Derry McPhail has died. Sudden heart attack.
He was on holiday in Vancouver and was taken ill just before he and Maria were getting on a ferry. He had some chest pain. He lost consciousness quickly. He could not be revived. I regret his passing. I regret not spending more time in his presence. I had the chance and did not take it. I liked being with him. Like him I did not think he would die. He was after all younger than me. He appeared to be healthy. He was a large powerfully built man who had never smoked or drank. He had no vices. He ate healthy food. His nickname was Bear and most people called him Bear. This was because he looked like a Bear. I have never liked nicknames and called him Derry which was his real name. I felt this was both more respectful and more affectionate. He was Emeritus Professor in Geology at the ANU. He was a PhD. I believe his Doctorate was in The Movement of Gold. He was the smartest man I knew. When I was with him I always felt I was in the presence of a very smart person. He did not always advertise this though. He was a modest man and respectful of others. I never discussed this with him but I felt in a way that he lived his life on two planes - one when he dealt with ordinary people like me - and another plane where he lived within himself and dealt with his own thoughts and maybe on this plane also dealt with other equally smart people. I did ask him once if he had got his job because he was such a good teacher. He answered no and said it in a way that gave me to understand that for some reason I should not push the subject further. I took this as an indication of his modesty. I asked him once if his own father was a large man like him and he replied that he was adopted. I then asked if he was interested in finding out if he had siblings etc and he again said no leaving me to understand that it would be better if I did not question further. I'm sorry I did not push him further because I believe he had indigenous Canadian genes in his makeup. He was a very nice man. He was nice to everyone. He was not superior in any way. He was well liked by everyone. I cannot believe that there was anyone who actively disliked him. He could make anyone feel at ease, And he made everyone feel at ease. Including me. I loved him for this. Once we both went to the opening to the Arboretum in Canberra. He only went because of me. The ANU had a small stand handing out brochures and pamphlets etc advertising the ANU's wares and seeking paying students. He could not resist going up to the young girl manning the stand and offering her encouragement. She was all on her own and not getting many takers. You could see by the look on her face that she appreciated his attention. He was this kind of person. Very encouraging. He was an Ice Hockey Fan and played all his life. He was a mainstay of the Ice Hockey competition in Canberra. He was often away from home either playing or organising Hockey Games. He played me a video of how Ice Hockey developed. He watched it with me with intense interest even though he must have seen it many times before. I only knew him because he was the father of my sons spouse. He was Canadian who came to Australia for work - first at Monash and then at ANU. He worked at Princeton prior to Monash. This indicates the intellectual circles he moved in. I doubt I would have come into contact with him if it was not for my son. Still I was glad that I did come into contact with him. I liked the time I spent with him and would have liked to have spent more time with him. Even if he was a different class to me. He more or less treated me as an equal. At least I think he did.
4 Comments
Rob Thomson
26/7/2017 11:12:07
Just wanted to say that I appreciated what you have written in your blog about Bear. It's been a good 30 years since I last saw or spoke to him, since we were students together at UBC. We were not close, but we enjoyed each other's company around the geology department, and on the ice when we played hockey together for the geology team. I once asked Bear why he had the number 307 on his jersey. He told me that was his weight ( for real). Inspite of his size he was amazingly quick and agile. He and I were defence partners on the team, which was a bit odd considering I was several inches shorter and literally half his weight. We once (accidentally) collided at centre ice. We were both going full speed, but neither of us were looking where we were going. Needless to say I bore the brunt of that encounter and wound up winded, flat on my back with stars and black spots swirling in my vision. Bear was right there to help me up with a genuine concern for my well being (he was really worried that he had damaged me!!).
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Clark Isachsen
28/9/2020 08:00:07
I remember that night in in the basement. Very sorry to hear of Bear's passing. He was such a gentleman and a gentle man.
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Bruce Mickelson
17/11/2019 10:14:37
I heard of Darry’s passing only recently and it hit me like a ton of bricks. He was my best friend in high school - we grew up (I’m still here) along beautiful Okanagan Lake in Vernon (Okanagan Valley) British Columbia Canada. I met him at 17 riding the school bus - we both were in the high school band - he played trumpet and I (not nearly so polished) attempted saxophone. We camped, water skied - he truly was my best friend. I describe him as loyal, humble, amazingly brilliant and so considerate of others. He was very protective of me and on one of those occasions I consumed too much alcohol in a local establishment and he picked me up (he was easily 6’2 - an he would say “you’re my buddy and you’re coming with me) he easily lifted me up on his shoulders - little did he know that my head would have difficulty clearing the brick archway - carrying me with a goose egg bump on my head- out to my boat where he took me home. We spent countless weekends on the lake - often with great planning. Okanagan Lake is some 90 miles long - so we’d take my boat to some of the most secluded areas of the lake to find new areas to camp and organize beach golf and parties. Listened to Peter Gabrielle (Mulberry Hill), Wings (Band On the Run) Darry had a special love for Maynard Ferguson, Dizzy Gillespie, Queen and Cat Stevens.
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20/6/2021 14:33:38
OMG - how am I only learning of Derry's passing now from a random post, some 4 years later? The last time I spoke with was on the phone and I was in Sydney trying to figure out how to drive to Canberra...never did make the trip...because something else came up...too bad...
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