David James "Dave" McLeod

August 17, 1957 - August 16, 2019
My beloved husband Dave was killed in a tragic cycling accident, struck by a car while crossing the Old Island Highway in Merville. He was 61.
Born in White Rock, B.C., the third son of teachers James and Norma McLeod, Dave and his family lived in a variety of places throughout B.C., including Half Moon Bay, Monte Lake, Chetwynd and Denman Island, but Dave always loved Vancouver Island best which was why we chose to live in the Comox Valley when we got together.
Dave graduated from UBC with a BSc in Geophysics; he spent the early years of his career in the oil industry, running his own business at one point, First Breaks Static, which supplied geophysical data processing to oil companies. Later he moved fully into Information Technology, working as a Unix Administrator, a DB Administrator, Software Developer and Tech Support as a contractor for various companies including Norcen Energy Resources, Telus, and Metro Transit in Seattle. He also worked for individual businesses. One of his favourite projects involved developing CattleRec, a database enabling ranchers to buy, feed, treat and sell their cattle. Dave's career took him to many different places, some much more pleasant than others; he worked in Jakarta, Melbourne, Seattle, San Francisco, Calgary and Libya, for instance. He was also able to work from home for years, which he greatly preferred.
Dave was a kind and considerate person - if I was biking in the rain he would jump in the truck and come and look for me so I wouldn't get too wet. He was always quick to help his friends and neighbours. He doted on his cats and made many cat posts and platforms for them over the years. He loved working with wood and crafted everything from tables through an ingenious blueberry enclosure. He was a man who enjoyed solving problems.
And he was a man who believed in stepping up and being an active part of his community. He served on the Filberg Board, was the secretary of the Comox Valley Tennis Club, spearheaded the Friends of Mack Laing Nature Park, a group dedicated to protecting the natural values of the park, and was very proud of the years he spent as a volunteer on the Y2K Spitfire Project restoring a WWII aircraft.
An athletic person, Dave loved to play tennis and cycle. He also greatly enjoyed playing slowpitch and volleyball, working out at the gym and long walks. He loved hanging out with his friends; he could often be found at the tennis clubhouse or meeting with his regular coffee group at Tim's or at the Golf Club. At home he loved to sit with me and read with one of his cats on his lap.
Whatever Dave did he did wholeheartedly but perhaps what I will miss most about him is his sense of humour. He had a dry wit and just a huge sense of fun. He always made me laugh.
Dave was dearly loved by and will be sorely missed by his wife, Susan Ward, his brother Bill, his brother Daniel, his sister-in-law Kyong-ae, his niece Riam and many friends and relatives.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the Crown Isle Ballroom on Sunday, September 15th at 1:30 p.m. Flowers are gratefully declined, but if you wish, donations to Kitty Cat PALs, the Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation or the Salvation Army would be appreciated.
Farewell, Dave. I'll love you forever.