DAVID GEORGE BLACKMORE

The Family and Friends of David George Blackmore are heartbroken to announce Dave’s passing after a two-year battle with cancer on Vancouver Island. Dave passed away peacefully with his Campbell River family by his bedside. He was a gentle and kind man who had unconditional love for his family.

Dave will be deeply missed by his wife Corrine, children, Cheryl Smukowich (Scott), Ken Blackmore (Amy), Patti Blackmore (Brian Jamieson), and stepdaughter Dani Daigle, (Steven MacPherson).  Proud of his 10 grandchildren, Holly Adamyk (Jesse), Kara Booth (Steve), Nicole Hagidiakow, (Darren), Troy Smukowich (Kassie Kusie), Christopher Blackmore, Thomas Klippenstein-Blackmore, Michael and Melanie Blackmore Patterson, Ewan, and Madeleine MacPherson. Delightful moments were spent with 12 great-grandchildren, Easton, Oakley, and Austyn Adamyk, Miller, Bex, and Scottie-Lynn Booth, Nixon, Nash and Navy Hagidiakow, Mylo and Maeve Smukowich. He will be missed by his brother (Al) Robert Allan Blackmore (Valerie) and their boys Brad and Brian Blackmore, sister in laws, Jan Nenis, Brenda Schlag (Gary), The Davies Family, Diane Rushworth (Al), Ian Rushworth (Jocey) Kyle Rushworth, Joanne Davies, Shaun, Melissa Davies (Talon Pagan), Kristianne Davies (Eric Sabourin), Jason Davies (Dawn) Ainsley, Aaron and Porter Davies, Owen Davies, Marcia Davies, Pam Kubicz, Jennifer Bewza (Steve Swenarchuk), Thomas Bewza, Alina Kubicz, Glen Davies (Karen) Aidan and Liam Davies.

Dave was predeceased by his parents Joy and George Blackmore, his in-laws, Evelyn and Johnny Thompson, Ben and Betty Davies and brothers-in-law, Roy and Brian Davies, stepson Lewis Daigle, and great-granddaughter Lakelyn Booth.

Dave was born in Belleville, Ontario. He grew up with his brother Al in Toronto in their home above Blackmore Hardware. Dave attended DB Hood Elementary where he made many friends who shared his love for sports, especially golf and baseball. Dave loved baseball and the well-renowned hockey coach, Roger Neilson coached baseball in North York in his early 20s. To be on Roger’s baseball team you had to deliver The Globe and Mail newspapers for Roger’s huge paper route. The team was called Parkwood Motors. Dave was up for a scholarship for college baseball. He fondly remembers Roger and his amazing training for his baseball team.

Dave loved to whistle and enjoyed music. He didn’t relish taking accordion lessons and playing the cello, but it gave him a gift to play the piano by ear in later years, a gift that he passed on to his grandson, Michael. Dave and his brother learned family values from their wonderful parents Joy and George and their grandparents at the family business, Blackmore Hardware. Polly the parrot was the main attraction and would chat with the customers who stopped by. Dave fondly talks of both sets of grandparents and the parties they would regularly have with his Blackmore and Clark’s uncles, aunts, and cousins over the family holidays. Dave attended York Memorial High School in the late 50’s where he met Eileen Thomson. They both graduated in 1961 and were married the same year. Their eldest daughter, Cheryl, was born in January of 1962. Their son, Ken arrived in March of 1964 and daughter Patti in December of 1970. Dave worked as a Stationary Engineer at York Memorial right after grade 12. He is well known for his entrepreneurial skills and always seeking opportunities. Dave joined the sales team with Addressograph-Multigraph selling AB Dyck Printing Presses when Ken was about 12 months old. The age of photocopying was on the horizon, and he soon accepted an offer he couldn’t refuse, a career with Xerox.

Dave and Eileen chose to raise their 3 children in Grimsby Ontario, rather than in fast-paced Toronto. Many fun family events were shared with Matt and Sylvia and the Kopansky family. So many memory-making stories of shenanigans and fun times at Ev and Johnny’s cottage at Pigeon Lake. In 1974 Dave had an opportunity to join Eileen’s Uncle Jack and his brothers Norm, Harvey, and Gordie as Sales Manager with JG Turner Business Machines in Winnipeg on Princess Street. You could find Dave at lunchtime in The Shanghai, sharing his favourite dish #99, wontons in ketchup sauce.

