Colin Robert Fleming

Born February 27, 1941, in Calcutta (Kolkata), India, where his father ran a jute trading business, Colin was the firstborn child of Robert and Monica Fleming. He was followed by his siblings, Christine and Steven. At the age of five, Colin’s family sailed home to the UK and settled in Bedford, England, where Colin attended Bedford School. Following graduation, he trained as a Chartered Accountant in London.

In August 1964, Colin married his lifetime love, Carolyn Garland Miller. After welcoming three girls and working a brief stint with his father in a commodity trading company in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), Colin applied for a contract position with KPMG in Canada. In 1969, the family emigrated and set up home in West Vancouver.

Colin spent his working career in Vancouver, where he enjoyed a number of different positions and occupations across varying industries, as well as time in the C.A. profession. During these years, Colin and Carolyn made many lifelong friends and enjoyed a rich, fulfilling social life filled with parties and get-togethers. For fun, Colin relished a cold beer with a buddy. He played tennis, squash, racquetball, and golf, and loved to travel and plan vacations. Among his most memorable trips were Portugal with the family, a year in Vienna with Carolyn, a tour of Southeast Asia, and most recently, a cruise to Australia with Lisa and Scott.

Following his retirement, he and Carolyn moved to Vancouver Island in 2010, where they happily settled and continued to make many more wonderful friends.

Colin is remembered fondly for his loyalty and great love for family and friends, big Sunday breakfasts, always being right (except for the rare occasion where he may have been wrong), and being an unending font of knowledge on any topic. His wish was “to be remembered as having tried to live a principled and fair life and supported my family. Those may be modest accomplishments, but nonetheless worthwhile.” He did this in full measure.

Predeceased by his sister Christine Fleming and sister-in-law Wendy Edwards, Colin is survived by his wife of 62 years, Carolyn Fleming, and their three daughters: Suzanne Brendeland (Troy) of Parksville, BC; Lisa Rawson (Scott) of Sharon, ON; and Clare Wheaton (Gerry) of Blaine, WA. He is also survived by his brother Steven Fleming (Gill) of Rusper, England; sister-in-law Susan Miller of Chippenham, England; grandchildren Samuel Rawson (Maryanne), Alexandra Rawson (Cierra), Matthew Wheaton, James Brendeland, Nicholas Wheaton, Gemma Rawson (Thomas), Jared Rawson (Cayden), and Sean Brendeland; and great-grandchildren Emerson and Vivienne Rawson. Colin is also survived by nieces Catherine, Joanne, Louise, Natalie, Sophie, Vicki, and Francie; nephew Richard; and his many close friends near and far.

The family would like to thank Drs. Duncan, Atwell, and Hunter, as well as all the Oceanside palliative care nurses and aides, for their care and consideration in Dad’s final months.

A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the BC Cancer Foundation (Vancouver Island Region) for the new BC Cancer – Nanaimo Cancer Centre.