Graham Russell Dawson

DAWSON Graham Russell Graham Russell Dawson passed away peacefully in his sleep Sunday, December 6, 2009. He was born in Vancouver on November 18, 1925 to the F.J. Dawson family, founder of Dawson Construction Ltd. He served as a Sub Lieutenant in the Canadian navy during W.W.II, graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1949 with a Bachelor of Applied Sciences, Civil Engineering and eventually succeeded his father as President of Dawson Construction and founded many companies including Dawson Developments which became Daon Developments. A prodigious builder and active leader, he impacted the landscape of British Columbia and lives of many. Some notable projects he was involved with were the Granville Street bridge, Dease Island tunnel, Upper Levels and Coquihalla highways, Roberts Bank terminal, along with many hospitals and airports. He participated on many public directorships such as the Bank of Montreal, Zellers, Andrew Peller Limited, and Canada Life Assurance. He also served as President of the Vancouver Board of Trade, Commissioner of the Vancouver Police, President of Canadian Arthritic and Rheumatoid Society, and Director of the Vancouver Aquarium. He also contributed in numerous ways to many facets of Vancouver's educational and humanitarian organizations. Graham is predeceased by his parents Frederick J. and Marion P. Dawson, Dorothy E.D. Dawson his wife of 57 years, his eldest daughter Rebecca J. Dawson, his sister Jean R.D. Hills (and her husband Bill), and his brother James F. Dawson (and his wife Dawn). He will be greatly missed by his four children, Murray (Sharon), Bruce (Barbara), Marion Mills (Barry), and Ian (Maureen) and his grandchildren Benjamin, Graham, Nathanael, Evangeline (Joel), Victoria (Dan), Stephanie, Cory, Tyler and 2 great-granddaughters plus 4 step-grandchildren, Diana, John, Jane, Patty, and their families. The family extends a special thank-you to his care givers Delia, Imelda, and the staff of Evergreen Nursing Services, and the Vancouver General Hospital and to his long time assistant, Pat Stephenson. A commemorative service will be held at Shaughnessy Heights United Church, 1550 West 33rd Avenue, at 3:30 P.M., December 14, 2009. The family would gratefully appreciate that in lieu of flowers you please make donations to Canadian Diabetes Association, Arthritis Society, or the Joe Segal School of Business at Simon Fraser University.