David died at home early on Boxing Day after a Christmas Day like no other. His son was sleeping on the living floor keeping him company until the end. On Christmas Day he was bookended on the couch by his two grandsons providing both physical and emotional support. All family members who have cared about and for David throughout his illness were here to say goodbye.
For the past several years David has lived with serious heart disease and for the past three years with a very serious and ultimately fatal lung problem. As a family we wish to thank the many fine doctors who gave him such excellent care and kept him alive as long as they could: Family Doctor Lee Anne Coren, Cardiologist Alan Kitching, and Respirologist Nathan Hambly, and Daniel Vermunt. A very special thank you is due to neighbour and friend Dr. Chris Allen, who came whenever asked and he was asked a lot. Palliative care nurse, Mui Tran, has been delightfully supportive as well.
David had a good life as he said with “no regrets and nothing left on the bucket list”. He was the eldest son of Donald Gillies Seldon and Mary Elizabeth Seldon (née Moss) of Dundas. His three siblings are Janet (Les Mayer), Barbara (widow of Bryce Leggatt) and Stuart (Kelly Rizzo).
Very much a family man, David was married to Mary Ann (née Garvie) for 57 happy years. They first noticed each other in Grade 8 and have been together ever since. They have two much loved adult children: a daughter, Julie (Claude Poulin) and a son, Chris (Alexandra Cuk) as well as Julie’s two delightful sons, our grandsons Ryan and Alex Hall.
David’s early education was in Dundas and he was valedictorian at his high school graduation. A natural leader, David excelled at all sports and still managed to get good grades (except in French).
Educated as a civil engineer at Queen’s University, David began work with Imperial Oil in Toronto in commercial sales. Later, at his father’s request, David joined the family business, Seldon Printing and Vernon Directories Ltd. where he spent the remainder of his working life. David was an active volunteer in many local organizations: the Downtown Hamilton Rotary Club, Social Planning and Research Council, Chedoke McMaster Foundation, all as President, as well as being a board member of Wellwood, Crime Stoppers, the YMCA and the Children’s Aid Society.
He also served two terms as President of the Trillium Photographic Club.
David’s long time avocation was photography. He loved being out in the natural world and his photographs reflected that. He produced 20 pictorial calendars showing his beautiful work with an emphasis on his favourite subject, birds. He made audiovisual shows of many of his travels to exotic places and showed them to camera clubs, service clubs and others. He showed his nature photos to accompany the Niagara Symphony and the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestras. The latter was at a sold-out Hamilton Place.
Another great love was travel. He and his best friend, John Lamont, went to Africa, the Galapagos, Antarctica, Alaska and Yellowstone National Park. The rest of his various travels were with Mary Ann. Many trips involved some form of camping from tents, through a Volkswagen Vanagon, to 5th wheel trailers. For many years RV trips to Florida to photograph wading birds made the winters shorter. Home exchanges and the occasional cruise added to the mix. London, Santa Fe and New Zealand were special places and visited more than once. Memorable experiences were a whale watching trip to Baha and a white-water rafting trip in the Grand Canyon. For 24 years they owned a little cabin in the woods near Mt. Forest which provided a getaway for themselves and family.
During Covid, David has been entertained and maintained social contacts with good friends from his camera club in zoom calls, backyard visits and finally, indoors. He is grateful to Gary, Geoff, Greg, John and Judy. Cynthia has also been a special friend.
David was always generous and kind. He was bright, creative and handy. He was ethical in business and in life. He loved his family and friends and liked to laugh.
As much as I was prepared for David’s death, it was so hard to say goodbye, but I know that, in time, all my memories of him will be happy ones.
2022
Nous offrons nos plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis de David Edward Seldon 2022 et espérons que leur souvenir pourra être une source de réconfort pendant cette période difficile. Vos pensées et vos mots aimables sont grandement appréciés.
Décès pour la Ville:Dundas, Province: Ontario