David Schwartz

Dave, a longtime, community minded resident of Kenora, passed away peacefully at home December 12, 2024.

His active membership on many committees and volunteer organizations over a span of almost six decades included serving on the Lake of the Woods District Hospital Board for 13 years. Dave was an environmental activist and a conservationist with a firm commitment to wilderness preservation. Passionate about public access to urban bike routes and walking trails and a hands-on committee member for both programs, he worked hard towards the development of new walking trails and creation of bike routes throughout the city. It was his dream that the hidden gem that is Rideout Bay be preserved as a green space for future generations. Dave was deeply involved in the grass roots initiative instrumental in preventing the demise of the Experimental Lakes Area program when funding cuts threatened its existence.

Beginning his teaching career in Red Lake (1966), Dave moved to Kenora (1969) where he continued to impact the lives of young people, both in the classroom and outdoors, until his retirement in 1998. A born teacher with a love of sport, coaching soccer and basketball teams was a given for him while still leaving time over the years for Dave the entrepreneur to run a variety of home businesses as a sideline.

A love of adventure and the outdoors led Dave to extensive world travel. His passion for wilderness and whitewater canoeing also took him on numerous trips in the Canadian Arctic and across the Canadian Shield.

Dave had a keen wit and sense of humour and enjoyed the company of his hockey and pickle ball friends. In recent years, he particularly enjoyed his beloved Dunning-Kruger friends who met weekly. After he retired, his joy in writing resulted in his self-published book, Lateral Thinking as well as articles in newspapers and the Lake of the Woods Area News.

Dave enjoyed dancing and live music as well as tinkering on the piano. He had a special interest in birdwatching and photography. His keen interest (and success) in gardening enabled many people to enjoy his garden’s bounty every year. One of Dave’s favourite pastimes spring, summer and fall was spending hours cruising with family and friends on Laurenson Lake and out onto Lake of the Woods on ‘the Clampett’. Two generations of this makeshift pontoon boat Dave built (two canoes strapped together with a plywood platform) played host to good times and good company for many who were lucky enough to climb on board, giving way only in recent years to a real pontoon boat.

Dave’s long and challenging struggle with cancer did not hamper his enjoyment of life which he faced with humour and grace.

The family is grateful to Dr. Faghi and Dr. Ramchandar of Thunder Bay Regional Hospital and the chemo nurses at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital who were instrumental to his care and to Char Mellio and Mike Limerick who provided excellent, compassionate home care for Dave during his final journey.

Dave is survived by his wife Trish (Pat), son Berk and wife Amy, granddaughter Emily, sister Jan Peterson, brothers Ron, Reg, John and Graham, his special cousin Diane and many valued friends and cousins.

A Celebration of Dave’s life is planned for the summer. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society, Lake of the Woods District Hospital Chemo Unit or IISD Experimental Lakes Area in Dave’s memory would be appreciated.