HADDEN, David Lyall - 1929 - 2017 David passed peacefully on October 11th, at the age of 87 in Burns Lake, BC, listening to Beethoven.
Survived by wife Eleanor, brother Guy, daughter Kelly (Steve) and son Lyall (Eileen), granddaughters Jennifer and Laura and daughter-in-law Charlotte.
Predeceased by daughter Cathy, son Ray and first wife Nancy. Raised in Pennsylvania, David graduated with a degree in engineering from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, where he met and married Nancy Fennell.
Together they settled in Toronto and David joined forces with his uncle to launch G & H Steel.
As President, David grew the business from a tiny garage on Kingston Rd. to the largest reinforcing steel company in Canada, supplying rebar to infrastructure projects such as the Bruce Nuclear Plant, the Toronto subway and the Montreal Olympics.
A passionate and committed member of the Bahá'í Faith, David served as he knew best – by making things happen. From 1975 - 1980 David and Nancy's Port Hope home was the site for the annual 'Gatherings', where Bahá'í's from around the globe came for inspiration, study and deepening in their Faith.
Co-hosted by Hand of the Cause of God William Sears and his wife Marguerite, the Gatherings are fondly remembered by many as treasured moments in their spiritual journey. David used his resources and considerable talents to facilitate a variety of Bahá'í projects including the Yukon Institute, the Maxwell School on Vancouver Island and Desert Rose Institute in Eloy, Arizona. He touched the lives of many through his sacrifices to these and other Bahá'í institutions and provides an enduring example of selfless, generous service.
Following Nancy's passing David married Eleanor Ettinger and together they moved to Northern British Columbia where they continued the family tradition of Bahá'í summer schools and golden retrievers. David was buried on October 14th in a serene hillside cemetery overlooking a northern lake.
A memorial service will be held at the Toronto Bahá'í Centre, 288 Bloor St. W., at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 12th.