Obituaries

“Miracle Baby” Selma Murray is seen with Prince Rupert Regional Hospital nurse after being rescued from the rubble of a devastating 1957 Mount Oldfield landslide that killed seven people. (Photo: Supplied)

‘Miracle Baby’ and sole survivor of 1957 Prince Rupert mudslide dies at 66

Selma Murray was 18 months old when 7 people, including her parents and baby brother were killed

 

King Charles III and the Queen Consort follow the coffin during the Committal Service for Queen Elizabeth II at St George’s Chapel, at Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. (Ben Birchall/Pool via AP)

Final goodbye: Recalling influential people who died in 2022

Long list includes Queen Elizabeth II, politicians, entertainers and artists

 

FILE - Charlotte Bobcats coach Paul Silas argues a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Charlotte, N.C., April 18, 2012. Silas, a member of three NBA championship teams, has died, his family announced Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. He was 79. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, file)

Paul Silas, 3-time NBA champion, longtime coach, dies at 79

Silas was LeBron James’ first coach in the league

 

FILE - Gloria Steinem and Dorothy Pitman Hughes attend the Ms. Foundation for Women Gloria Awards at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York, May 1, 2014. Hughes, a pioneering Black feminist, child welfare advocate and activist who co-founded Ms. Magazine with Steinem, formed a powerful speaking partnership with her and appeared with her in one of the most iconic photos of the feminist movement, has died. Hughes died Dec. 1, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. She was 84. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)

Pioneering Black feminist Dorothy Pitman Hughes dies at 84

Hughes toured with Gloria Steinem through the 70s and spent her life advocating for child welfare

FILE - Gloria Steinem and Dorothy Pitman Hughes attend the Ms. Foundation for Women Gloria Awards at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York, May 1, 2014. Hughes, a pioneering Black feminist, child welfare advocate and activist who co-founded Ms. Magazine with Steinem, formed a powerful speaking partnership with her and appeared with her in one of the most iconic photos of the feminist movement, has died. Hughes died Dec. 1, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. She was 84. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Pope John Paul II talks to Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, as Raisa looks on, during a private visit to the Vatican City, Sunday, Nov. 18, 1990. When Mikhail Gorbachev is buried Saturday at Moscow’s Novodevichy Cemetery, he will once again be next to his wife, Raisa, with whom he shared the world stage in a visibly close and loving marriage that was unprecedented for a Soviet leader. Gorbachev’s very public devotion to his family broke the stuffy mold of previous Soviet leaders, just as his openness to political reform did. (AP Photo/Gianni Foggia, File)

Gorbachev’s marriage, like his politics, broke the mold

“He loved a woman more than his work.”

FILE - Pope John Paul II talks to Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, as Raisa looks on, during a private visit to the Vatican City, Sunday, Nov. 18, 1990. When Mikhail Gorbachev is buried Saturday at Moscow’s Novodevichy Cemetery, he will once again be next to his wife, Raisa, with whom he shared the world stage in a visibly close and loving marriage that was unprecedented for a Soviet leader. Gorbachev’s very public devotion to his family broke the stuffy mold of previous Soviet leaders, just as his openness to political reform did. (AP Photo/Gianni Foggia, File)
Bob Skelly is shown in a British Columbia NDP handout photo. Former British Columbia New Democratic Party leader Bob Skelly has died. In a message posted on social media, Premier John Horgan says he is saddened to hear of Skelly’s death and thanks him for his years of service to B.C. and Canada. (BC NDP photo)

Former B.C. New Democrat leader and B.C. member of Parliament Bob Skelly dies

Skelly served five terms in the B.C. legislature representing the Vancouver Island riding of Alberni

Bob Skelly is shown in a British Columbia NDP handout photo. Former British Columbia New Democratic Party leader Bob Skelly has died. In a message posted on social media, Premier John Horgan says he is saddened to hear of Skelly’s death and thanks him for his years of service to B.C. and Canada. (BC NDP photo)
Marion Cumming shows off her Carey Newman-designed orange shirt under sunny skies in her Oak Bay garden on July 29. (Photo by Arifin Graham)

