David DeWolfe BENTLEY

DAVID DeWOLFE BENTLEY B. Comm, FCPA, FCA Born in Westlock, Alberta in 1924, David passed away peacefully in Edmonton on June 23, 2018. David is survived by his children, Bruce (Carol), Jennifer (Mike) Elliott and Carolyn (Jay) Reid. He will be forever remembered by his seven grandchildren, Cale and Jase Bentley, Lauren and Matthew Elliott, Afton, Paris and Eden Reid; along with numerous nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his loving and much loved wife, Janet; his parents, Grace DeWolfe Bentley and Arthur Bentley, who lived in Westlock for 65 years; and his sisters, Allison Sumner, Mary Stibbards and Shirley MacDonald, who all resided on Salt Spring Island at the time of their deaths. David spent the depression years in Westlock before moving to Edmonton to attend the University of Alberta. He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in 1946 and joined the firm of Winspear Hamilton Anderson, Chartered Accountants as an articling student. He received his CA designation in 1950 and was admitted as a partner in 1952. He served as Managing Partner of the Edmonton office and Chair of the National Management Committee of the firm prior to the merger with Deloitte Haskins and Sells in 1980. Until his retirement from the firm in 1987 he was Managing Partner of the Deloitte Edmonton office and a member of the National Management Committee. David was very active in his profession sitting on the Alberta Institute of Chartered Accountants Council from 1967-72 and as President in 1971-72. He was awarded a Fellow of the Institute in 1974. He also represented Alberta on the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants Board and was a member of that body's Executive Committee. He always said he could not have chosen a better career and enjoyed immensely the contact with clients, the variety of work and the satisfaction of helping people. The opportunity to work with individuals the calibre of Francis Winspear, the many talented partners of the firm, and members of the Edmonton business community was a rewarding experience. David enjoyed new challenges and staying active in the business world. In 1987, David took on an interesting second career acting as a consultant to his longtime friend Eldon Foote with respect to his businesses in Japan and the South Pacific. He assisted Eldon with his personal affairs and his philanthropic activities until Eldon's death in 2004. Working with the Edmonton Community Foundation and the Lord Mayors Charitable Fund in Australia, David continued to carry out Eldon's wishes to fund long term giving. Volunteering in the community was very important to David. He was a founding director of the Citadel Theatre in 1965 with his friends Joe Shoctor, Sandy Mactaggart and others. He served as Treasurer and President (through the construction of the new Citadel) of the Board of Directors. He then joined the Board of Governors serving a number of years as its Chair and remained active until his passing. He was a member of the Board of the Edmonton Eskimos including Treasurer in the early 1960's. He was on the initial board of the Edmonton Convention and Tourism Authority and was its Chair in 1986-7. Involvement with education led David and Janet to establish bursaries and scholarships at various high schools, the University of Alberta and the Chartered Professional Accountants Institute. For their philanthropy David and Janet were awarded the 2017 CPA Education Foundation Impact Award. David met Janet Covey at a wedding in 1950 and they were married in 1956. They had a wonderful life, spending 62 happy years together. Family was paramount and they took every opportunity to spend time with each other. David felt blessed that the children, their spouses, and all the grandchildren got along so well. Travel was a big part of his life, and he particularly enjoyed many adventures with the entire family to interesting destinations around the world. He and Jan were fortunate to experience decades of travel with friends Bill and Dorothy Astle, as well as Eldon Foote while working in the South Pacific and Asia. David was an avid fan of the Oilers and the Eskimos, having had football season tickets since 1949. He was an enthusiastic skier when his family was young and a fervent golfer in his 70s and 80s. He also collected art, stamps, coins and beer mugs and enjoyed the challenges of the stock market. The family would like to thank the kind and compassionate Caregivers at Devonshire Mews, Dr Sandra Kavanaugh, Dr Gary Samycia and the doctors and nursing staff at the Mazankowski Heart Function Clinic. If so desired memorial donations may be made to the Citadel Theatre, the David and Janet Bentley Family Fund at the Edmonton Community Foundation or a charity of one's choice. A celebration of David's life will be held in the fall of 2018.