Mr. Frederick Leon Diana

Diana--Frederick Leon. Born November 5, 1933, passed away with dignity on June 17, 2004. Fred is survived by his loving wife, Liz, of 22 years, three children from a previous marriage, Mark, Kim, and Brett(Jody), two stepdaughters, Leslie Hendrickson and Barbara Lintaman, and eight grandchildren, Jennifer, Brandon, Tyler, and Tyson Diana, Gareth and Kaitlyn Zado, and Derek and Dylan Lintaman, and his goddaughters, Laara and Roxanne Vandermeer. Fred was an accomplished musician, leaving his home in Powell River BC at the age of 15 to tour the USA with a Country and Western band the "Radio Rascals." His expertise lay in the piano, piano accordion and the electronic keyboard. While in the USA, he learned the trade of Barbering and Hair Styling. He returned home to complete his schooling while working in the Powell River Paper Mill, and started his career in Barbering which spanned 54 years in Powell River, the Vancouver area and on Vancouver Island. Fred also instructed and won several prestigious awards for hair styling. He worked as a sales representative for Redken Hair Products traveling throughout the USA organizing seminars. Recently, Fred founded the Canadian Society of Master Barbers. In the community, he campaigned for Ed Lum for Mayor, petitioned for better ferry service to the Island, and lobbied to have his new playground concepts tried at Centennial Park. Fred was an avid boater and fisherman. He was known by all for his quick wit and innovative ideas. He also traveled extensively around the world with his wife and settled in Costa Rica and Panama for three years. A special thanks to all the caring staff at the BC Cancer Agency in Victoria.

A celebration of his life will be held on Thursday June 24, 2004 at 2:00 PM at First Memorial Funeral Chapel, 4725 Falaise Drive. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the BC Cancer Foundation, 2410 Lee Ave. Victoria BC, V8R 6V5.

Arrangements under the direction of First Memorial Funeral Services Garden of Memories in Victoria, BC, 250.658.5244.

Fred’s Eulogy

I would like to thank you for taking the time today in remembering Fred Diana.

“ Fred the Barber’’ is how most of us will remember my father. However, this Eulogy to my father will highlight not only his profession but also all the other roles we remember him filling.

In praising Fred’s life with us, I thought I would be able to tell a few stories of some of his most exciting escapades. I asked a few close friends and relatives if they could remember a few stories about Fred in different stages of his life. A lot of these stories made me laugh and the remainder just amazed me. The problem was there were so many stories featuring my father that if I told them all we would be here all afternoon.

So instead I would like this Eulogy to my father to represent his accomplishments in the various roles we saw Fred in on a daily basis.

I will remember my father as not only “Fred the Barber,” but also as a seasoned traveller, entertainer, inventor, teacher, a true lover of life, and above all a really good friend.

As a Barber Fred spent over 50 years honing his profession, from the early days in Powell River and Port Alice, to the final haircuts he gave in his last few weeks with us.

Over the years Fred cut hair in many barbershops and owned at least a dozen or so shops.

You could count on Fred to provide a good haircut or style at a reasonable price. In most instances you would get the benefit one of the many stories or jokes he picked up over the years behind the chair. Each shop may have been different, from the 50’s in Port Alice to the 90’s at Tillicum, but you could always count on Fred’s friendly smile and steady hands. I will always remember the words, as I would sit in the chair,“The same as usual Brett?” It was comforting to know that whatever was going on in the world I could enjoy the few minutes of respite every few weeks with my father. I am sure it will be different for all of us when we need our next hair cut and step into a shop and not see him smiling behind the chair. On the way to this service today I did see one or two barber signs with the classic Barber’s Pole. I am sure most of you will have a glimmer of memory of Fred when you see these signs.

From an early age I also remember Fred behind the wheel of a car. His first car I have been told was a Blue Ford Model A convertible. He loved to travel and would at any moment be ready to go. He always said it was his Gypsy Blood.

From taking a trip across Canada in the middle of winter so his kid’s could see

snow, to a trip to Hay River NWT, to another driving trip across Canada, to a bus trip to California, Fred was always eager to see the world. It wasn’t until marring Liz that he traded the car mode of travel to his boat, the Haida Weigh. Many of us enjoyed time on the boat with both Fred and Liz for some fishing, cruising or just sun bathing. Their boat was a happy place where we all enjoyed Fred’s firm knowledge of the water and great sense of humour.

If he was at home behind the barber chair he was just as at home behind the wheel of a car or at the bridge of his boat.

Later in life Fred again changed modes of transportation, flying around the world, and later settling in Costa Rica for 3 years. Even during his last weeks he was planning a trip Up-Island to see some close friends and his oldest son.

