David Surry

In Loving Memory

David Surry, BASc MASc PhD (9 August 1941 – 15 July 2026)

David Surry died peacefully on Wednesday 15 July 2026 just before his 85th birthday. He left us, embraced by his family: Jean Clare Mackworth Surry, his beloved wife of 62 years, and his children, Patrick, Susan, and Kathleen. He will be profoundly missed by all his family, including his children-in-law Sharon McKechnie (m. Patrick), Steve DePiero (m. Susan), and Brad Kobe (m. Kathleen), and his eight grandchildren Graeme, David, Gavin, Jake, Ethan, Evan, Clare, and Sam. He was loved and admired by his family and close friends, several local community groups and a far-flung network of professional colleagues who became lifelong friends over the years.

Born in West Mersea, England during the Second World War, David lived in Guernsey for several years and emigrated to Canada in 1950 with his parents William and Mabel, his brother Arthur, and his sisters Margaret and Betty. His eldest brother John remained in England, keeping a strong family tie to that country for his lifetime.

After graduating in 1961 from Engineering Science at University of Toronto, and from the UTIAS Aeronautical Engineering PhD program in 1969, David was awarded an NRC PostDoc, to work at the National Physical Labs in Teddington, UK, with Dr Michael Gaster. Dr Alan Davenport, a pioneering researcher in the field of wind engineering, came to England to invite David to join him at the new Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel at the University of Western Ontario in London, where he went on to round out his career as Director. Professor David Surry taught and mentored many students and led projects of wind load studies for several world-renowned buildings and bridges during his career at Western.

Dave had a lifelong passion for flight and model airplanes. After winning many Canadian contests, he was a competitor in powered models for the Canadian team in the World Championships in 1963 and 1969. He returned to building and flying models after his retirement. Building beautiful gliders that he launched into the blue sky was a true joy.

Dave was also Under Gardener in the beautiful and bountiful garden that he and Jean built and nurtured for the last 45 years. He was Chief Pyro in our Victoria Day fireworks displays; Lead Engineer on our massive sandcastle builds at Oxtongue Lake; Captain of the pirate ship (an ancient Laser, or a massive white canoe); and Head Chef on Saturday Spaghetti Night at the Surry’s (a 50+ year tradition). He was the lap to cry on, the problem-solver, and a selfless supporter of our every endeavor. He loved to spend time with his grandkids, whether discussing the latest science and engineering challenges, debating politics and eco-solutions, reading Calvin and Hobbes with the youngest, or wearing a stuffed dog on his head to make us all laugh.

Dave's north star was the love of his life, Jean, and they were a team in all their endeavours. Theirs was a marriage that was strong, supportive, joyful, and rooted in love. And Poppa was so proud of his kids and grandkids. We are profoundly grateful to have had such a loving anchor in our lives. He was, and will continue to be, our role model for staying curious, always looking for ways to make the world better, and staying true to the people who are most important to us. His was a life well loved and so very well lived.

David requested that there be no formal funeral or internment. We will celebrate his life with his family, friends, and colleagues at a gathering to be scheduled later in the year, details to follow. Please feel free to reach out by email to surryfamily9@gmail.com if you would like to send a message to the family, or to receive information about the Celebration of Life.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation or the Canadian Lung Association.