Missing our Star
When I read the obituary of Vera Deans with the unadorned list of her many interests, my mind was jogged with, it seemed, hundreds of memories. I first met her in 1986 when I joined the Library. She had been a dedicated volunteer since it opened in 1981 – the one who always went in an hour early to put the books in order and maybe find a particular book that would interest the children she knew were coming in that day. She had one special young friend, Christopher Koiner, who loved jokes. Every week she found one for him and he had one for her. It was a lovely ritual that always had us all laughing. Often, on a non Library day she could be found in the Library “just tidying up”.
Her other passion in the Village was The Historical Society. Tony Cox told me she was there at the beginning, never missed a meeting and worked tirelessly clipping articles of interest from back, as well as the most recent issues of The Seagull and Lions Bay Community News and other local papers and amassing them in files for the Village Archives.
Vera and Brodie lived at the top of my street for over 30 years in a house, designed for the property they had purchased, by Arthur Erickson. It was the perfect Lions Bay home with a small footprint, a loft, many stairs (to keep them fit in their older years, she said) and included a dedicated space for her beloved Grand Piano. One fond memory I have is of her inviting my then 10-year old grandson to play her piano. He gave us a raucous rendition of Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer”! Vera was surprised but delighted.
Often, when she whipped down the road in her white cabriolet – top down and Kermit (it ain’t easy being green) in the back seat – she would halt for a quick chat. The bare listing of her many interests doesn’t do justice to her vibrancy, her endless curiosity and her extraordinary knowledge. “I’ll look it up” was always the response to an idle question. She always did. She must have been the ideal coach for her star students in “Reach for the Top”. Some of them kept in touch with her for decades keeping her aware of their current activities. She loved it but I think they thought of her as the star. She was a star citizen of the Village and I miss her.
In Memory of Vera
Vera will be greatly missed by her Lions Bay neighbors and her library friends. Our community will miss her wonderful spirit and energy.
In ode to many years of sailboating with Brodie, a quote from A. Lord Tennyson.
Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar
When I put out to sea.
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