David George Redmond

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of David George Redmond of Ottawa, on Friday, April 21, 2023 after a brave battle with cancer.

Born August 2, 1938 in Gananoque, Ontario, David leaves behind his wife Margo (née Juby, married 65 years this past March), his daughters Jodi (James) and Teri (Blaine), grandsons Jady (Zara) and Drew, and his darling great-granddaughter Phoebe, his big brother John (Nancy), baby sister Betty-Ann (Alfred), adoring sister-in-law Maureen and many nieces & nephews. David was predeceased by his dear mother Helen and his father Cedric.

David left home at a young age to join the Canadian Armed Forces, serving in the Army Corps of Engineers in Canada and abroad for 44 years, as a topographical surveyor and cartographer. After retiring from the military, he worked for several years at the Map Depot in Ottawa.

He spent many summers away from his family helping to survey and map Canada’s vast Northern territory (with one eye on the theodolite and another on the polar bears). He was proud when chosen as a flag bearer, to raise and lower the Canadian Flag at the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, helping to celebrate our Centennial in 1967.

David not only traveled for work, but also enjoyed family vacations and road trips while in Germany, across Canada and the US. After retirement, he and Margo spent many winters in Florida on the Gulf coast, where he took in the Grapefruit league, relaxed in the pool and created lots of great memories of fun visits from family members.

David was a natural athlete playing and winning in hockey, baseball, track and field and then enjoying volleyball and curling as an adult. He also had musical talent and played the snare and bass drums and bugle in his regiment band. He was a great dancing partner and had a beautiful singing voice. Being a very humble man, we didn’t get to hear that sweet voice often enough.

David was fun-loving and loved entertaining the kids (and all of the adults for that matter) around campfires and corn roasts at the Outlet in Picton, in gasthofs in Germany and at many special family gatherings in Gananoque and Ottawa. He teased Jady and Drew at cards and challenged them in lego builds. He played a mean game of pool lacrosse at the Devine’s, making us laugh till we cried. He was a quintessential Grampa.

We will celebrate David’s life at a private family gathering. Those wishing to make a donation in his memory may wish to consider the Veterans Transition Network https://vtncanada.org/ (which focuses on mental health) or Heart and Stroke  www.heartandstroke.ca

Say “Hi to the big guy for me!”