Dave and Eileen found that Winnipeg was an affordable and safe place to raise their family and bought a house on Carriage Road in Heritage Park in Winnipeg. Through selling business machines, Dave met Jim and Hazel Wright who owned the Assiniboia Downs racetrack. A business relationship that lives on today was developed. Dave’s love of horse racing opened a new opportunity to start his own business called Dave’s Quick Print, printing the daily race programs for Assiniboia Downs and the Winnipeg Jets. Dave printed a tip sheet that his kids would sell as people arrived as he usually had some winners. In the first tip sheet printed, Dave picked 8 winners.

Dave had the unique ability to see the best in people and hired over 100 employees for his fast-growing printing company. He was a humble man and never boasted but took pride in helping his employees and their families. Cheryl, Scott, Ken, and Patti learned Dave’s work ethic and were an integral part of growing the family business. Dave was an active bowler, and the family were active members of teams at the Village Inn Bowl and Cue.  Eileen and Dave separated in 1989 but remained friends and shared in the legacy and memories of the beautiful family they created until Eileen passed earlier this year.

In the early 1990s, Dave ventured into Network Marketing along with Corrine. They married in 1995. Dave was a business developer and a connector of people and together they developed many successful businesses and partnerships over the next 34 years. They loved to travel to Vegas, go on cruises, and enjoyed hot winter vacations in Cancun, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Hawaii, and Huatulco with family and friends.

Dave cherished the time with his blended family of 3 daughters and 2 sons and their children, whether it was at their home or at their cottages. Dave loved to take Melanie out on dates to the Revolving Dining Room. Special times, golfing and fishing with Troy and cheering him on at soccer, hockey, and baseball. Fishing, playing piano and discussing business opportunities were special moments with Michael. Dave cheered on his granddaughters, Holly, Kara, and Nicole at their ringette games. Applauding Christopher’s taekwondo presentations and playing hockey. Enjoying Thomas at soccer, and ultimate frisbee. One of the favourite family games was crud played on the pool table either at Cher and Scott’s home, or their cottage. Dave still holds the winner’s crud title.

Dave loved to play cards and especially a game George Blackmore invented called “By George” was always a fun and competitive time for all the family. The tradition was carried on with Dani, Steven, Ewan, and Madeleine for game nights in Campbell River. In 2019, Dani and Steven encouraged Dave and Corrine to make the move to Vancouver Island. The positive choice and experience worked out well for all of them. Sharing the daily activities of a home with 4 adults has been very beneficial for all. Steven and Dave spent many enjoyable evenings discussing the latest world events, golf tours, hockey, and sports in general. Dave enjoyed watching Ewan play hockey and discussing hockey players, trades and friendly fire regarding the Canucks and the Jets.

Dave loved his time at the barn watching Madeleine grow with her love of horses and attending her horse shows and her musical theatre performances. You could find Dave on most days on his walks in Beaver Lodge or throwing a ball at Saratoga Beach with Summit, the family’s white German Shepherd. Dave loved horse racing, baseball, hockey, and football and loved to engage in sports talk with anyone who would listen. He was always learning about economics, cryptocurrency, currency trading, and artificial intelligence.  Over the past two years, during his treatments at Cancer Care, Dave developed a special friendship with Marshall and Shelley Holmes. Marshall and Dave met regularly for coffee sharing business ideas and Dave cherished their time together.

To the many friends of Dave’s in Winnipeg, think of him as you go to your favourite coffee place and are missing his phone calls to discuss world events and business opportunities. There will be an empty presence so profound not having this sweet man make jokes, wink at his grandchildren, tell great stories, and bring comfort to all who knew him. There will be a loud cheer in heaven from all his loved ones who have gone before, welcoming Dave with open arms.

We wish to thank the incredible care that “Darlin” Dave received from Cancer Care Victoria, Cancer Care Campbell River, Dr. Morrison and her Team, Diane and her team in Medical Daycare and the many healthcare professionals and healthcare teams in Campbell River Hospital.

A celebration of Dave’s life will take place in Winnipeg in the Spring of 2024.

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In lieu of flowers please donate to the Campbell River Hospital Foundation.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

1833 Portage Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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