David Evan POWELL

1962 - 2018

DAVID EVAN POWELL It is with great sadness that the Powell family announces the death of their dearly loved youngest sibling, David. Born in Port Arthur in 1962, David was adored by his four sisters, Mary, Joan, Martha, and Catherine. His only brother, Peter, was in equal measures his mentor, his friend, and his rival (mainly in chess. See below). David was a happy and well-loved child who attended St. Andrew's School and Bishop Gallagher Senior Elementary School before earning admission to Upper Canada College. During these formative years, David grew into a fierce and loyal friend and forged many life-long relationships. He also honed his love of live music with frequent nocturnal (read: unsanctioned) outings to downtown music venues. Following high school in Toronto, Dave explored his academic options at Fanshawe College, London and at Queen's University, Kingston. It was at Queen's that Dave became friends with Gord Downey and the boys of The Tragically Hip. Impressed by his affable personality, attention to detail, and confident intelligence, Dave was named the band's tour manager, a job at which he excelled for the next nine years. For years following, Dave entertained his family and friends with hilarious tales of life on the road. There were very few big cities in North America or Europe that Dave couldn't recall in detail, listing off names of bars and restaurants and recounting various hijinks involving the boys. Dave was a true student of music. From his early years at Thunder Bay's Avila Centre to the end of his days, he loved to spend time listening to and making music. Whether he was buying used guitars, teaching guitar technique, or mastering the Theremin, Dave always had a deep understanding of music, and a half-dozen fine guitars close at hand. Returning to Thunder Bay after his life with The Hip, Dave enjoyed regular garage band gigs at his home with his many musical pals. In addition to music, Dave had many interests. He inherited his father's mechanical ineptitude although he had a closet brimming with time-worn tools and he was entirely comfortable with well-used and unreliable cars. He was an avid radio hound, tuning in at all hours of the night to old serials and current talk shows, following the airwaves from the far east to the deep south. Dave was a weak but exciting chess player, which suited his brother; the two were equally matched. Dave was also an avid reader and an energetic debater. And whether you agreed with him or not, everyone was certain on one point: Dave had an opinion on every subject known to man. In sum, Dave was a bright, funny, loyal, argumentative, loving, and beautiful brother. He will be deeply missed by Peter, Mary (Bob Segworth), Joan (Dino DiGiuseppe), Martha, and Catherine. Dave loved all his nieces and nephews, and he had a special bond with Pete's daughter, Claire. They found comfort near the bounds of norm, as artists will do, and they recognized the love in that kinship. Uncle Boog, as they called him, will be sorely missed by Charlie and Claire Powell; Kate and Jane Leadbeater; Max, Martha, and Sam DiGiuseppe; and Brent McIntosh. David was predeceased by his parents, Evan and Audrey Powell. A service to remember David will be held on Friday, December 7, 2018 at Sargent & Son Funeral Home beginning at 12:30 p.m. As expressions of sympathy, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or The Thunder Bay & District Humane Society. On-line condolences may be made at www.sargentandson.com. It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives. The act of dying is not of importance, it lasts so short a time. Samuel Johnson