With sadness, the family of Donald Alexander Smythe announces his passing on February 8 in Vancouver, BC after a short illness. Don is predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Joan Hope Smythe (nee Munroe) and leaves behind his three children Suzanne (Andrew), Michael (Margot) and David (Jennifer) and 6 grandchildren, Cameron, Patrick, Maya, Sasha, Fraser and Nolan. We will all miss him dearly. Born in Vancouver in 1935, Don was a lifelong Vancouverite and eastsider; he grew up playing baseball with his cousins and friends on Québec Street, breaking windows and riding streetcars. Don and Joan met through their lifelong friends Ron and Glendine Schultz and married in 1964. They raised their family in Kitsilano and although Dad traveled often for work, he was there when we needed him. He coached our teams, attended our games, and was a founding coach of the famous Warriors girls softball team. Don was a dedicated volunteer, as president of Arbutus Little League, and the Billy Bishop Legion. Cool spring evenings at Trafalgar Park, Saturday night hockey, Sundays dinners at Boppa and Nana’s, Birch Bay, the long drive to Salmon Arm, and Hornby Augusts are etched in our hearts. A celebration of Don’s life is planned for April.
