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Delta bog society mourns death of co-founder Wally Davyduke

DELTA — Members of Burns Bog Conservation Society are mourning the death of Wally Davyduke, a founding director of the organization and husband to society president Eliza Olson.

Davyduke passed away at home last Friday morning (Feb. 20). He was 78.

Reached Monday morning, Olson said her husband’s prostate cancer was rediagnosed last August.

“I think the official cause of death is heart failure, although I don’t have the death certificate yet,” she told the Now.

“I’ve been very worried about him, and his health had been declining over the past few months. He’d been complaining about having the flu.”

The society announced Davyduke’s death on its Facebook page Saturday morning (Feb. 21).  

“Wally showed great passion and commitment to protecting and sustaining Burns Bog,” the post reads. “He was one of the original founders of the Burns Bog Conservation Society, and will be greatly missed.”

People who commented on the Facebook post shared their condolences to Olson and the organization.

“Wally was a great guy – down to earth, hardworking and committed to the cause of preserving the jewel that is Burns Bog,” Derek Zeisman wrote. “I’m going to miss him. Rest in peace, good sir.”

Wrote Valerie Gibbons: “How truly sad. Wally was always such an inspiration to everyone. My condolences.”

Olson said plans for a memorial are still being formalized.

“I’m beginning to realize that we’re going to have something more than a small family memorial,” she said. “There are so many people who knew him and his work with the society. He and I were the last two original members on the board, and the good part is I don’t have to ask him to step down because I knew, just looking at him, that he shouldn’t be on the board any longer.”

In its Facebook post, the society encouraged people to show their appreciation for Davyduke’s legacy by making a donation to the organization through the Canadahelps.org website.

tzillich@thenownewspaper.com



Tom Zillich

About the Author: Tom Zillich

I cover entertainment, sports and news stories for the Surrey Now-Leader, where I've worked for more than half of my 30-plus years in the newspaper business.
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