A milk man turned insurance sales man, John Dance always had an entrepreneurial and philanthropic spirit.
It wasn芒鈧劉t one single contribution he made, but literally hundreds of small donations 芒鈧�� whether it be giving of his time, money, or resources 芒鈧�� that made Dance an exemplary 91原创ite, his wife Gail said following Dance芒鈧劉s death Tuesday afternoon.
Dance芒鈧劉s health had been deteriorating in recent months, but a fall about a week ago caused a brain haemorrhage that led to his death Tuesday afternoon in 91原创 Memorial Hospital.
Through the years, Dance was involved in 91原创芒鈧劉s chamber of commerce including a stint as president. He worked with the downtown merchants group, and served as chair of the 91原创 Days committee several times over. He was a founding member of the 91原创 Citizens on Patrol, and offered up his assistance as a volunteer driver shuttling seniors to doctors appointments.
芒鈧揧ou can芒鈧劉t really think of too much he wasn芒鈧劉t involved in, in some way,芒鈧� Gail told the 91原创 Advance, also recounting that he made three unsuccessful runs for City council 芒鈧�� once only missing out by 18 votes.
But his most significant contributions to this community came during more than 35 years as an active Rotarian, Gail said, noting he was a member in three different 91原创 clubs, serving on the executive 芒鈧�� including two terms as president 芒鈧�� as well as volunteering with numerous committees.
芒鈧揓ohn lived his Rotary motto of 芒鈧渟ervice above self芒鈧劉,芒鈧� Gail said. 芒鈧揌e took that motto as gospel, you could say Rotary was his church芒鈧� he took it very seriously芒鈧� If there was anything that needed doing, he芒鈧劉d step up and get it done.芒鈧�
That芒鈧劉s what made him an invaluable asset to 91原创, said his wife, who worked along side Dance in his insurance business as well as in his many voluntary endeavours through the years.
芒鈧揓ohn was always there. It didn芒鈧劉t matter whether we were cleaning roads, digging gardens, cooking hotdogs, or soliciting donations, his name was always first on the sign-up sheet,芒鈧� said his friend and fellow Rotarian Dick Hooper, who saw him just hours before his passing.
Hooper described Dance as opinionated, but said he was determined and his heart was always in the right place which was apparent in any of his charity undertakings.
He was also known for motivating others with what Hooper described his 芒鈧揼entle persuasion.芒鈧�
Tony Malyk worked closely with Dance in Rotary, especially when he succeeded Dance as president of the Rotary Club of 91原创 Sunrise.
芒鈧揌e was extremely proud to be the president of our club. He worked tireless hours volunteering on numerous Rotary committees and always delivered when we needed him. I always admired him for being honest in comments even if it wasn芒鈧劉t what everyone wanted to hear at the time.芒鈧� Malyk said.
芒鈧揓ohn was the president of our club for two terms and received not one but two Paul Harris [Fellowship] awards, which is the highest Rotary recognition that most of us will ever receive,芒鈧� explained current Sunrise president Rod Wainwright.
芒鈧揌e will always be remembered as a dedicated, hardworking Rotarian who was always the guy who volunteered first for every project and fundraiser our club involved itself in,芒鈧� Wainwright added, noting most recently that Dance was instrumental in making the Tip 芒鈧劉n芒鈧劉 Taste a success.
芒鈧揥hen a vendor hesitated, John made sure he didn芒鈧劉t get off the hook that easily芒鈧� It won芒鈧劉t be easy to replace him,芒鈧� Wainwright said.
In addition to operating a small business and involving himself in countless charity projects and events in 91原创, Dance was known as an avid traveller, who would jump in his motorhome and exploring Canada and the U.S.
Dance was born in 1936 in Ontario and adopted by Frank and Alice Dance as a young boy. He moved west in the late 1950s, and made 91原创 his home most of the years following.
To those close to him, he was also known as a dog lover and a Star Trek fan, his wife hinting she might just have him cremated in his Captain Picard uniform.
Dance is survived by his wife Gail, his four children, Melanie, Tracy, Brent, and Michele, his three step-children, Serena, Venetia, and Rick, as well as seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He's also survived by his younger brother Lorne.
