Whitefield, Dave
Whitefield, James David “Dave”
July 18, 1942 - February 1, 2026James David "Dave" Whitefield was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, to Margaret (née Cretney) and Isaac Whitefield. His early life was shaped by hardship and resilience, and he learned early what it meant to persevere.
He found refuge at the Royal Ontario Museum, where he spent countless hours. He was guided by curiosity and became a self-taught learner, realizing that knowledge was something you actively pursued.
The family settled in Belleville, Ontario, where Dave found solace in the outdoors, spending countless hours fishing. He was also deeply influenced by time spent at his grandfather's cottage, where he earned the privilege of extended stays through hard work and usefulness. Those summers cemented his belief that contribution and learning by doing were the foundations of a good life.
After high school, Dave set off on a defining road trip with best friend Gene. Their journey took them to California, where they shared a series of misadventures that became family legend. It was there Dave worked in a mechanic shop under the mentorship of its owner Cliff, who taught Dave the merits of learning through trial and error. Dave came to understand mistakes were not failures, they were the work. While in California, Dave met Darlene, with whom he returned to Canada, married, and raised two daughters, Diahann (Ian) and Michelle (Jill).
Dave began working as a labourer at Hydro-Flex Inc., a cryogenic equipment company. Through determination, ingenuity, and sheer work ethic, he rose through the ranks, eventually purchasing the company and becoming president alongside business partner Morris Gold.
Dave passed that mindset on to his daughters and later to his grandchildren Chapman, Myles, and Emmeline, who all brought him immense joy. He embraced the freedom and fun of the grandparent role, spending countless hours building, exploring, and just being there for them.
Despite this softer side, Dave was not a man to be crossed. Integrity mattered to him. He held high standards, spoke his mind, and expected people to pull their weight. Once you earned his trust, however, he was unfailingly loyal, generous, and loving.
Dave shared nearly four decades with his partner, Mary Nelson, during which they travelled extensively, visiting six of the world's seven continents, a reflection of his life-long curiosity. He is also survived by his younger sister, Ann, with whom he shared a close and enduring bond of friendship.
Dave will be remembered as a self-taught man, a builder, a problem-solver, and someone who believed that learning, wherever it took place, was one of life's greatest privileges. His influence lives on in the questions his family continues to ask, the things they continue to build, and the determination with which they meet the world.
A celebration of life will be held at Beverly Golf and Country Club on August 9th, 1 - 5 p.m. Donations in Dave's memory can be made to Rare Dementia Support Canada at: raredementiasupport.ca
