(July 20,1925 – April 17, 2017) Alf passed away peacefully with daughter-in-law Vicki at his side at Dufferin Place in Nanaimo. Born and raised in Nanaimo, Alf lived out his 91 years in the Hub City.

Following high school graduation, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force but did not see active service. He spent stints as a commercial fisherman, as a car salesman and as a time keeper for a logging company at Northwest Bay. Alf and wife, Betty (Elizabeth), were married in Goderich, Ontario, in 1948, then returned to Nanaimo. Together, they had four children.

Down the road, Alf owned and managed both Island Excavating and Hub City Paving, where he worked closely with Nanaimo mayors, Mr. Peter Maffeo and Mr. Frank Ney, to improve city roads. Alf was generous with both his time and money and to that end, sponsored local soccer teams for many years, helped family members and employees, and donated to many charitable causes. “An honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work” was one of Alf’s mantras.

He retired at the age of 49 and he and Betty travelled abroad extensively and took countless coastal trips on their boat, the Encanto. A long-time member of the Nanaimo Yacht Club, Alf was always ready to lend a hand around the club amid tinkering on his boat and shooting the breeze with friends. These were days well spent. After Betty passed away, Alf looked forward to weekly family lunches at Brooks Landing Tim Hortons.

He received exceptional care from his caregiver, Marina Valerio, for his final seven years, including daily coffee breaks at the mall and picnics in the car. Alf is pre-deceased by his loving wife, Betty, brother, Bruce (Edith), and great-granddaughter, Ava. He is survived by his children, Robert (Nancy), Heather (Ron) Doskotch, Duncan (Cathy), and John (Vicki); eleven grandchildren, Eric (Lynn) Tait and Amanda (Dave) Lyon; Randy Tait; Tony, Tyson, and Tylan Chang; Laura and Kenny Doskotch; Chris, Jennifer and Hayley Tait; twelve great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Alf’s love and kindness was evident in each of his roles as husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, as he took an interest in the lives of all. He will be sadly missed by those who knew him.

The Tait family would like to thank the staff at Nanaimo Hospital and Dufferin Place for the compassionate and gentle care they provided Alf in his final days.

A service will be offered on May 13, 2017 at Nanaimo Yacht Club at 1:00p.m.

• Date : 2017-04-17
• Location : Nanaimo