Oak Bay artist, activist remembered in part for her final gift of reconciliation

Marion Cumming died peacefully at home Aug. 1, surrounded by friends, loved ones

Marion Cumming shows off her Carey Newman-designed orange shirt under sunny skies in her Oak Bay garden on July 29. (Photo by Arifin Graham)
Black Press Media owner David Black shares a laugh with Helen Hughes at a Women in Business event at the Union Club of B.C. in 2016. Hughes, who died recently at 89, was a tireless volunteer and longtime city councillor. (Black Press Media file photo)

Helen Hughes, longtime city councillor, advocate for Victoria youth, dies at 89

Order of Canada member was dedicated to many causes here and in Saskatchewan

Black Press Media owner David Black shares a laugh with Helen Hughes at a Women in Business event at the Union Club of B.C. in 2016. Hughes, who died recently at 89, was a tireless volunteer and longtime city councillor. (Black Press Media file photo)
Al LeQuesne is being remembered as a loving father, husband and grandfather who was dedicated to serving and protecting the City of Langford as fire Chief after his death at the age of 86. (Photo Courtesy of Dave LeQuesne)

Al LeQuesne’s funeral service to be held April 9

Service is being held at the Colwood Pentecostal Church at 1:30 p.m

Al LeQuesne is being remembered as a loving father, husband and grandfather who was dedicated to serving and protecting the City of Langford as fire Chief after his death at the age of 86. (Photo Courtesy of Dave LeQuesne)
Louie Anderson appears during the 2017 Winter Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 12, 2017. Anderson, whose four-decade career as a comedian and actor included his unlikely and Emmy-winning performance as mom to twin adult sons in the TV series Baskets, has died at age 68. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

Louie Anderson, Emmy-winning comedian, dies at 68

Anderson died at a hospital in Las Vegas of complications from cancer

Louie Anderson appears during the 2017 Winter Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 12, 2017. Anderson, whose four-decade career as a comedian and actor included his unlikely and Emmy-winning performance as mom to twin adult sons in the TV series Baskets, has died at age 68. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
Canadian comic Norm Macdonald arrives at the NBC Universal Summer Press Day at The Langham Huntington Hotel on April 2, 2015, in Pasadena, Calif. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Invision - Chris Pizzello)

Norm Macdonald’s Victoria ‘scrabble story’ resurfaces following death

Macdonald joked about terrible bed-and-breakfast experience on Vancouver Island

Canadian comic Norm Macdonald arrives at the NBC Universal Summer Press Day at The Langham Huntington Hotel on April 2, 2015, in Pasadena, Calif. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Invision - Chris Pizzello)
FILE - In this Oct. 11, 2011, file photo, former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld speaks to politicians and academics during a luncheon on security in rising Asia, in Taipei, Taiwan. (AP Photo/Wally Santana, File)

Former United States Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld dies at 88

Rumsfeld had a storied career in government under four presidents

FILE - In this Oct. 11, 2011, file photo, former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld speaks to politicians and academics during a luncheon on security in rising Asia, in Taipei, Taiwan. (AP Photo/Wally Santana, File)
FILE - In this April 4, 2019, file photo, Mary Wilson, a former member of The Supremes, is escorted after singing the national anthem before a baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals in Detroit. Wilson died in Las Vegas, publicist Jay Schwartz told KABC-TV. When she died and other details weren’t immediately clear. She was 76. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

Mary Wilson of the Supremes dead at 76

Artist posted YouTube video announcing work on new music just days before her death

FILE - In this April 4, 2019, file photo, Mary Wilson, a former member of The Supremes, is escorted after singing the national anthem before a baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals in Detroit. Wilson died in Las Vegas, publicist Jay Schwartz told KABC-TV. When she died and other details weren’t immediately clear. She was 76. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
FILE - In this Jan. 23, 1987 file photo, actor Sean Connery holds a rose in his hand as he talks about his new movie “The Name of the Rose” at a news conference in London. Scottish actor Sean Connery, considered by many to have been the best James Bond, has died aged 90, according to an announcement from his family. (AP Photo/Gerald Penny, File)

Actor Sean Connery, the ‘original’ James Bond, dies at 90

Oscar-winner was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000

FILE - In this Jan. 23, 1987 file photo, actor Sean Connery holds a rose in his hand as he talks about his new movie “The Name of the Rose” at a news conference in London. Scottish actor Sean Connery, considered by many to have been the best James Bond, has died aged 90, according to an announcement from his family. (AP Photo/Gerald Penny, File)