Derek ECKERSLEY

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ECKERSLEY: Derek Eckersley, FCIA, FSA. After a long period of declining health, Derek Eckersley passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 21st, 2009 at the Brandon Regional Health Centre at the age of 86 years. Dad was born in Southport, Lancashire, England on November 12th, 1922 and grew up in Chester, where he excelled academically and athletically throughout his school years. At the age of 18, he joined the allied war effort by enlisting in the Royal Air Force as a pilot trainee. He was sent to Canada where he participated in the Commonwealth Air Training Plan at both Neepawa and Carberry, Manitoba, earning his wings in Rivers, Manitoba, in 1941. His skill as a pilot, and his knack of bringing out the best in others led to his immediate assignment as a primary flight instructor – a role he excelled in during postings in Neepawa, Port Albert, Ontario, and Medicine Hat, Alberta. Towards the latter part of the war, he was transferred back to Leeds, England, where he attained the rank of Squadron Leader and spent the rest of the conflict commanding a unit of specially equipped Lancaster bombers for Coastal Command’s Air / Sea Rescue operations. Following the end of European hostilities, he was made Base Commander of the Shetland Islands and oversaw repatriation of war supplies to England until being demobilized in 1946. On a blind date in Winnipeg during 1942, he met and fell in love with Kathleen (Kay) Benner – a Winnipeg native serving with the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service. War forced their romance to be primarily a long distance one, until January 29th, 1947 when Dad was able to fulfill a promise to return to Canada to marry Mom – after an absence of over 3 years. They initially settled in Winnipeg, where Dad attended the University of Manitoba, earning an Honours Commerce Degree in Actuarial Science (cum laude). Following the birth of son Peter in 1950, and graduation in 1951, Dad began a 35-year career with the Dominion Life Assurance Company and moved the family to its head office in Waterloo, Ontario where he and Mom spent the next 50 years. His actuarial career was one of enjoyable challenge and success, as he became a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries, and a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries. Professionally he rose through the ranks of Dominion Life, retiring in 1986 as its Senior Vice President and Actuary, and a member of its Board of Directors. During this time, he also served as President of the Canadian Accident and Sickness Insurers. Throughout his career, he also committed significant time to his community, serving for several years as Warden of the Church of the Holy Saviour, as a 9 year Board Member (5 years as Chairman) of the Kitchener – Waterloo Hospital, as a member of the University of Waterloo Actuarial Science Advisory Board and its Faculty of Mathematics Strategy Board. Many other committees and organizations also benefited from his involvement, and he was a proud member of The Probus Club in his later years. Following his retirement from Dominion Life in 1986, Dad served as an actuarial consultant with Wright Mogg & Associates – and then the piece-de-resistance as he was recruited to set up an actuarial training program for the Island Life Insurance Company of Kingston, Jamaica, where Mom and Dad subsequently spent several memorable years on working holidays. On a personal basis, Dad was a serious gardener ...and his yard and beds of roses, orchids and begonias were a continual source of pride. A golfer in his early years, his last game followed a hole in one – after all, how could it possibly get any better than that! He was also a fisherman of note, trolling the waters of Georgian Bay for many years, as well as enjoying his private trout stream near Stratford, Ontario. Friends and card games were also a passion, and over 40 years of monthly poker nights were spent with the "Poker Gang". Card tricks learned during this period fascinated the grandchildren. In 2001, following several years of declining health, Mom and Dad returned west to Brandon, Manitoba to spend their remaining years close to their son Peter and his family. Dad was predeceased by his parents Harry and Nellie Eckersley in the 1950’s, an infant son in 1956, sister Marjorie Lewis in 1974, and his wife of 60 years, Kay in 2007. He leaves to celebrate his life, son Peter, daughter-in-law Jan, grand-daughters Lindsay and Jennifer, and many lifelong friends. He will be remembered by all as a great friend, a loving and caring husband, father and grandfather. A memorial service will take place at the Brockie Donovan Chapel, 332-8th Street, on Saturday April 11th, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. followed by interment at Rosewood Memorial Gardens. Rev. John Dolloff of St. Mary’s Anglican Church will officiate. Urn bearers are granddaughters Lindsay and Jennifer. Honorary urn bearers are all of his friends past and present. Our heartfelt thanks to the staff at Brandon Regional Health Centre for their care and comfort in Dad’s final days, to the staff of Camelot Personal Care for their care and support over the past few years, and a very special thanks to friends Donna and Mel Whittingham for their care and companionship for Mom and Dad since their arrival in Brandon so many years ago. If friends so desire, a donation in lieu of flowers can be made to the BRHC Foundation, 150 McTavish Ave. East, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 2B3 or to a charity of your choice.Messages of condolence may be placed at www.brockiedonovan.com.

As published in Brandon Sun on Apr 09, 2009