Obituary of David BONHAM
At his home on September 11, 2016, Dave, a much loved husband, father, grandfather and friend to many, died. Those of us left miss his wit, kindness, generosity and guidance. He was steadfast and determined to see the best in everyone.
Dave considered himself to be, first and foremost, a serious Christian. Imperfect as he was, his faith was the centre of his interests. Heather was his true love and loyal friend. Their family made the whole circle complete. Basically, that combination of elements was the essence of Dave's life.
A chartered accountant for more than fifty years, a lawyer for almost as long, Dave was a university teacher in law and business as well as a Vice-Principal at Queen's University. For many years a practising lawyer at Cunningham Swan Carty Little & Bonham in Kingston, he morphed into a loyal Kingstonian and a patriotic Canadian. Always proud of his prairie heritage and his Anglo-Norwegian background, he lived a pleasant if not a blessed existence, but not without stresses along the way. Being a member of numerous boards and committees and holding many volunteer offices, he attended countless meetings over the years, hopefully for positive and worthy causes which need not be enumerated here. Dave graduated with three degrees from the University of Saskatchewan and one from the Harvard Law School, as a result of remarkable opportunities for which he was always grateful.
In summary, his life was varied and full. He tried to be humble, helpful and optimistic - often finding humour - even in strange places. If anything, he felt that he was recognized and accepted far more than he had any reasonable right to expect. All in all, Dave was a very fortunate person in this life and, with the grace of God, he looks forward to 'the life of the world to come'.
His wife, Heather, his sons, Scott, Warren and Andrew, daughters - in- law, Dana, Beth and Alison, and beloved grandchildren, Taggart, Hartley, Sam, Patrick, Ian, Sarah, Zoe and Lucy, are left to carry on his remarkable legacy of love and compassion.
Other treasured people in Dave's life are, in Minnesota, his sister, Isabelle, brother-in-law Peter and their family, in Edmonton, brother John, his wife, Ruth and their extended family and, in Toronto, Heather's sister, Brenda.
Visitation will be at James Reid Funeral Home on John Counter Boulevard, between 2 and 4 p. m and 7 and 9 p.m. Friday, September 16th. Funeral at St. George's Cathedral, Kingston at the corner of King and Johnson Streets at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 17th, 2016. Reception to follow in The Great Hall of St. George's Cathedral. In keeping with his devotion to local Hospital Boards over many years, donations to the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation would be welcomed.