Fred’s love of music was with him from an early age. From his early piano lessons and High School Band participation grew a life long passion. Playing the piano, piano accordion, and later in life the electronic keyboard, Fred was the consummate entertainer. It was a place where Fred loved to be, behind the keyboard lost in any number of his favourite tunes. Many times I remember as a kid hearing the tune to King of the Road being belted out on the piano keys while he sang a few bars only to change in mid song to any number of his favourite hits. Like a kid playing with the radio Fred could and would change the song often to keep you on your toes and also because he had the talent to do so. Later on in life with the help of technology and his skill, Fred was able to become the One Man Band he always talked about. With his keyboard, when most think of retiring, Fred would play at the legion in Victoria, the Yacht Club in Maple Bay, at theVictoria Crusing Club funtions, and various places in Costa Rica. People would dance or sing along to the many tunes Fred could play.

Fred’s curiosity led him to be an innovator in every aspect of his life. Such as the Carpeted Barbershop walls, the Brass Nutcracker, the Walking-on-Water Shoes, and the Single Moulded Barber Chair to name a few. The most interesting was not really an invention but way in which Fred could keep his garden fresh and new looking. Fred was an avid gardener from the time of his first house in Powell River. However as the years past he became a very ‘effective” gardener (to the point that it was scary). I was visiting Dad one day and there were some beautiful daffodils planted around his townhouse. I admired them and said how nice they looked. He mentioned to me that he thought he should take them out soon, even though they were in full bloom. I found I had to drop by again a couple of days later and when I looked for the daffodils I was surprised to find spring flowers already growing in the spots where the daffodils had been. I mentioned to him I was impressed with the work he had gotten done. He took the praise with the typical Fred smirk and glimmer in his eye. He proceeded to show me, out back, the pots that were buried in the ground with the daffodils still in them. He also showed me that the summer annuals were planted in the ground, pots and all. Why waste time and effort?

Fred’s curiosity, made him push new ideas to the forefront in everything from gardening to politics, cutting hair and, in general, living life. If you were ever stuck for an idea on how to do something Fred would always dream up a method. Some were great, some not so great, but it was always fun to see what he would come up with next!

To some of you, Fred was eager to give advice. But to a select few he was able to teach in his own very subtle way. If you asked him for instructions he would give you the long drawn out answers. On this, I can only speak for just myself. But I would like to share with you an example. As you may know I battled with Alcohol for a number of years until one day I had enough. I phoned Dad and said I needed help, what I expected I did not get. I expected Dad to lecture me and tell me all the woos of the evil drink. What I got however was a visit from 3 very wise old men. They took me to a place I have never been and made me face myself for the first time. Dad knew he could not show me the way, but he could open the door. He did this for me in many different ways over the years, knowing that if he told me the right thing to do, I would do the opposite. This method of teaching you may think is quite advanced for a barber but remember this is no ordinary barber we are talking about.

As you can tell from what I have just talked about Fred loved life, barbering, music, traveling, inventing, teaching, telling stories, and just having fun. He was friends with many and always enjoyed having people with him so he could feed them entertain them or just see them have a good time. My father's hugs and squeezes will be remember by a lot as his grandchildren as his affection was contagious. My father has now left us for a better place and we all will hold one or two memories of him near and dear. Some we will tell others about and some we will just carry with us. Some will make us laugh, others will make us cry. However there is one memory that I would like you to have the benefit of remembering.

Dad loved playing and watching sports. All of us kids had the opportunity to play various sports while we were growing up. Dad watched most events and he was always a very silent spectator. Once up at Centennial Stadium, he and I were watching a 1-mile race. The two combatants came down the home stretch neck and neck. I looked over at dad and he had a big smile on his face and at the same time he was crying. I asked him why he was crying. He said, “ I am crying because this is a great race. Both men have trained very hard and only one will win.” I then asked him why he was smiling. He said again, with a big grin and tears streaming down his face, “ Brett I just told you this is a great race and both men have trained very hard and only one could win. I didn’t know how much of a profound effect this would have on me when it happened but two things results from this. One, I would always run as fast as I could in a race so my dad would not have to cry for me, and secondly and even more strange, if I am watching a mile race and two combatants come down the final stretch neck and neck, I find myself crying and smiling.

Dad I am proud of all you have done and given to this world as a barber, musician, a traveler, inventor, teacher and man. But most of all I am proud to say you are my father.

I would like to say a little payer now that both Fred myself and some of out friends have found helpful through out turbulent times. If you know it please say it with me.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. Amen.

By Brett Diana