SCOBIE, Frederick Arthur (Rick)
December 28, 1951 - August 3, 2012
Rick passed away suddenly at home on Pender Island while preparing to welcome a houseful of guests for the long weekend. Survived by his wife of 25 years, Alison Higginson, his parents Evelyn and Fred Scobie of Dundas, Ontario, brothers Gary (Carol) and Alan, sister Arlene (Len) all of Ontario and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Annie and Don Smith of Gwynne, Alberta. Rick was an uncle, great- uncle, nephew, cousin and much loved friend to many.
Rick grew up in the beautiful town of Dundas, just outside Hamilton. He achieved his BA(Hons) in Urban Geography from McMaster University in 1974. He moved to Vancouver to undertake a MA in Urban Planning at UBC, on full scholarship, intending to return to Ontario. Instead he stayed and began what became a 34-year career at the City of Vancouver, retiring in 2007 as the Co-Director of the Development Services Department. For years he also carried the duties of the City's Subdivision Approving Officer and Chair of the Development Permit Board. Rick was widely respected by his colleagues at City Hall, the many City Councils he served and the development community. He had a reputation for fairness, efficiency and integrity in all that he did. He was also known for his extensive red- pen editing on the many reports and documents that crossed his desk. Rick was never one to hold back his opinion on how things should be done "right".
Since retiring, Rick's focus shifted from pens and paper to power tools, as he did much of the site preparation on our property on Pender Island, then worked alongside the crew to construct the dream home which had been in the planning process since 1986. For the past year Rick has been doing meticulous finishing work in the house, which seems to have required a new tool for each task. Rick was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in December 2011, which was inoperable, but being managed with medication, diet and exercise. Following his hospital stay and recuperation, he was right back at jobs around the house, albeit at a slower pace and with a daily nap, laying flooring and making sure that we had a proper dining table to share Christmas dinner with friends. There are only a few things left on the "to-do" list that he consulted each day. He was looking forward to converting the former cottage into a woodworking shop to pursue his passion for furniture building. In addition to being a fine woodworker, Rick was a demon disc golf player, Canucks fan (as long as they were winning) and unabashed and over-the-top dog lover. Rick will be forever in the hearts of Alison, our families and friends, and his "little girl" Claire who is missing her walks before bed.
There will be no service at this time. Gatherings on Pender Island and in Ontario and Vancouver to celebrate Rick's life will be planned in the near future. In lieu of flowers, donations could be made to the animal welfare charity of your choice, Habitat for Humanity, or the BC Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Published in Vancouver Sun and/or The Province from August 10 to August 11, 2012
