William Douglas Koch

It is with profound sadness we announce the passing and loss of William Douglas Koch — our brother, son, friend, brother-in-law, uncle and ‘A Good Book Man’ on Nov. 23, 2024, aged 66 years. Predeceased by our mother Anne Koch. He leaves behind his father, William Koch, brother Wes Koch, sister Lorianne Koch, brother-in-law Ian Calvert and niece Gracie Calvert, along with many cousins, uncles and aunts.

Dougie spent his life folded between the pages of books —the world was his for the reading.

He made his entrance into this world in late May 1958, just across town at the Royal Jubilee. His early years were spent exploring Canada with his family through military postings. From a young age, he demonstrated an aversion to physicality, though he did try on lacrosse and hockey for a while until he ran out of white tape for his glasses that bore the brunt of one too many body checks. He then wisely took up the trumpet and blared his way through high school with performance excursions to Wales and London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Upon graduation from Queen Elizabeth High School in Edmonton, he thoughtfully left the family a note on the kitchen table that he had thrown his fate into his backpack and hopped the rails across Canada with friend Chris Dare. Potato picking in New Brunswick helped top up the beer fund. He soon tired of the transient lifestyle, bedded down in Montreal for a spell then headed back west to attend Concordia College in Alberta to study Commerce. Not a match. The family moved back to Victoria in 1982 and Dougie soon followed — UVic was beckoning. Here, he embarked on a degree in Creative Writing/Philosophy. He had finally landed in a space to express himself, question and debate. This was home. He began work at the Campus Bookstore to fuel his love of expensive wallpaper — books and CDs.

Upon graduation, he strolled through the doors of one of the world’s best and most beautiful bookstores — as he would love to remind folks — and met the most influential mentor of his life; Jim Munro. Doug thrived in this blender of culture, curated literature and hub of social connection. He engaged, recommended, and fistbumped his way through every working day.

An environmental and peace activist, Dougie founded VIEWS — Vancouver Island Earthworks Society — a springboard to launch Earth Week in Victoria in April 1990. Thrown in for good measure were a few community festivals throughout the 1990s-2008ish.

Doug believed we'd all be happier and more content if we left the world a better place upon our exit. “To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived — that is to have succeeded.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mission accomplished, Dougie. Rest in peace. You will be missed.

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Everybody has a Dougie story and we'd love to hear them all at his Celebration of Life in January. A Service will also be held at First Memorial in Royal Oak on December 7th at 2pm.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Doug Koch Memorial Scholarship for an Esquimalt High School student studying creative writing/philosophy, to be launched in the new year.