Vic High and the Alumni Association lost a good friend with the recent passing of
Dunc Lorimer. The last of long-serving principals, he spent a quarter century,
almost his whole educational career, at Vic High. He remained a stalwart friend
of the school, actively involved in alumni affairs, and will be remembered as embodying
the school’s spirit by the thousands of students who knew him.
John Duncan Lorimer passed away
peacefully on December 16, 2005. He is survived
by Betty, his loving wife of 66 years; sons, Darrell
(Barbara), Alan (Janette), Glen (Mavis); daughter,
Janet (Glen) McBride; two brothers, Malcolm (Elaine)
and James; sister, Margaret and (Wilfred) Strong
as well as 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Duncan was predeceased by his brother, George.
Duncan was born in 1919 in Delacour, Alberta.
In 1922 he moved with his family to Victoria,
eventually settling on a farm in North Sooke in
1924. He joined The Canadian Scottish Regiment
in 1936. In September 1939, he enlisted for active
service and went overseas in 1941 with the 1st
Battalion. He returned to Victoria in 1942 to
attend officer training at Gordon Head returning
to overseas duty later that year. He was wounded
in July 1944 at Cussy, Normandy and returned to
Canada for instructional duties. Duncan was discharged
in June, 1945. After attending Victoria College
and U.B.C., he joined the staff of Victoria High
School in 1951. He was vice-principal at Lansdowne
Junior High School from 1956 - 1959 and then back
to Vic High as Vice Principal for the next 7 years
when he became Principal in 1966 and retiring
in 1979. In his retirement years, he served on
the Financial Committee of the Victoria Community
Chest and was the Esquimalt representative on
the Royal Jubilee Hospital Board. He maintained
his interest in his regiment, serving as Treasurer
of the Regimental Trustees for 13 years. He was
also actively involved in the Vic High Alumni
Association.
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