My Friend DJ

My good friend Dennis died. I met Dennis in 1976 at a shared accommodation house in Silver Springs in Calgary when I was attending the U of C. He and I were like brothers for a lot of years. I could not have picked a better friend. He helped shape much of what I am today.

I was asked to write the announcement for the paper. It follows.

Dennis Nicholson Johnstone died on March 19, 2011 at the age 60. Born in Calgary on August 27, 1950, “DJ” never had the desire to live anywhere else. As a young man, he was crazy about the mountains - the hiking trails gave him new challenges to conquer and the beauty of his surroundings gave him a sense of peace.

When he was a member of the Calgary Ski Club, DJ meticulously planned each hike and camping trip he led. This same attention to detail, a dedicated work ethic, a strong sense of competitiveness and an agile, analytic mind made him one of the top medical students at the University of Calgary and an award-winning pharmaceutical rep.

To DJ, hospitals were places of hope, and for many years, you could see his smiling face as a volunteer in one of the gift shops at the Peter Lougheed Centre.

DJ was a fiercely loyal, honest, compassionate, charming and generous friend. He made an indelible mark on the lives of those who knew him with his sage guidance, his off-the-wall imagination and sense of humour.

An avid movie buff, he frequently escaped to dinner and the movies with his friends. He loved his friends and his “kids.”

Happy trails DJ. We love you too.