A life well lived is a precious gift
Of hope and strength and grace,
From someone who has made our world
A brighter, better place
It’s filled with moments, sweet and sad
With smiles and sometimes tears,
With friendships formed and good times shared
And laughter through the years.
A life well lived is a legacy
Of joy and pride and pleasure,
A living, lasting memory
Our grateful hearts will treasure.
by Anonymous
Bill Dauphinee died around 8:40 PM on May 19, 2025 with his immediate family by his side. In “Victory”, after battling cancer for over three years, he leaves behind his loving wife, Wendy, daughter Randa, their grandchildren and many friends.
Bill joined Rotary Club of Vancouver (“RCOV”) on September 1, 1983 and since then, through a life well lived, and over 40 years of membership in RCOV, has had a profound impact on our Rotary Club. For over 25 years, Bill served as the RCOV’s accountant and Treasurer, and also accountant and Treasurer of the charitable foundations connected to RCOV.
Those charitable Foundations, included:
- the Vancouver Rotary Club Foundation (a registered charity) and its predecessor foundation of the same name which was amalgamated with the Oscar Olsen Foundation so as to reduce administration costs; and
- the Rotary Club of Vancouver Hearing Foundation (formerly called RHF Hearing Foundation).
About six years few years ago, Phil Webber recalls speaking with Bill regarding member participation in charitable projects during which Bill, after some thought, commented that the key to Rotary was fellowship, and the friendships arising out of that fellowship. In modern times, our Fun Group, bolstered by the “Whats App group” is partly fostering and facilitating what Bill would describe as fellowship activities.
However, when it came to club service (including his roles as accountant and treasurer, serving on the boards of RCOV and the foundations as such), and to community service (as exemplified by his role through decades of service to the Rotary Ride for Hearing), Bill, supported by his wife Wendy, left his mark. Two examples of Bill’s efforts to serve and improve the community in which we live are:
1. As for the Rotary Ride for Hearing (the Bike-a-Thon), Bill and Wendy could be found at the start of the ride before 5:00 AM on the day of the ride for the set-up and registration of Riders before the 6:00 AM start, after which they would pack up and both drive the 120 kilometres to Harrison to welcome riders at the finish and then account for funds raised, which have amounted over the years to millions of dollars for the deaf and hard of hearing in BC;
2. Bill was interviewed for the Vancouver Sun and its “Raise a Reader” and “Adopt a School” initiatives because of RCOV’s decades long involvement in Norquay Elementary School, serving as reading coaches for children struggling to improve their reading skills and funding a hot breakfast and lunch program for children who more often than not came to school hungry.
Bill believed that our Rotary Club’s effectiveness in carrying out its many community, international and youth charitable and humanitarian projects, was based upon the strong bonds of friendship which developed and were nourished among the Rotary Club members and their spouses. Just a taste of Bill’s and Wendy’s contributions to the social fabric of the RCOV were:
1. Their annual organization, along with Myron Kuzych and past Club President, Mel Endelman, of the RCOV’s curling league (still ongoing) and the annual curling bonspiel (latterly a weekend at Squamish until interrupted by COVID) which has been instrumental in introducing numerous persons, including Rotary International exchange students from all over the world, and Rotary Club members, to the sport of curling;
2. Organizing and hosting an annual Christmas caroling party in their home, open to all club members, and attended by many, many Rotary Club members and their spouses;
3. Joining other Rotarians at numerous social events, including the Chinese Soirée, the Rotary Bridge Club and the annual fundraising dinner auctions and President’s
Ball;
4. Regularly participating in the Rotary Ski Weekend;
5. Bill, along with Doug Kellough, organizing the Thursday Golf group for which Bill served as chief statistician;
6. Vacation travels with other couples from Rotary; and
7. The list goes on....
When we think of Bill let us be mindful of the old proverb:
“The Only Truly Dead are Those Who Have Been Forgotten”
We will not forget Bill, but will remember him,
for all the love and friendship he and Wendy gave us.
