Toronto, b. 30.May.1960 - d.
7.December.2015, cancer.
Toronto veteran bike courier Dave Hughes passed away on December 7,
2015 after a long battle with cancer. Dave was a much loved
messenger of over 20 years who was always willing to share his
knowledge and experience with new messengers. He was known for his
ever present smile and warm personality. RIP 183.
I have to share this with u all. I am here in beautiful Vernon BC
today my heart is fully in Toronto with the family and friends of
yours Dave Hughes. I met you the first day of my 5 yrs years of
being a bike courier. Knowing your brothers Mike and Sion for years
I was instantly connected to you.. you gave me many tips through the
early days and I looked to you as a mentor. We shared many great
days and many late nights through the the next several years! Your
constant positive attitude and smile went along way with me .. not
all will understand this but his Baah on the radio during work
always helped us out through the gloomy winter days and I promptly
made the "baah" my call while I ran many a red light and cut through
traffic ( worked better than a bell ) lol.
Dave you impacted me on a level I wouldn't know until I made the
move out west. Never in the last 15 years did we lose contact for
more than a month or 2 and I always welcomed a random call from you
from time to time. It hurts to know I will never get the chance to
talk again, however I'm feel thrilled and blessed to have a couple
of great visits with you just a few short weeks ago. Knowing the
nature and the inevitably of you're illness you managed to fight it
like the toughest of soldiers and you did it at least when I saw you
in the most positive way I've ever known. We made plans for you to
come out next yr and I believed it was going to happen.. if I had of
known it was our last time hanging out I would've hugged you longer
and told u I love you again. I will never forget you and continue to
share our stories of laughter every chance I get!
To all of your family I can only imagine how tough the last couple
months have been for you all. I don't know you all but I do know
your family is very large and very close.. stick together enjoy your
memories and take great pride in how your brother has touched so
many people in such a positive way! Nothing but Love to all who need
it... sorry this was a Lil long winded but I needed to say it..
Enjoy the ride Dave! Oh yeah and one last time baaaaaaaaaaah! - Dave
Walsh
Davey, I can't begin to describe how shattered I am feeling today.
All the time you were sick you kept your chin up and your smile on.
When you couldn't keep the game face on I didn't see you for a
while, but I always knew that as soon as you were able you'd come
through the back gate with a grin and a hug, and we'd share stories,
songs, memories and thoughts. I will get through today and tomorrow
by trying to do what you did so well, keep on keeping on. I know
you're worried about Lindsay, but Dan is here, we are here, and she
is not alone. She is stronger than she knows. Lisa too. They're
stuck with us Hughes'. You are a role model, and our champion. Today
we will play your tunes, share the stories, remember the good times
and promise to never forget. I love you, and you will always be in
my heart. – Joanna Hughes
Dave, you will remain in my mind an heart an awesome human being.
Many a down day in my life you have shared positivity and
encouragement to help me clean up my life. Truly you will be missed
by me and the 416 mess fam, and anyone who happened to get strength
from how you handled your personal struggle. Ride in Peace bro. - KJ
Roach
Dave Hughes I will miss you for the rest of my life. Mikey P Hughes
and Dave were like brothers. Their doors were always open to us all.
When I moved a thousand miles away Dave was always contacting me,
making sure I was okay. He was always a friend who would listen to
my problems when I felt all alone out here. He always wanted to be
the first to see me when I came home.
Even when he was sick he wanted to know how I was doing, how I felt,
if I was happy. Those who know me know I don't share my personal
life on social media but I had to tell you all that Dave was the
real deal. I was a little punk on a bike in downtown Toronto thrown
out there without a clue during a mail strike. Dave didn't work for
the same company as me, he didn't know me but he saw I was lost. He
gave me a beat up old Perly's map book and showed me how to properly
lock up my bike so it wouldn't get stolen.
That was 25 years ago. I will never forget Dave Hughes he was a big
brother for us all. 10-4 brah! - Brian Hall
Dave's Obituary:
Dave Hughes, passed away peacefully at Princess Margaret Hospital in
Toronto, on December 7th, 2015. Dave is survived by his daughters
Lindsay (Dan) and Lisa Pinkerton (Dave) and their mother Lois,
grandchildren Logan and Layla, eight siblings Mair (John), Katrina,
Joanna (John), Ivan (Angela), Sion (Kelly), Jan (Lisa), Toby (Chloe)
and Michael; fourteen nieces and nephews Joellen (Matt), Bryn
(Jillian), Jonathan (Cass), Emily (Evan), Dimitri, Jeremy, Matt,
Thea, Toby, Evan, Jan, Ceilidh, Rees, and Keelan; two great nieces,
Zoe and Trudy.
Dave was born on May 30, 1960 in Great Rollright, a village about
2.5 miles (4 km) north of Chipping Norton, England. The family moved
to Canada in 1965 and to Toronto in 1967. For the past 20 years,
Dave worked as a bike courier and was a member of the Toronto Bike
Messenger Association. Apart from his love of friends and family,
(and he had a load of both), Dave was also passionate about fishing,
reading, gardening, the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team - many a
Sunday was spent at 'The Pits' taking in the game - and perhaps most
importantly, music - especially classic rock. And, though he'd never
want you to know it, he also liked watching The Young and the
Restless with his Mum on a Friday afternoon. That's just the kind of
guy he was - pretty cool.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations in Dave's
memory be made to Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.
