Don passed away peacefully on Monday, October 29, 2018, in palliative care at Saanich Peninsula Hospital. Preceded by his wife Frances Anne, he is survived by his daughters Sharon and Susan, his son Paul and wife Cindy, his grandsons Eric and Michael, and his long-time companion Betty Finlayson.
Don was born to Robert Wilson Scott and Lillian Jean (Lennox) Scott on September 2, 1932, in Lambert Point, Alberta, and moved to British Columbia during his childhood. In his teens, he worked in logging camps and west coast fisheries. He joined the Canadian Forces as a trumpet player in the band branch in the early 1950’s. He was first posted to Cornwallis, where he met his wife, Frances Anne (Rice). Shortly after he joined the forces, his band had the fortune of taking part in the coronation ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II. His other postings included Gagetown, Soest Germany, and Montreal. During the last few years of his career in the band branch, he attended McGill University to attain his Music Education Degree, which was later completed at the University of Victoria.
Once retired from the forces, he moved his family to Digby Nova Scotia, where he taught high school, conducted community bands, and gigged with his own big band, Satin Serenade. In 1982, he moved with Fran to Brentwood Bay, BC, where he continued to teach at Saanich Peninsula schools until he retired. Don continued to teach privately, played the trumpet in a variety of ensembles, and started the Don Scott big band.
Don was very prolific and passionate about arranging music for big band and other ensembles often staying up all night to get all his ideas on paper. Besides music, Don enjoyed badminton, tennis, hunting, fishing and RVing. He loved horses and owned a number of them while in Digby. He was a breeder of German Shorthair dogs. He loved them so much that he had cut two holes into the back seat of his car so that the dogs could travel in the trunk, yet still feel like they were part of the family.
A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday, November 10, 2018 at The Centre, 1229 Clarke Rd, Brentwood Bay, at 4:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Vancouver Island Cancer Agency.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Donald Keith Scott September 2 1932 October 29 2019..
Décès pour la Ville: Victoria, Province: Colombie britanique