Goodbye, Don Livingstone

We drove north last Thursday to say goodbye to an old friend, Don Livingstone. We met Don at a science fiction convention in Vancouver, B.C. in 1975. We seemed to hit it off right away. Over the years, whenever we would go to Vancouver for a couple of days, we would then drive to Chilliwack, about an hour’s drive, and visit with Don and Shirley. Usually Bruce and Cathy Morgan, who were mutual friends, would meet up with us also. It made for many fine evenings of meals and conversations. Don worked for the Ministry of Social Services for many years. Bruce worked under Don at one time before he moved on into a supervisory position. He has recently retired. At Don’s memorial we learned that, at a very young age, Don had one of the first open heart surgeries in Canada. That was back in 1955. He had a continuing heart problem and it finally took him away..

Don was very much a renaissance man. I met him first through science fiction. But he read all sorts of books. He had an extensive book collection. If I would mention a subject very often he would trot off and return with a book about the subject, usually a reference book. He knew film, television, opera, and classical music. I’ll miss the many talks we had about any number of things. Don and Shirley were always interested in what was happening politically down here in the states. Sometimes, he said, he just couldn’t figure out what was going on down here. All I could do was chuckle and say, me, too, Don.

We’ll stay in touch with Shirley, Don's wife, and with Bruce and Cathy, too. But we’ll sure miss Don.