Trevor James Harrop
(April 19, 1927 ~ April 9, 2022)
Trevor J Harrop was born in Winnipeg, April 19th 1927, to Jean and James Harrop. Trevor was a middle child between older brother John (Jack) and his younger sister Pat. He moved to Motherwell, Scotland at a young age and soon took a shining to competitive swimming. While in the School of Dentistry at the University of Glasgow, he got the opportunity to swim at the London Olympics in 1948. Upon graduation, Trevor and Sheila, his future wife, boarded a freighter to embark on their new life in Canada. Trevor became the first resident dentist in the small town of New Denver, BC. They fell in love with the village and quickly made lifelong friends including the Casley’s, DeRosa’s, and especially the Dahlie’s. Trevor and Sheila would settle down in Vancouver and raise their family. Survived by his 4 children, Jim (Jen), Catherine (Bill Griffiths), Ian (Judy), and David (Kaoru), 11 Grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren. Predeceased by his wife Sheila (2021), and his eldest granddaughter Michelle Griffiths (2022).
As a member of the Faculty of Dentistry at UBC from 1965 to 1990, he taught many aspiring dental students. His sabbaticals included time on the Good Ship Hope in Tunisia (1970), a year in Florida (1975), and a year in Malaysia (1980). Upon his retirement in 1990, Trevor and Sheila moved back to the cabin in New Denver where they enjoyed over 25 years with close friends, trips abroad and summer visits from family. Family visits always included swims at Harrop’s beach, fishing up Carpenter Creek, huckleberry picking and regular hikes in the fall for Matsutake mushrooms.
Trevor loved to fish. In the 50’s/60’s in Campbell River, he would go steel heading and Salmon fishing with his friend Rod Haig-Brown. His love of fly fishing brought him to the Harry Hawthorne society at UBC and ultimately a shareholder at the Pennask Lake Fishing and Game Club. His last visit was in 2019 with Sheila, sons David and Ian and grandson Duncan. Lots of trout in his lifetime!
His joys in life included his many visits by his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Always up for a chat and a story, Trev loved to socialize with anyone who would lend an ear. The last 5 years were spent on Salt Spring Island, many new friends and a supportive community made their final years yet another adventure. Trevor passed peacefully with family by his side on April 9th, 10 days before his 95th Birthday.