David Boag

BOAG, David Archibald January 24, 1934 - Edmonton, Alberta December 6, 2017 - Calgary, Alberta David Archibald Boag of Calgary, AB, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at the age of 83 years. David was born in Edmonton and grew up on the Boag Homestead near Bremner east of Edmonton. At age 14, his family moved to Victoria, BC. He returned to the University of Alberta to pursue his studies and received his PhD from Washington State University (Pullman) in 1961. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station in Naples, Italy where he met and subsequently married Sofia in 1963. He joined the Department of Zoology faculty at the University of Alberta in 1963 where he taught until retirement in June 1991. David directed the RB Miller (now Kananaskis) Biological Research Station west of Turner Valley, AB for 20 years. A much-respected professor, he taught legions of undergraduates and supervised many graduate students over his career. His research centered largely on the ecology of grouse (Canada and Scotland), but included research on jellyfish (Italy), lizards (Italy), land and pond snails, magpies, ground squirrels, and raptors in Canada. He and Sofia retired to Brentwood Bay, B.C. where he lived until October, 2012. David was a scholar, a gentleman and a man of principle. He was deeply committed to public engagement with environmental issues and bestowed upon his students a citizen's responsibility in contributing to environmental protection. He was also a man deeply concerned about social justice. David retained his grace, kindness, and love of gardening, the outdoors and natural history through to the last days of his life. He leaves us with many wonderful memories. He was much loved, and by many. David is survived by his son Tom and daughter-in-law Michele; daughter Franca; Nicola, Samantha and Tala (Rosenthal); siblings Joyce (Bevan) Gore-Langton, Brenda (Ian) May, and Brian (Rosemary); cousins Bill, John, and Terry Bocock; daughter-in-law Claire Klassen; as well as Heather and Robin. David was predeceased by his wife, Maria Sofia (nee Giaquinto) in 2000, and his parents Thomas and Marjorie Boag (nee Bocock). A Memorial Service to celebrate David's life will be held in Victoria at St. Michael's Church on January 15, 2018. The family will host a reception afterwards. Please forward condolences through www.hffs.com If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made to directly to The Alzheimer Society of Alberta and the Northwest Territories, Administrative Office, 10531 Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5H 4K1, telephone 1-866-950-5465, www.alzheimer.ab.ca The family is deeply grateful for the loving care and attention of the staff and doctor at Hillcrest Extendicare's Sunshine Circle during David's tenure there. An especially heartfelt thanks to his companions, who we were so fortunate to have found, who supported him to the end.