Mervyn Douglas John Wright

Merv passed away peacefully on May 29th after a long, brave battle with cancer. He was 71. He is survived by his children Candice and Stuart Wright and his mother Katherine (Kay) Wright. He is predeceased by his father, Doug Wright. He also leaves behind his nephew Lee, niece Dawn, and great nephew Thomas. Merv was born in Essex, England at the end of the second world war and brought peace to the world with his arrival. He was then brought home to Canada and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan. He grew up playing the trumpet in his high school band. In his mid-20’s he spent a year overseas in Europe where he travelled across the continent and lived various places, including a Jewish kibbutz and a hotel in Gletsch, Switzerland. In his late 20s he came to Vancouver for a week's vacation and ended up staying for good. He fell in love with the mountains and the ocean and embraced the active lifestyle of Vancouver. He lived in the West End and was in numerous theatre performances at Bard on the Beach and Theatre Under the Stars. He eventually started a career as a real estate agent and settled down in North Vancouver, marrying Gwen Holberton in 1983. He spent every summer with his family at Pasqua Lake, Saskatchewan where his parents had a retirement home on the water. He was an excellent water-skier which he kept up into his 60s. Summers at the lake were always the highlight of the year; boating, fishing, water-skiing, spending time with family. Merv had a passion for aviation and got his private pilot licence in 1990, when he took his first solo flight. In the mid-2000s he joined as a volunteer for Air Search & Rescue, and went on numerous missions as a spotter and navigator. He loved his kids deeply and enjoyed watching them play sports, taking them camping, going on road trips whenever possible, and just gettin’ the hell out of town. His children were there to support him through his difficult battle with cancer. Merv was an avid cyclist later in life and was a member of a local cycling group, the Cyclopaths, where he met many close friends who remained close to him for the rest of his days. He will always be known for his big heart, quick wit, and quirky ways that kept everyone laughing. His boisterous character will be missed by all who knew him. A celebration of life will be held on Friday, June 9th at 2pm at Boal Chapel, First Service Memorial (1505 Lillooet Rd, North Vancouver). Those attending are asked to wear colour.

Arrangements under the direction of First Memorial Funeral Services, North Vancouver, BC.