The 91原创 Sunrise Rotary Club will be hosting a celebration of life for Dance on Saturday, Feb. 22, starting at 2 p.m. at the Masonic Hall, at 20701 Fraser Hwy.
In addition, Gail said, his family will host a huge party at the house in Dance芒鈧劉s memory this summer. That will allow a number of other close friends and his 芒鈧揾ockey family芒鈧� unable to attend his celebration of life this month to pay tribute.
Many others share their thoughts and condolences
Brodyn Nielsen, one of Dance芒鈧劉s grandchildren, lived with his grandparents and other buddies while attending hockey school in 91原创.
Dance芒鈧劉s nickname among the kids was 芒鈧揋randpa Grumps,芒鈧� becasue he would act grumpy with them but had a 芒鈧揵last芒鈧� watching the kids swim and hot tub, recalled Dance芒鈧劉s step-daughter Venetia Nielsen.
芒鈧揑 would just like to thank my grandpa for giving me a childhood I will never forget,芒鈧� said Brodyn.
芒鈧揊irst off, you took me on my first ever fishing trip where I caught a fish that got bigger every time i told the story. Secondly, I would like to thank you for letting a total of six of us live at your house for two years. I know it probably wasn芒鈧劉t that fun for you when we would Nicky Nicky Nine Doors on our own house at 12 o芒鈧劉clock at night, or play our music on our phones and hide it somewhere you couldn芒鈧劉t find. But through all of that it gave me and my friends endless memories with you, whether we were being little sh.. heads or not. I just want to say thank you for putting such a positive outlook on my life gramps and I know you芒鈧劉re already watching the first episode of Star Trek up there. You will be missed by many and we will always love you. Rest in peace Grandpa Grumps,芒鈧� Brodyn concluded.
Brodyn芒鈧劉s girlfriend, Kodi Horth Wessels, who knew Dance for the past seven years, wrote: 芒鈧揜.I.P Grandpa John, thanks for always putting up with all us kids at the house every single weekend and letting me make the best memories that are going to last a lifetime! Thanks for all the funny stories you told us about your travels or just the funny stories you had. You were an amazing guy and I will never forget you! Thanks for all the memories and great times!! Love you! Forever in our hearts and never forgotten.芒鈧�
Several Rotarians offered comments on Dance, as well.
Fellow Rotarian Grant Gilmour won芒鈧劉t soon forget Dance芒鈧劉s unique nature, fondly remembering his sales techniques demostrated each year at the 91原创 Good Times Cruise-In hotdog sales.
芒鈧揌e used to shout 芒鈧測ummy yummy hotdogs芒鈧劉 at the top of his lungs with preposterous freebies added in, like free mustard,芒鈧� Gilmour said, recalling how the club was selling water at an event.
It was a hot, hot day and the water was not cold 芒鈧�� in fact, as Gilmour recalled, it was hot. Dance won芒鈧劉t be deterred, again shouting at the top of his lungs. But, instead of pushing cold water, he switched it up and shouted 芒鈧搘et water.芒鈧�
芒鈧揑 was tucking my son in last night and he asked why I was sad. I told him about John and how he was the guy who taught me to shout 芒鈧測ummy yummy hotdogs.芒鈧劉 FYI: my son and I do that now. My son芒鈧劉s (Quinn) reply was that we needed to teach someone else now, since John had taught us. This is a good perspective, John taught me a lot without even trying. His way was brash and sometimes in your face, but boy, oh boy, he got stuff done,芒鈧� Gilmour recounted.
Fellow Rotarian Sherry Baker described Dance as 芒鈧揹edicated,芒鈧� noting he was involved in all aspects of the Rotary Club, from executive and two consecutive terms as president, to serving on countless committees through the years.
芒鈧揌e enthusiastically participated in all our service projects and especially enjoyed our firesides and social events 芒鈧�� many of which were hosted in his home with his wife, Gail, always making everyone feel so welcome,芒鈧� Baker said.
