Carl Einar Carlson

Einar passed away peacefully, at the age of 93, at home in Amica Edgemont, North Vancouver. He was predeceased by his wife Bev. He is lovingly remembered by their daughter Susan Owens (Peter), sons Eric (Karen), Steven, and Brent, and grandchildren Sean Owens (Veronica), Rosemary Miller-Tait (Shane), Jordan (Aly), Nick (Raegan), and Campbell, Colten, Cash and their mum Charmaine, and great grandchildren Cole, Piper, Hazel and Quinn, as well as their loving extended family and many cherished friends.

Born and raised in North Vancouver, Einar attended Ridgeway Elementary School, and graduated from North Van High. He married his high school sweetheart, Bev Brown, in 1953. Together, they moved to Chilliwack, where Susan and Eric were born, so that Einar could be an articling student with an architectural firm there. In 1961 they moved back to the North Shore, where Steve and Brent were born, and Einar continued his architectural career in Vancouver.

Einar was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was a loyal friend, and a kind, ethical, compassionate person. He excelled in many areas. Being an architect before AutoCAD, he was, for example, easily able to calculate an engineered beam, draw his designs, and communicate in meetings, letters, and reports, with his impeccable English. He had a strong sense of esthetics, which was evident both in the everyday details of his life, and in the buildings he designed, such as the Provincial Courthouse on Main Street, the Capilano Branch of the North Van District Public Library, SFU Library, Royal Roads Library, Monteray Elementary School, and the restoration of the St Paul’s Squamish Nation Church. His underlying philosophy was that his designs should be harmonious with their surroundings, adhere to the form should follow function principle, and reflect and meet the needs and values of the people using them. Following his work as an architect and partner with Harrison Carlson Pearce, he spent 10 years as head of permits and licenses for the District of North Vancouver.

Einar enjoyed skiing until he was almost 80. As a teenager, he would hike from the family home on 17th and Grand Boulevard, up Grouse Mountain, ski two runs from Hell’s Gate down the bottom half of the Cut, then hike back home for dinner. He taught Bev, their children and their grandchildren to ski. The family were long-time members of the Tyee Ski Club, of which Einar served as president in the mid 70’s. Einar was supportive of any organization he or his kids were part of, and he readily stepped up to help, whether it be Cub Scout camping, soccer games or helping to run ski races. Once he could no longer ski, he tried to remain active by exercising and walking, and he continued to enjoy watching ski races, as well as football and soccer, on TV.

Once they were both retired, Einar and Bev enjoyed traveling to see places they had always dreamed of, beginning with a trip to Sweden to see where Einar’s parents had grown up, and to England and Ireland, to see where Bev’s family had come from. They went to Turkey and Greece, Paris, Rome, Peru, Austria and China. They also enjoyed going to Mexico and Hawaii, and touring Chicago and New York. Bev had a strong sense of adventure and curiosity, and routinely persuaded Einar to venture out with her, which he always appreciated.

Einar and Bev valued the people in their lives, and made friends wherever they went. After 45 years on Monteray Avenue, it was time to downsize so they moved to an apartment, designed by Paul Merrick, whom he respected, and in which he finally felt he was living in an architecturally designed home. It was close to the beach at John Lawson Park. They were able to walk the seawall and sit on the benches enjoying the smell of the salty air, the wind and the waves, and the passersby. This was an idyllic time of life for them. As Bev’s health declined, they moved to Amica Edgemont, where they were treated so well.

For the three years after Bev passed away, Einar missed his cherished wife, but he took comfort in knowing he was well loved by his family. He enjoyed their visits, and appreciated the devoted care of the staff who took care of his increasing needs. Over the last few days of his life, he was kindly visited by his doctor, received continuous care and attention from Amica’s nursing and care staff, and his family were able to visit him and stay by his side. He passed away feeling good about his life, and knowing he was loved. He will be remembered in a small celebration of life, attended by his immediate family, as was Bev before him.