David Delaney

DELANEY, David M.
Inventor, researcher, social commentator, and relentless pursuer of knowledge. Passed away in Ottawa, February 19, 2012, at the age of 69, after a heroic struggle with cancer. David was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was educated as an electrical engineer at the University of Manitoba and spent the rest of his career in research related to software design and communications, with The Bedford Institute of Oceanography, in Nova Scotia, Ministry of Transport in Ottawa, Control Data Corporation in Toronto, Logica in London, England, and Bell Northern Research and Nortel Labs in Ottawa. David was one of the founding shareholders of Plaintree Systems of Ottawa. Although his formal career revolved around computer software and hardware inventions, David would be most accurately described as a polymath. David's huge span of personal interests and research in all manner of mathematics, physics, engineering, medicine, society, history, knots, sailing, fishing, hunting, music and nature lead him to invent an eclectic array of devices, some with broad social applications - things such as open architecture solar cookers for the less developed world to passive solar homes for temperate climates. Since his retirement in 1999, David's principle concern was the environment, particularly in the areas of population growth and peak oil. His research, correspondence and writings with people and organizations sharing similar concerns spanned the globe. His web site, http:/ /davidmdelaney.com/ was well known. David was a man of uncompromising principle both in scientific rigor and personal conduct. David was a good listener. He was always available to friends and family to discuss, analyze, empathize and reflect. He had a great sense of humor and was always an engaging advisor and confidant to his nephews, Michael, Sean, David, Stephen and James. In all of his work and life for the past 42 years David was supported and loved by his soulmate and wife Leslie (Redmond) who survives him in Ottawa. He will be missed by his brother Ian (Kiki) of Toronto and his sister Elizabeth of Ottawa, brother-in-law Verne Redmond of Halifax and many extended family members to whom he was known simply as Uncle. Leslie would like to extend special thanks to Dr Christina Canil, Dr. Gad Perry, their PDN's and Virginia Jarvis and the nurses on 6 West of The Ottawa General Hospital. As well, Leslie extends special thanks to the nurses at the Elizabeth Bruyere Palliative Care Unit and Beth Moore and colleagues of We Care. Friends are invited to visit at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 315 McLeod Street (at O'Connor) on Friday, February 24th from 6 to 8 p.m. Service in the Chapel on Saturday at 10:30 am. Followed by a reception. Friends wishing to remember David may make a donation to The Canadian Cancer Society www.cancer.ca