Tribute

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Walter (Wally) Teichgraber on January 31, 2019 at the age of 85.  Walter died peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family.

Walter was born on December 13, 1933 in Montreal, Quebec, to devoted parents Kathie, a talented homemaker and Carl, a dye chemist for Dominion Textiles.

He had an idyllic childhood and his exuberance for life soon found a love and natural ability for sports.  He excelled in high diving, hockey, racquetball, skiing, and fastball.

Walter attended Sir George Williams University and specialized in piping design technology, beginning his career in Montreal.  He married his first wife, Jacquie and soon had a son, Brian.  His career took him to Calgary, Vancouver then Powell River, where he worked in the mill’s engineering department and met his wife, Elaine, before becoming an independent contractor that took him to the U.S., northern Alberta and Calgary.  They had two children, Kurtis and Tiffany.

Walter was a weekend ski instructor throughout his life and loved the sport second only to his world class talent and passion as the star pitcher for Montreal’s Steinberg’s fastball team.  Even as he got older he continued to pitch and coach into his early fifties.

Walter’s love for meticulous detail showed in his beautiful tropical fish aquariums, model railroading, model tall ship building and photography.  His love for food inspired him to take Asian cooking classes from celebrity chef Stephen Yan, and as age edged out sports, boating in Desolation Sound became his favorite pastime.

Walter suffered a stroke in 2013 and combined with other health issues began to decline.  Before he passed he wanted family and friends to know how much they meant to him throughout his life.

The family would like to thank Dr. Skobkareva for her compassion and care, the fire department, ambulance paramedics, police, coroner and Stubberfield’s, for their gentle kindness at the end of his life.

Walter is missed by his wife Elaine, sons Brian (April) and Kurtis, daughter Tiffany and grandchildren, Ryan, Tate and Eli.

Together we ran our hands through the water and watched it glow with a million sparkling lights…you are that light.  Love you forever.