Tribute

Old tree, come be still.

Arms raised up to feel the dawn.

Warmed, by loving hearts.

On March 1, 1943, Ronald Edward McDermott (Ron) was born in Montréal to Patricia St. Coeur (Acadian) and Earnest Edward McDermott (Irish) and passed away in the early hours of July 20^th.  He is predeceased by his parents and his sister, Sylvia.  The McDermott family lived in Quebec, New Brunswick, Ontario, Alberta, and settled in Victoria in the mid-1950s.  Inspired by the fable of ‘Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox,’ Ron achieved his dream of becoming a logger in the late 1950s, primarily logging on Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii through to the 2000s. Starting as a chokerman, he worked his way to grapple operator, and retired as camp superintendent.  Ron met his beloved wife, June, in the cookhouse in a remote logging camp in Haida Gwaii where she was working as an industrial first aid attendant.

In retirement, Ron and June relocated from Osoyoos to Vancouver Island to support grandchildren at the Maxwell Bahá’í School at Shawnigan Lake.  Ron became a bus driver for the Maxwell School and greatly enjoyed the daily pick-ups and drop-offs, safely transporting the school’s dance workshop, often with his co-driver, Blaire, on their road trips.  He had concern for the well-being and happiness of all children and young people. Throughout his years, he felt deeply inspired to be standing in the sunrise on a mountaintop.

Ron is survived by his wife, June, and their adult children, Catherine, Susan, Toni, and Ben, as well as their adult grandchildren and great-grandchildren each of whom was special to him.  Ron was well-loved by those who knew him and lived his belief in the oneness of humanity and the equality of women and men.  He called it as he saw it and enjoyed the essential truths of life.  A man of few words, a keen sense of humour, and many smiles, he will be missed.

The family thanks the caring staff at The Hamlets and, most recently, the nurses and physicians at the Cowichan District Hospital for their tender care during Ron’s final days.