WILLIAM ARTHUR ROLAND "BILL" ANDREW

WILLIAM "BILL" ARTHUR ROLAND ANDREW A Life of Adventure, Curiosity and Joy Bill Andrew died peacefully at home in Victoria on the morning of Saturday, December 30, 2023. He is survived by his wife, Denise (Fleming); three children: Jessica (John), Marc (Evgenia) and Marion (Jeff); and five grandchildren: Isabel, William, Nicholas, Rooney, Maxim; and two brothers, John (Sue) and Frank Andrew (San San). Two sisters, Rosemary Del Degan and Susan Andrew predeceased him. Bill's life was defined by infectious enthusiasm and curiosity, as well as the most lovely sense of wonder and joy. From a very young age, travel beckoned. To finance his trips while an undergraduate student at UBC, Bill drove a taxi in Vancouver and worked on the trains traversing the Rocky Mountains. His mother often proudly recounted that he was the youngest dining car steward on the Canadian National Railway. His adventures took him from the tranquil farms near Charlottetown where he was born in 1948, to the heart of the Soviet Union, travelling on the Trans-Siberian Railroad near the peak of the Cold War in 1970. He loved to share vivid stories about all his adventures. Throughout his life Bill was a deeply avid news, technology and car enthusiast. He could be counted on for informed, amusing interpretations of any recent headline or new tech product. Amid the many vehicles he owned in his life his great pride were two Miatas, and he always took great passion in their tinkering. Bill applied to law school on a bit of a whim. Obtaining late acceptance toward the end of August 1972, he was told if he could be at Queen's University the next morning, he was in. He flew to Toronto that evening and his mother drove him to Kingston the next morning. Fate was aligned because there in Kingston he soon met his future wife, Denise Fleming. Their love story would span five decades, and they'd see their marriage take root in the northern Ontario towns of New Liskeard and Haileybury on Lake Temiskaming. As a young litigator in northern Ontario, Bill quickly established himself in private practice, excelling in a range of cases including personal injury, family law, civil litigation and criminal defence. After moving to BC, Bill devoted himself to public service, offering counsel in family law and child protection matters. His work with Legal Services in BC reflected his deep commitment to the public interest and the welfare of those he served. Respected by judges, opposing counsel, support staff and clients throughout his legal career, Bill was known for his professionalism, moral integrity, empathy and commitment to excellence. Always interested in politics, Bill joined his friend John Hoyles in performing advance work on Brian Mulroney's 1984 campaign, travelling with him to dozens of communities across Canada. This work subsequently provided Bill the opportunity to be introduced to Queen Elizabeth II by Prime Minister Mulroney. He was proud of this, but his irreverence and humour always shone through and Bill never took himself too seriously. In 1994, Bill and Denise brought their family to British Columbia, the place he most truly called home. Happily, Bill's children chose to build their families close by. His family meant everything to him. Bill's guidance as a father was always supportive, never prescriptive; it was always given through insightful questions and perspectives, empowering his children to pursue their passions. For his family and friends, Bill's legacy will remain a reminder of how to find joy, wonder, excitement and enthusiasm in every aspect of life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the BC Heart and Stroke Foundation or the BC Civil Liberties Association. A Memorial Service will be held January 26th, at 2 p.m.