Dennis Gordon Hartley

Dennis Gordon Hartley crossed the bar on November 22, 2022. Generous and authentic, Dennis was truly a man of simple pleasures. He was born in Victoria on March 6, 1932, and worked as a young man in his family’s garage on Marigold where he acquired the skills to fix just about anything.

He made his home on Island View, with his beloved wife Marlene, of whom he was married to for 68 years. Dennis loved the peninsula, and more over the Gulf Islands that surrounded it. Packing up the boat and setting a course to drink in the beauty of the West Coast were truly moments he cherished. Dennis did also venture abroad, exploring the most amazing places in the world, such as Australia, Africa, Barbados, China, Hawaii, Tonga, Italy and New Zealand. But nothing was more satisfying to Dennis than holding anchorage at Tent Island, Musgrave landing, Wake’s Cove, Todd Inlet and the family favourite, Boozy Bay with the rest of the boat people!

Dennis was a 55-year member of the Capital City Yacht Club and served as Commodore in 1974. He was awarded Yachtsman of the Year in 1996 and named an honorary life member in 2005 in recognition of his many years of volunteering. He was a proud member of the ILWU and retired after 35 years of service on the waterfront. Boating was his passion, in his work, in the community and especially at play. In addition to cruising, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, crabbing, and spending time with his family, and friends. He loved two fingers of scotch, a good crab feed, salmon supper and Mom’s clam chowder most of all. He would cut a rug with the best of them and loved listening to the Buz Whiteley’s Big Band.

Dennis always had a smile, a laugh and a kind word to say to anyone he met. He truly enjoyed the friendship he shared with his boating family, and they all held a very special place in his heart. He was a kind man, and generous with his time and his talents. No matter, what your troubles, Dennis had a calming nature about him, and it has been proclaimed that he gave the best bear hugs!

Dennis is lovingly remembered by his wife and superpower Marlene, his three children, Brett (Stasia), Shawn and Alanna (David), his grandchildren, Garrett, Michael (Mikaela), Rachael (Alex), Chad, and his great grandson, Alexander. The family would like to thank Dr. Paul Kachan for his many years of compassionate care and the staff of the south unit at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital for their kindness and assistance during the past five months.

A celebration of life will be held on December 11, 2022, at the Capital City Yacht Club, 10630 Blue Heron Road, Sidney BC, 130 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Dennis’s name to either the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation https://sphf.ca/or the RSM Search and Rescue (RCMSAR Station 36) https://www.marinerescue.org/.