David Cruickshank

Friends and Clients of David,

As David’s colleagues we share this obituary with you:

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the death of David Alexander Cruickshank who died on June 25th in San Diego with family by his side. David is survived by his wife, Maria Iriarte, his first wife, Joyce Resin, his daughters Amanda Pendleton (Greg) and Jessi Cruickshank (Evan Gatica) and his much loved grandchildren, Louis, Isla, Dray, Rio and Romi, as well as his siblings Katherine Cruickshank (Peter Rowland), Janice Cruickshank (Paul Mundy) and Susan Hegwood (Robert).

David was born in Brantford Ontario to Ross and Moneta (nee Stinson) and grew up in Blenheim and Cambridge Ontario. He was an excellent scholar and earned a BA and an LLB from the University of Western Ontario where he played varsity volleyball and badminton and joined the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He continued his education at Harvard University, obtaining a master’s degree in law. David made an immeasurable contribution to the legal profession. He was a trusted training advisor to some of the world’s top law firms. His partnership at Edge International provided challenging and fulfilling engagements with law firms in the UK, US Canada and Brazil. He previously practiced law at Gowlings in Toronto and Paul Weiss in New York. His work as Director of the Berger Royal Commission on Family Law in Vancouver changed many aspects of family law in Canada. He was also a founding faculty member of the University of Calgary Law School and taught at the law schools of British Columbia, University of Bristol and Pepperdine University.

For all his career success, David’s proudest achievement was his role as Father to his two daughters, Amanda and Jessi. With his first wife, Joyce, David showed his girls a world bigger than their own with trips to Russia, Australia and Europe. Together they blazed black diamond ski runs, survived soggy soccer games, made road trips to music festivals and tore up the dance floor to 90’s techno. David later delighted in being Grandpa to Louis, Isla, Dray, Rio and Romi, proudly cheering at their baseball games, trick or treating in full costume, and baking creative cakes for every birthday party.

With his daughters grown, David found joy in his next chapter with his wife of eight years, Maria. They built an active and adventurous life together in San Diego, full of international travel, long distance bike rides and trips to the cabin they built on Camano Island in Washington. Always an athlete, David played hockey into his 60’s and became a triathlete later in life. He was a life long learner who appreciated art, culture and a glass of good wine.

A celebration of Life will be held Saturday, July 20 at 10:30 am at the Westminster Presbyterian Church 3598 Talbot St. San Diego CA. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in David’s name to Westminster Presbyterian www.westminstersd.org/donate/ , the Shriver Center on Poverty Law or the Mississippi Center for Justice.