Dal Richards passes away

[kal]

A note just two days ago that the venerable band leader would miss his first New Year's Eve gig in 79 years and now comes word that Dal Richards died last evening, New Year's Eve.

http://www.news1130.com/2016/01/01/dal-richards-obit/

[Rich Elwood]

Very sad news about Dal who was one of the nicest men I've ever known and had the joy to work with. I had the honour of sharing a stage with Dal and the band at some comedy gigs I did over the years in Vancouver. He's a skilled musician and great humanitarian who will be sorely missed by all who knew him. He always had a kind word and made time to chat with everyone. A real class act, a true legend and to have lived a life where you are loved by all is the greatest accolade one could hope for......that was Dal!

My condolences to his family.

[Tom Jeffries]

I echo Rich's words. Dal was VERY nice to me, too.

I am glad I got to know him.

Ironic he said goodbye on his "night".

My condolences to his wife Muriel and Daughter, Dallas, and the rest of the Family.

[Jack Bennest]

Sad

Almost 98

See ya Dal - and get the band to play when I arrive.

[radiofan]

From the Vancouver Sun ... July 20, 1940 ...

[jon]

Great find, radiofan!

The fellow next to Dal led a pretty eventful career after this picture was taken, and even has a Pavilion named after him at the UBC Hospital. Here is his UBC Library bio:

Lloyd Fraser Detwiller was born on August 8, 1917, in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan. He obtained a B.A. in Economics and government from the University of B.C. in 1939 and an M.A. in Economics and Statistics in 1940. He then enlisted in the R.C.A.F., where he served until 1945. After his discharge from the air force, he lectured for a year at U.B.C. in economics, and in 1946 he joined the provincial government as a research statistician. He served the government in a variety of capacities: Secretary of the School Tax Commission; Commissioner of Sales Tax (June 1948-1950); and Commissioner of B.C. Hospital Insurance Service (1950-1955). He left in 1955 to take formal training in hospital administration at the University of Minnesota, but he returned to B.C. in 1957 to the post of Assistant Deputy Minister of Hospital Insurance. In 1962, he left government service to become the administrator of the U.B.C. Health Sciences Centre, a position which he held until his retirement in December of 1982.

[radiofan]

Great find, radiofan!

The credit should go to Larry "Firedog" Morton who passed it along to me to post.