Dave passed peacefully on to his next adventure, surrounded by family at home, just as he wished. He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Diane, daughters Shannon, Jennifer (Brian), & Courtney, and beloved grandchildren, Jaxson, Ashton & Payton, who added so much joy to his life. He was predeceased by his parents, Al & Audree Simms and his brother, Denny. He is also survived by his sister Judy Brown, aunt Donelda Eastman, and many more relatives. His ever-present treats are missed by his faithful dogs, Lexi and Jade.
Dave was born and raised in Vancouver. He attended Prince of Wales High School and went on to graduate from UBC with a Bachelor of Commerce, days later he married Diane, his childhood sweetheart.
After earning his Chartered Accountant designation, Dave began a career spanning 45 years as a partner at various firms in Vancouver, eventually retiring from his own firm in Langley. To say he enjoyed his work would be an understatement, Dave lived a life of service to others, which he has proudly passed on to his daughters. No challenge was too big, or too small, Dave was always happy to help, whether it be family, friends or clients.
Dave loved life and lived it well, and his journey came to an end sooner than he wished. He was very adventurous, had little fear and lots of interests. He was a visionary, he loved learning new things, and was always happy to share his knowledge. In his 40s the city boy moved his family to a farm in Langley, which enabled his daughters to pursue their passion for horses, which began way back when Mom and Dad would lead them around a ring on ponies at a stable in Birch Bay.
Dave had a zest for knowledge and his amazing brain retained information like an Encyclopedia, which was one of the family nicknames for him, instead of asking Google, we would ask Dave.
He appreciated good food and was a loyal friend. Dave loved sports, was a 30+ year BC Lions season-ticket holder, and was a brave soul, adventuring with his daughters down black diamond ski runs and the scariest rides at Disneyland and the PNE.
Family was most important in Dave’s life. He looked forward to time at the cabin he built when the family was young, he spent lots of time waterskiing behind his boat, and he had a passion for travel and cars, especially Corvettes. Dave was a 30 year member of the BC Corvette Club, which gave him the opportunity to connect with those who shared the same passion. Driving trips with the Club gave the family a unique way to adventure around many parts of BC and the US. His first memorable Corvette trip was a cruise to Hot August Nights in Reno. A highlight of Dave’s life came in 2014, driving 10,000 km across the US, in his 1965 Nassau Blue Metallic Stingray roadster, in a Caravan with 100s of other Corvettes, to and from the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. There he had celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the Museum, with Corvette enthusiasts from all over the world. And yes, the car made it, with only a few minor fixes needed, a muffler adjustment in Memphis, and the water pump in Forest Hills, Arkansas.
Dave and Diane loved to travel and managed to balance trips through Europe, Mexico, the US & Canada while still working, and into retirement, until Covid and Dave’s illness robbed them of more adventures.
Dave was a friend to all he met. He was generous with his time, his attention and his wisdom. He has always greeted each day with a smile and a positive attitude, even up to his last days. Friends and clients would hear him say ‘Enjoy this day!’ at the end of every conversation; it took on added meaning as he became more ill.
We would like to thank Dr. Teckle, Dr. Chen, Dr. Foltz, Dr. Suo, Dr. Sadikov, and their staff, as well as the nurses in the IV Unit at Langley Memorial Hospital and the Langley Wound Clinic, for their exceptional and compassionate care.
We would also like to thank his BC Corvette Club comrades, who kept adapting to his changing circumstances, and stayed connected until the end, offering much appreciated experiences, stories & reminiscing.
Dave leaves a huge hole in our hearts and will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by many. We are grateful to have been a part of his journey, and we know we will see him down the road.
Dave was a rare gem, and unfortunately his Cancers were also rare. He was a diligent Cancer research patient. In his memory, donations can be made to Cancer research. Dave also required regular blood transfusions over the last few years, a donation of blood to Canadian Blood Services would be a meaningful remembrance of him. And as a tribute to his favorite car, donations to the National Corvette Museum would also make him happy.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday May 27, 2023. Anyone wishing to attend please send an email to [email protected] for more info.
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