Dustin John "Dusty" Gilligan

To the joy of his parents Ted and Linda Gilligan and elder sibling Ted Jr., Dustin (Dusty) John Gilligan was born on April 7, 1976 at Vancouver’s Grace Hospital. The birth occurred in room 8, a number that would not only become Dusty’s favourite but also appear in several significant events throughout his life.

From the get go, Dusty and brother Ted Jr. were inseparable. Ted Sr. recalls that the boys – along with their cousin Rob – were “hellions.” The elder lads often set the stage for shenanigans that would leave young Dusty holding the bag. With his trademark twinkle in his eye, Dusty would shake it off.

And if ever one of the boys found themselves in a bind, one or both of the others were unfailingly there, a loving pact honoured to Dusty’s final moments on this Earth.

Even as a child, Linda says Dusty was one-of-a-kind. He would routinely appear in the morning fully dressed, his bed crisply made, ready to take on the day. Blessed with the looks of a rising movie star, Dusty’s dramatic features and riveting blue eyes didn’t always serve him well in his childhood, however. Some girls in his elementary school accused him of wearing eyeliner. No doubt, the majority hoped that one day he’d ask them to the dance.

Unapologetically demonstrative and affectionate, Dusty would always give his mom a big kiss when she dropped him off at school, unphased by the group of friends inevitably waiting nearby. Throughout his life, Dusty ensured those around him felt loved.

Little surprise that he attracted a diverse and ever-expanding collection of friends. The Gilligan home proved the favourite hangout; close pals became part of an extended family.

And family meant everything. The Gilligan clan reserved Sundays for time together, cycling in Stanley Park or enjoying other close-knit activities, a tradition Dusty would eventually carry forward as a parent.

Athletic and adventuresome in his youth, Dusty gravitated to pursuits including hockey, swimming and fishing. Later in life, no doubt inspired by the love of his life, Naomi, he also took up skiing and running; he trained with UFC fighters. He relentlessly sought to better himself, not only physically, but mentally and spiritually as well.

That effort paid off, with Dusty living the best version of himself, an aspiration of many achieved by few.

A big part of that spirit was centred on motorcycling, a passion pursuit since age four. Beyond developing himself as an expert rider, Dusty also became a skilled mechanic. In 1994, he and his father built Dusty’s first Harley Davidson. Over the years, Dusty, Ted Jr. and their father would handcraft more than 50 custom Harleys together, earning respect in the motorcycle community and numerous trophies in competitions.

But the biggest prizes of all in Dusty’s life were yet to come. That chapter began on January 5, 2006 at Sammy J Pepper’s restaurant in Coquitlam. That was the first time he laid eyes on Naomi Girard, a smart and athletic blonde beauty who worked at the popular spot while putting herself through university.

Naomi couldn’t help but notice Dusty. Handsome as hell, he was also the chatty centre of conversation at his table of friends. Evidently, he was focused on more than bar talk. Just as he was about to leave that evening, he turned to Naomi and passed her his phone number.

And so it began. The two quickly became nearly inseparable. Together, their energy was radiant. It wasn’t unusual for Dusty and Naomi to carry on breathless conversations – often both of them talking at the same time.

Six months later, at a Girard family weekend on Keats Island, Naomi introduced Dusty to her family. There, for the first time, Dusty also told Naomi he loved her. Everyone must have felt it, because they all fell instantly in love with Dusty, too.

Dusty’s favourite number aligned mystically on 08.08.08. That day, he proposed to Naomi while on a camping trip. On August 8, 2009, they were wed, an occasion marked by an epic celebration that romanced VanDusen Botanical Gardens and rocked the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown Hotel.

Naomi and Dusty loved their classic rock. Over the years, they revelled in concerts by artists including Fleetwood Mac, AC/DC, Santana, Bob Seger and others. Following a 2019 Mumford & Sons show, the couple sang as they walked arm-in-arm across the Cambie Street bridge, long after the show was over.

Just as Naomi introduced Dusty to new sides of life, such as boating with her father Mike and his wife Sheri, and annual family ski trips to Whistler, Dusty was keen to bring his girl into his world.

Sunset motorcycle rides, countless dinner dates, summer nights at the PNE and Vancouver Island camping trips with friends became mainstays. At Triangle Beach in Richmond, Dusty taught Naomi how to ride a motorcycle. Together, they ventured into far territory too, visiting destinations including California, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Quebec.

A smart, hardworking entrepreneur with a sharp eye for business that included landscaping and other successful enterprises, Dusty was an amply capable provider. He and Naomi invested heart and soul in their home on Watling Street in Burnaby. Soon it was a standout on the block. Dusty demonstrated his prowess as a distinguished horticulturalist and gardener in many ways. Their home’s immaculate lawns, finely manicured shrubs, and the fruit, vegetables and flowers that flourished out back are among the examples.

On January 28, 2014 Dusty and Naomi’s dream of having a family of their own was realized with the birth of their son Jaxon John Gilligan. Then, on December 11, 2018, they were blessed again with the arrival of Bohen Parker Gilligan.

Those boys meant everything to Dusty; he was a hands-on, doting parent. There was simply nothing he wouldn’t do for his boys: packing their lunches for school, teaching them the ways of camping and quad riding, speaking from the heart. And they adored him.

Even as Dusty and Naomi forged an independent life for themselves, Dusty’s bond with his parents and brother Ted Jr. only grew stronger. A generous man with a seemingly boundless heart, Dusty’s soul expanded with the richness he brought to this world. Everyone, including his cherished dogs, Diego and Kong, felt the love.

Every morning, after dropping off Jaxon at school, Dusty would show up at his mother and father’s door. Ted Jr. would be there, too. “What’s happening? We’ve got work to do!” Dusty would declare, bright-eyed, greeting his kin with that beaming smile.

On the day of his tragic death, a split-second, ill-fated moment that cost the life of a man loved by all who knew him, Dusty was heading for home – precisely where his heart was, and forever shall be.

Following a funeral at Oceanview Cemetery in Burnaby at 1 p.m. on November 6, 2021, Dustin John Gilligan will be laid to rest in the “Garden of Harmony” plot number 8, alongside previous generations of his mother and father’s family, and eventually his mother, father, brother and wife Naomi.

A “Good Times” celebration of life will follow at the Great Bear Pub, 5665 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC.

The Gilligan and Girard families express profound gratitude for the love and enduring support shown by countless friends and extended family members through this difficult time.