Douglas James Aldridge

Doug was born in Ottawa on April 12, 1949, and passed away July 23, 2021, in New Westminster. He is survived and greatly missed by wife Moira, daughters Kimberley (Jan), Pamela, and extended family.

Doug was pre-deceased by his parents Harold and Lillian, and older sister Joan.

As the son of a father in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Doug moved many times and attended several different schools in BC and Quebec. From that experience he developed the ability to make friends easily and was a loyal friend to many over his lifetime.

Doug had a natural ability for many sports he participated in. He played baseball, was a great swimmer, skier and played ice hockey at the Junior B level. He encouraged his daughters to try many sports and activities.

A lifelong avid learner, Doug graduated from UBC as an Electrical Engineer and was very active in student politics. He was President of the Engineering Undergrad Society and then AMS president. Doug was also involved in advocating for use by all students of the first UBC Aquatic Centre and later in the creation of Engineering student space on campus. He received the AMS Great Trekker Award in 2010 in recognition of his contributions to the UBC student community.

Doug met his wife Moira in Vancouver, and they were best friends and life partners for 40 years, enjoying many adventures together. He was a proud and loving father, encouraging his two daughters to become anything they desired. Doug enthusiastically helped build science projects, was a driver to many sports practices, games and events and was always ready with advice, guidance and facts about every subject imaginable. He videotaped hundreds of hours of his daughter’s sports games, family and friend vacations and gatherings. Through those videos we have happy memories we continue to enjoy. One of Doug’s favorite places was Mt Baker, where many adventures and laughs took place over the years with friends and family. On family vacations Doug was a camper extraordinaire and enjoyed spending time outdoors after what was always a very thorough setup of the campsite. He was a lover of animals and enjoyed spending time with the family cats.

In his career, Doug worked for IBM for 30 years in Vancouver, Bethesda, Maryland and Winnipeg, making many good friends during his time at the company. A highlight was the two-year US assignment where he travelled throughout the USA, to Australia, and Taiwan.

After retirement Doug devoted many hours to organizing Engineering Reunions for several grad classes. Growing up with a father in the Air Force started his love of military and other aircraft. In retirement Doug carried on this passion through flying RC model sailplanes and went on trips in BC and Western USA with group of friends who enjoyed flying together.

One of the things Doug was most known for was his ability to speak on so many subjects including current events and politics at length. Selfless by nature, he was also happy to spend hours helping friends, neighbors and family, with, among other projects, fixing their home computers. He was always ready with advice and support for his nieces and nephews and enjoyed spending time with them on family vacations and events. Doug had a passion for science, space and astronomy which included a vast collection of Scientific American magazines that he loved to share. He had a passion for old cars & music, enjoying maintaining and driving his 1964 Cadillac convertible. He taught himself how to play the guitar which he would entertain us with during friend and family gatherings.

We will miss Doug but know that he has left an impact and impression on many people he met through his involvement with his community, his shared passions with friends, as a loving husband and father and much-loved uncle, brother-in-law and cousin.

Our family would like to thank the kind and compassionate team at Royal City Manor who went above and beyond to care for Doug for the last two years.

As per Doug’s wishes, there will be no service. Instead, donations appreciated to the Heart & Stroke Foundation.