At 92 years of age and born in Victoria, BC, passed away peacefully at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Palliative Care Unit on November 24, 2025 after being admitted only a few short days before. For 68 years, Ron shared an extraordinary partnership with his wife, Arlene – a marriage strengthened by unwavering support and a lifetime of shared journeys. Ron is survived by Arlene, his son Shawn (Cheryl), daughter Kathryn (Stephen), his grandchildren, Michael (Elisha), Steven (Cecilia), Allison (Eric), Raewyn (Ben), Brynn (Jordan), and great granddaughter Freya. Ron was predeceased by both his parents, Stanley and Mary, and by his daughter, Melanie.
Ron was a longtime employee of the Victoria City Parks, starting out in his early 20’s as a parks gardener and advancing over the years to the role of
Deputy Director. Ron never shied away from a challenge – in the early years of his marriage, he built his and Arlene’s first family home and, along with his father, built a large greenhouse and started a nursery business on the family property. And he knew how to work hard to achieve a goal – Ron completed a degree in Landscape Architecture while working full time and with three young children at home.
When his family was young, he enjoyed family camping trips, collecting alpine plants and fossil hunting – always taking the roads less travelled and eager to explore the outdoors. Ron also enjoyed over 40 years of family time at their cabin on Marble Bay at Cowichan Lake, fishing in the lake and hunting in the local mountains on his own or with family and friends. Later in life Ron took great pleasure in travelling with Arlene to many exotic and historical places. He had many eclectic interests which expanded and varied over the passing years and reflected his very curious mind.
The family wish to express their heartfelt thanks to the extraordinary doctors, nurses and staff of the Emergency and Palliative Care units of the Saanich Peninsula Hospital for the kindness, compassion and the very dignified care they provided.
A private family celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that a donation may be made to a charity of your choice.
