An obituary for a detail-oriented obituary aficionado who had very specific likes and criticisms- we must get it right!
Doug died peacefully in his 72nd year, after a stalwart journey through prostate cancer and the treatment thereof. Not a “battle” (he hated that expression) but rather a calm, thoughtful, hopeful, and quietly courageous process, very true to the person he was. He is survived by his wife, Janette McMillan, sibs, a host of cousins and cousins-once-removed and -twice-removed, friends, former colleagues, and current cats, Emma, and Maddie.
Doug was proud to have been born in St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, to Harold Bradstock Robertson Graves and Betty Marie Graves (née Bechtel). He was the eldest of three and is survived by his sister, Gillian (Don, and children: Robert and Paul), and brother, Brian (Rose). He attended Maple Grove Elementary, Point Grey Junior High, and Magee Senior High, and then UBC for History and Law. He loved history but didn’t want an academic path of knowing a very specific area in detail and potentially losing the breadth. So, he continued to read history voluminously throughout his life, he could tell you what had happened on a specific day. One of his classes gave him a tee-shirt: Do you know what happened this day in 1756?
Doug became a lawyer after reading Nevil Shute’s “The Legacy” because he liked the idea of providing helpful recurring involvement over the course of people’s lives. That shaped his “paperwork” practice of real-estate conveyances, small businesses, wills, and estates; his teaching at the Law Society of recent law grads on the practical aspects of a law practice (PLTC), and his partnership with Nicole Russell (Darien, and children: Avery and Aiden). That wish for long-lasting relationships meant that he developed enduring friendships with people from his every endeavour: summer jobs, law school, law practices, banking, teaching, reading, travels, concerts, movies and film festivals, theatre, gym, and most definitely with Janette’s friends and colleagues.
Many, many, many happy memories for all – thank you for sharing some of those with Doug (and each other) over the last while; in-person when COVID permitted, but also by email, letters and cards, phone, and to Janette to share. Doug did not want any formal memorial service and we are respecting that. But we can suggest that you eat a wonderful dinner, buy and read an interesting book, travel to an amazing location, enjoy an eclectic art-house movie, peruse a National Geo, or pet a friendly cat to honour his memory.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Douglas Bradstock Graves 15 October 1950 8 August 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Vancouver, Province: Colombie britanique