In light of this, the family would like to request that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the North Vancouver School District Elementary Band and Strings Program. Information can be found here:

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/in-memory-dave-henderson/

We love you, Dad.