Ernest Carl de Beaupre

Ernest Carl de Beaupre February 23, 1934 - April 8, 2016 Ernest, age 82, passed away peacefully at his home in Vancouver after suffering a very rapid decline to his health.

Born in Waidhofen/Ybbs, Austria, he grew up in Vienna, emigrating to Canada in the mid 1950s where he met his wife, Christa. They came to Vancouver in 1961, where Ernest raised a family. In his midlife he came out as a gay man, beginning a new life and meeting Thomas, with whom he was life-partnered for 40 years. His worklife was varied. He trained as a pastry chef at Demel (Vienna), was an Analyst at CP Air, and finally, a Federal Civil Servant. He was a man of passion: for his family, for his homeland Austria, for his garden, and for his rescue dog Coco. He was a founding member of the Jericho Sailing Centre and actively involved in his strata. He loved travelling, music, good dining (especially desserts), and the ballet. He was very much an European, resisting West Coast informality and insisting on being addressed as 'Mr. de Beaupre' by those outside his 'close circle'.

Ernest is predeceased by his parents Carl and Hilde, and his half-brother Ferri, all in Austria. He leaves his half-sister Brigitte Weinberger (Austria), nieces and nephews (Austria), and his life-partner Thomas Quigley (Vancouver). He is survived by his three sons: Michael and Christian (Metro Vancouver) and Eric (Powell River); plus several grandchildren.

There will be no service. A Memorial Party will be held at the Jericho Sailing Centre on Sunday, May 1, 2016, from 2-4 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to any of the following: the Vancouver Branch of the BC SPCA; the BC Cancer Foundation; SOS Children's Village BC; or the Dr. Peter Aids Foundation.