David Jonathan Ainsworth Symington

David (Dave) Jonathan Ainsworth Symington

January 26, 1956 - March 10, 2024

On Saturday March 10, 2024, our brother, Dave passed away from complications with pneumonia.

He created lasting impacts on everyone he met throughout his life.

Dave was born in Epsom, England in 1956.

He was a welcome younger brother for his two older sisters Vivien and Merril. He was a precious addition for his parents Evelyn and David Symington.

The family immigrated to Vancouver, British Columbia in 1957, and welcomed two more siblings Louise and Don. The family moved to Bellevue Washington for four years before settling in Kingston, Ontario in 1966. This is where the youngest sibling Claire was born.

After many years living in Kingston, Dave felt a calling to go back to the west coast. In 1974 at eighteen years old he moved back to Vancouver.

In 1975 Dave had a diving accident while swimming at one of Vancouver's beaches.

He suffered a spinal cord injury resulting in quadriplegia.

Dave’s life took an obvious turn at this moment, a turn that he later noted as being one that saved his life. Dave conquered many challenges which allowed him the rewards of countless successes. Dave not only broke down barriers for himself but garnered a heightened understanding and empathy for others. This empathic approach to life was bolstered by many academic achievements. 

Dave received an undergraduate degree from Queen’s University, a Master’s of Education from University of Victoria and a certificate of Behavioural Science from St. Lawrence College.

Dave quietly offered himself to the world through many outlets. His formal day job was a disability advisor for University of British Columbia. A role he excelled at due to his unwavering ability to lend a listening ear and provide thoughtful insights. Another one of Dave’s skillsets thrived in the realm of music. Dave was a drummer, playing in many bands over the years and was an avid concert goer. In 1985 he co-founded the Vancouver Adapted Music Society with fellow musician Sam Sullivan. Together they merged their love of music with accessibility, addressing gaps in the music industry that existed for disabled communities. Dave and Sam also co-founded the Jericho Disabled Sailing Association, providing increased access to and awareness of adaptive sailing. Dave absolutely loved sailing solo, in English Bay. This sense of freedom is something Dave wanted everyone to be able to experience.

Dave lived an amazing life, always challenging himself to exciting experiences. He went skydiving, learned to fly a plane and traveled the globe. Dave lived life to the fullest. If you met Dave, you were sure to share a laugh, if you knew him well, you were sure to find his sense of humour contagious.

His advocacy work and creative endeavours were all done with an air of humility.

There is so much to learn from the way Dave interacted with the world and those in it.  He was a patient man and very spiritual. He could connect with others easily. Dave was very creative. He wrote stories, poems and lyrics and did artwork often. Dave was known to enjoy a tasty baked good, especially a slice of peach pie. He loved the ethically diverse food offered in Vancouver and around the world, especially if there was a bottle of hot sauce near by. He was a strong advocate and deep thinker. He was kind and open.  Dave appreciated the little things in life. He always kept a pair of drumsticks on with him at all times waiting for the opportunity to play.

His way of thinking and living rubbed off on everyone that knew him. Dave sincerely wants you to have a good life.

Dave is predeceased by his father David, mother Evelyn and sister Louise. He leaves behind his siblings, Vivian (Merle), Merril (Henny), Don (Catherine), Claire (John); his nieces and nephews, Nick (Krystal), Andrew (Julie), Jess (Scott), Don, Erik, Emily (Aaron), Jordan, Frank, Rhys, and Theo.

Our family is heartbroken yet filled with gratitude for being a part of Dave’s story. We will miss our brother, our uncle, our friend, our confidant, our Davey Boy. We are sending so much love out to all of Dave's network of friends, we know it's a large community and we are comforted knowing his memory will live on in so many hearts.

A CELEBRATION-OF-LIFE will be held on April 22,2024 at the Heritage Hall in Vancouver from 12pm to 3pm

In lieu of flowers Dave would have loved donations of your time and/or money to go towards organizations that prioritize disabled and/or chronically ill communities, unhoused communities, underprivileged and marginalized communities. 

“The beat goes on."