Glenn passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 2nd at Vancouver General Hospital, at the age of 89. Glenn was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Frances (2009), and his sister Jean Roma Whitelaw (1927). He is survived by his daughter Susan (Don), his sons Robert (Catherine) and Bill, and grandchildren Katie, Lindsay, Will and Olivia.
Glenn was born in Vancouver on November 29, 1921 and, apart from a brief stint as a teenager in California, he spent his entire life in Vancouver and on Salt Spring Island. He attended Prince of Wales High School, Point Grey High School and graduated from Hollywood High School in Los Angeles before moving on to the University of British Columbia to study Commerce and Law. During his undergraduate years, Glenn trained as an officer reserve while completing his studies. Upon graduation, he began training in a mobile artillery regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces. After WWII, Glenn entered the new law school at UBC and was a member of it’s first graduating class in 1948. He went on to practice law in Vancouver for over 40 years, primarily with the firm Robson, Alexander & Guest which later became Alexander, Holburn, Beaudin and Lang.
Outside of work, Glenn had a tremendous passion for racquet sports and was a member of the Vancouver Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club for over 75 years. It was on those courts that Glenn first met Frances. In addition to being an excellent tennis player, he was a tenacious organizer of tennis games who loved the laughs and chatter on the court, and did not finally put down his racquets until he was well into his 80’s. Glenn continued his association with the Canadian Armed Forces as a reservist with The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own), holding the rank of captain.
Glenn loved living on the West Coast and had a long association with Salt Spring Island, spending many vacations there with family and friends. He built a family cottage at Maracaibo on Salt Spring Island in 1982 where he and Frances subsequently spent most of their retirement years. There was no place on earth where Glenn would rather be than on Salt Spring Island.
Many thanks to the medical staff, especially the team of nurses, on the 7th and 10th floors of Centennial Pavilion for making Glenn’s last weeks as comfortable as they could be. No service by request.