Earle David Mallough

Dave was a man of eclectic interests – literature, classical music, wood carving, art objects and an avid geneologist. He competed in curling, single-handed sailing of OK Dinghys, and won many awards for his photography. He also did not let time pass him by. On his computer he edited photographs; built the Mallough genealogical history; emailed contacts throughout the UK, Canada, and USA searching out Mallough’s wherever they could be found to document their history. He listened to his classical music on his MP3 player and his iPod. His newly acquired iPhone with its internet, speech, Skype and text messaging gave him lots of enjoyment. Not bad for an 87 year old.

Dave graduated from the U of S Agriculture College in 1946 and his professional life was spent with Canada Agriculture. He served the industry in postings throughout Saskatchewan but two activites are particularly noteworthy. Dave spent four years in Africa with CIDA, working with local people to advance agricultural development. He also put his photographic skills to use, accumulating an extensive collection of wildlife pictures. During his tenure there he hosted a visit by then Prime Minister Trudeau, who demanded to know why Canada was involved in the project. While Dave was able to give a full and wholesome answer, he no doubt had some personal thoughts. Civil servants are one of those doomed professions whose successes are expropriated by political masters. At the same time they live under relentless personal and institutional threat of “workforce adjustments”. Maybe that is why Dave never told the PM of the African baby delivered in the back seat of his car.

Dave was also at the coal face of another monumental development. The U of S crop scientist, Prof. Downy, had developed and nourished a few pounds of a new seed called canola. Dave championed this fledgling initiative through the vast institutional apparatus of Canada Agriculture and got Federal Cabinet approval to go ahead. He scoured Australia and finally California for farmers who would forego planting their own crops in favour of this strange seed. As a midwife during the Saskatchewan winter, he fretted about moisture and frost in California. Finally in our spring he addressed the challenge of bringing the precious harvest back to Saskatchewan in time for spring seeding. When a fleet of trucks seemed unavailable, the Canadian Air Force was enlisted, though ground transport ultimately came through. Dave enrolled some willing Saskatchewan farmers to plant the novel seed. The creative genius of U of S crop scientists partnered with the vast public sector institutional resources of Canada Agriculture to spawn not just a single firm, like Microsoft or Apple, but an entire canola industry! Every farmer must know how different the outcome would have been had the U of S partnered with a private firm instead. Dave knew. Being a civil servant and a man of immense modesty, it is only now that we can say ‘Well done Dave’.

Dr. Keith Ogle, Dave’s trusted physician and friend, cared for Dave in ways that many would wish for. Home Care, Community Palliative Care, and the St. Pauls Palliative Care Unit all worked to help Dave live with the independence and dignity that he so cherished.

Dave Mallough is survived by: his brother Stanley (Charlotte) and family of Montreal; his nieces: Kathie Bergstrom (Glen Beck) and family; Terri Wolfe (Brad) and family; Debi Mallough and family: his nephew Patrick Mallough (Val) and family: and his beloved cat Buddy.

A Graveside Service will be held on Monday, April 23, 2012 at Woodlawn Cemetery, please meet at the gates to Woodlawn at 1:30 p.m. A Celebration of Life gathering will be held on Monday April 23, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. in the hospitality room of Victoria Place (606 Victoria Ave., Saskatoon). Arrangements are in care of Acadia-McKague’s Funeral Centre 955-1600.