Colleagues, friends and family are mourning the passing of former City of Abbotsford director of planning Richard Danziger.
Danziger died suddenly in Hawaii on Sunday, Sept. 29 while vacationing with his wife, Elke. He was 68.
The memorial service at Woodlawn Funeral Home (2310 Clearbrook Rd. in Abbotsford) is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 6:30 p.m. The service will be followed by a reception to share memories and stories of his life.
People wishing to send words of support to the family can do so via email at graham.danziger@gmail.com. The family is asking that flowers not be sent.
Danziger was born in Shanghai, China on Feb. 9, 1945. His parents emigrated to Canada when he was seven, along with his younger sister Erica. They settled in Welland, Ontario.
Danziger attended Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont. There, he met his wife Elke, and they were married in 1969.
They moved to Fredericton, N.B. with their two children, Jay and Rachel. Graham completed the family in 1982, and the family relocated to Abbotsford in 1992.
He worked for the city for almost 10 years and played a large role in the amalgamation of Abbotsford and Matsqui in 1995.
In 2000, with their children grown, Richard and Elke moved to Lindsay, Ont. for a new job opportunity and a chance to be closer to their aging mothers.
The couple enjoyed biking, tennis, kayaking and “happy hour” on the porch with friends.
In a written statement, Abbotsford planner Allan Campeau said Danziger “not only had the highest level of respect from the people he worked with, the development industry also held him in high regard.
“Richard’s diplomatic style was one of his endearing qualities and that led to the informal nickname, ‘Mr. 3C’ – Calm, Cool and Collected – and that was certainly required during the amalgamation exercise involving the two former districts.
“Richard was a true mentor, and I still recall his many words of wisdom and sage advice. He was not only a boss but a good friend. Those of us that knew Richard are that much richer for the experience … He will be missed.”