David Hector CAMPBELL

CAMPBELL, David Hector
September 11, 1925 to December 28, 2015
After a life well lived, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, friend passed away at the age of ninety. He is survived by his wife, Joan, his daughter Margot (husband Geoff Langill, sons Brent/Christine Kelland, Adam/Greta Barbosa, and Ross) and son, Craig (wife Trina, daughters Tessa and Chantal). He was predeceased by his parents, step-father (Norm McPhee), sister and brother-in-law (Doreen and Jim Ireland), and granddaughter (Samantha Campbell).
Born in Vancouver to Mary Victoria (nee Climie) and William Hannah Campbell, Dave attended David Lloyd George Elementary School, Point Grey and Magee Secondary Schools. He served in the armed forces with the Royal Canadian Signal Corps based in Kingston, returning to attend UBC, graduating in 1949 as a member of the second UBC law class.
A one-gal guy, Dave met Joan Jarvis in high school. They married in 1951 and never looked back – enjoying 64 years of marriage.
Dave was an accomplished athlete – playing intercity lacrosse with the Richmond Farmers (predecessors of the Vancouver Burrards), winning rookie of the year in 1943. He played UBC Thunderbird basketball from 1946 to 1949 and participated in the Canadian basketball team at the 1948 London Olympic Games. Along with his basketball teammates, Dave was inducted into the UBC Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.
He commenced his professional worklife as an articling student with Dan McPhee and Graham Ladner, joining Drewe Pratt in 1960 to form Pratt and Campbell. In 1974 he was first appointed a judge, later becoming Chief of the County Court of BC and ultimately Associate Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of BC, retiring in 1996.
More than anything he loved ice cream, White Spot chocolate milkshakes, chocolate chip cookies (in fact anything chocolate), reading, sports, his family, friends and colleagues – not necessarily in that order! He avoided green vegetables whenever possible and hated onions.
Dave taught us all by example – to be curious, observant, quick witted, honest, hard-working, frugal, dependable, and caring. Above all, he was a good friend and advisor who appreciated the value of strong relationships and wonderful camaraderie. We will miss him immensely – he has left a giant gap in our family fabric.
In lieu of flowers, Dave would have appreciated donations to the United Way (or a charity of your choice). A celebration of his life will take place at Point Grey Golf and Country Club (where he was a member for six decades), at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 16.
A life spent loving... is a life spent well.