Victor Albert Dams

Victor Albert Dams passed away peacefully at Carewest George Boyack Centre on January 29, 2018 at age 99 years. Vic is lovingly remembered by his daughter Susan Linahan (Calgary); son Bob (Caralan) Dams (Ottawa); and their beautiful young families, granddaughters Jamie (Jeff) Mucha (Kelowna) and Lesley-Anne (Andrew) Rochon (Ottawa); grandsons Gerrett (Jessica) Archambault (Calgary), Jeff (Megan) Dams (Denver), Marty (Jackie) Dams (Boston) and Ian (Nicole) Dams (Denver); and nine great-grandchildren. He is also remembered lovingly by his niece Rona (Brian) Kent and nephew Ed (Maija) Briggs and their families. Vic was predeceased by his wonderful wife Jeannette (nee Starrs), mother Marguerite (nee Decker), father Edward Dams, sister Margaret Briggs, and brothers Henry Dams and Ferdinand Dams.

Dad was most importantly a thoughtful, caring and generous husband, father and grandfather. His memory and wit were fabulous, and he brought many laughs to us all.

He was a native Calgarian who witnessed the evolution of transportation from horse & buggy to rapid transit: his passion for auto mechanics and related career spanned four decades - culminating as supervisor of bus repairs in the Calgary Transit System. His love of piano music began at age 4. He graduated from SAIT where he also played hockey and basketball, while mastering automotive mechanics, then on to the RCAF in Swift Current during WWII where he entertained the airmen with his music. He serenaded his wife Jenny into matrimony while he was posted at “Speedy Creek”. He brought this love of free-flowing piano music to friends and family throughout his life, often playing “till the cows came home” at family gatherings, birthdays, Christmas parties, Harbours of Newport where he happily led the “Harbour Lights” band on weekends, and then eventually at multiple hospital and care facilities. Square dancing was a life-long passion for Vic and Jenny as well. This included joining hundreds of others during the 1988 Winter Olympics opening ceremony. He also loved to dance which continued till the end of his days with friend Gladys.

Grandpa Vic, we all miss you so much, but we know that your generous, kind and positive spirit lives on in all of us.

A Memorial Service will be held at SOUTH CALGARY FUNERAL CENTRE, 12700 Macleod Trail South (at Lake Fraser Gate), on Saturday, June 16, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations being made in Victor’s memory directly to The Heart and Stroke Foundation, (1212 West Broadway, Ste #200, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V2).

Messages of remembrance may be left for the family at www.southcalgaryfuneralcentre.ca