Mr. Derrick Reginald Dance

Derrick Reginald Dance, passed away unexpectedly at his Vancouver home on July 28th at the age of 84. Derrick was a quiet, bright man who stayed current with world events and supported his wife Yvonne with his love and laughter.

Born in Oxford, England to father Reginald Dance and mother Mabel Parsonage, Derrick met Yvonne Oakley through friends and relatives. They would be together for more than 63 years, raising sons Mark and Adrian along the way.

Derrick was trained as a both a Mechanical and Electrical engineer in England, and apprenticed at Britain’s Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell where he was awarded a patent for his invention of a more effective feedwater heater. He was recruited by Hawker Siddeley based on this design work and offered an opportunity to emigrate to Canada. With the enthusiastic support of Yvonne, they packed up their sons and relocated to Brampton, Ontario in 1967. All of the family would quickly become Canadian citizens.

Hawker Siddeley transferred Derrick and family to Thunder Bay, Ontario and later to Fort Langley, British Columbia as part of his assignment to improve the design of a resonant-based drilling platform, a project that would occupy much of his working career. Derrick retired from Hawker in 1985 but continued as a consulting designer for a number of years after that. His consulting practice required that he teach himself how to use newly developed Computer Aided Design tools. Derrick had an intense curiosity for technology and science and was always attempting to stay abreast of technical progress.

In the early 1990s, Derrick and Yvonne moved to Vancouver Island where they built their dream home on the rocky outcrops overlooking Nanoose Bay. Derrick’s design for the home provided panoramic views of the inside passage where they could watch seals, orcas and bald eagles from the home’s prow-like deck as well as observe cruise ships making their way from Vancouver to Alaska. Derrick was rightly proud of their home. During his semi-retirement, he also crafted a wooden kayak and modified the design based on his experience.

Derrick was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in the late 1990s and that would limit his abilities over time as the disease progressed. Still Derrick and Yvonne used this period of their lives to travel (often with relatives), to work on their garden and to participate in local organizations in the Nanaimo area.

In 2011, he and Yvonne made the difficult decision to leave their home on Vancouver Island and relocate to Vancouver where they could receive greater assistance and be closer to their sons and their families. They spent six years living independently at Tapestry Arbutus Walk where the staff were amazingly supportive. As their need for support increased, they relocated a few blocks away to South Granville Park Lodge. Both Derrick and Yvonne settled in well at South Granville and were enjoying their surroundings when Derrick suddenly passed away last Friday, July 28th.

Derrick is sadly missed by his loving wife Yvonne, his sons Mark and Adrian, his daughters-in-law Christiane and Laara, by his four grandchildren Sean, Liam, Carys and Isaac, and by his sister Dawn.

Rest in Peace Derrick, Dad and Grandad.

A celebration of Derrick’s life will take place the evening of Friday September 15th at Adrian and Laara’s home in West Vancouver.

Donations to Parkinson’s Canada would be appreciated.

Arrangements under the direction of First Memorial Funeral Services, Vancouver, BC.