芒鈧揓ohn will be truly missed by us all.芒鈧�
Garth Hansen recalls John well during his tenure as president of the Sunrise club, recounting that it was the same year he was present of the evening Rotary club.
He spent a bunch of time with him at pre-PET (president elect training) seminars, and remembered one specific trip heading south for a seminar with fellow Rotarians Wayne Wiebe and Grant Gilmour.
They were waiting in the border lineup, when Dance perked up from the back seat and recounted an encounter with the border guards: "Did I ever tell you about the time I got caught trying to cross the border with a gun?"
As Hansen recalled the story, turned out Dance was visiting his nephew in the U.S. and his nephew stashed his gun in Dance's motorhome, thinking Dance would like it.
"It was a funny story, and even though it really put John in a bad spot at the time, he was laughing about it when he told us," Hansen said. "John always had great stories about his travels."
Hansen worked with Dance "for quite a few years" on the Tip 'n' Taste fundraiser: "He always had a lot of ideas. I remember teaching him some email etiquette at the time. He liked to type in all caps and add lots of exclamation points. I like local history and politics, and John always had lots of stories. Every time I saw John, he always had a joke to tell. John was a little rough around the edges, but his heart was always in the right place."
Dance芒鈧劉s granddaughter, Leah Gregg, noted his generosity and kindness went beyond just community involvement.
芒鈧揓ohn Dance had a really big heart. He was extremely generous and always eager to share a laugh,芒鈧� Gregg said. 芒鈧揌e芒鈧� was always happy to lend a hand to help out friends, family, and strangers alike.芒鈧�
Recounting that he loved exploring the open road on extended road trips, Dance had a fascination with the wild west and was a devoted Trekkie (Star Trek fan). So, she said to her grandfather: 芒鈧揃oldly go where none of us have gone before, John!芒鈧�
Dance芒鈧劉s stepdaughter Venetia Nielsen commented the man she knew as her stepdad or JD for more than 30 years.
芒鈧揟here was never a person in need in our family, extended family, and friends who was not given a helping hand by John and Gail and welcomed into their home and lives. Hundreds and hundreds of people have shared and enjoyed the beautiful garden, hot tub, and pool over the years,芒鈧� she said.
芒鈧揟here were weddings, anniversary, and children芒鈧劉s parties galore. Many hundreds of cubs swam in the pool over the years, too.芒鈧�
As many recalled, Dance 芒鈧揳bsolutely loved travelling in his motorhome芒鈧� and invited anyone to come along for the adventure.
Nielsen also recalled how he loved to try and make people laugh and was always cracking a joke or two.
芒鈧揑t used to drive us all crazy, how JD would have that darn video camera in our faces all the time. Then as we got older we all realized he had documented all of our family芒鈧劉s special memories,芒鈧� she said.
One of Dance芒鈧劉s nicknames was the Dog Father. At holiday dinners, they could count on almost as many dogs as people: 芒鈧揙ur whole family and friends are so grateful for everything he did for all of us. He will be sadly missed.芒鈧�
Some family from England shared their thoughts after hearing of Dance芒鈧劉s passing, including Veronica Preddy.
芒鈧揑 was so sorry to hear that John had passed away芒鈧�. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to meet him in Canada and England. He was such a lovely man. We had such fun when he was showing us around 91原创, Vancouver, and Whistler. He was as excited as we were visiting places he hadn芒鈧劉t been to for a long time,芒鈧� said Preddy.
芒鈧揥hen he came to England he really enjoyed most of all, when we took him to the canals at Foxton Locks where all the barges travel from one water level to another when they journey along from place to place.
Steve Lowery also shared condolences with Gail and the family.
芒鈧揓ohn was an amazing man with a big heart just like you, this is why you two were so perfect for each other. Although you had different ways of showing it, it was still unmistakable! He will be missed by many, and forgotten by none,芒鈧� Lowery said.
Michele Hall-Mccaffrey said she too will miss Dance.
芒鈧揌e was always kind to me, ready with a joke and his camera, his love of animals was plain to see, and he never seemed to mind our big wacky family dropping in any old time.芒鈧�
