David Charles Chescoe

DAVID CHARLES CHESCOE, a retired financial planner and insurance executive, died peacefully with his loving family at his side at the Ottawa Civic Hospital August 2, 2024 after a brief illness. He was 83 years old.

David was born July 23, 1941 in London, England to Frederick and Mary Elizabeth (nee Lester). He was the second of three sons. He often told stories of living in the Holloway community in North London through the war as a boy, specifically recalling family time in the bomb shelter which always came with treats as he was “too young to realize the danger of what was going on in the skies above London.”

Forever the raconteur of tales seasoned with his dry wit, he had a group of friends who he remained close with for life. A frequent traveller, he loved to go back to London to spend time with his lifelong mates and recall the adventures of their younger days of when he was a competitive wrestler. His most famous story was how they were all trapped and could not get out of a burning van until his mate “Subterranean” kicked in a window and pulled him out. Only David could make that story comical.

As a boy, he went to Yerbury Primary School until it was destroyed by a bomb during the war. He resumed his education at Holloway Grammar School. After graduating from North Western Polytechnic in London, he began his career as an insurance salesman with the Prudential Assurance Company of England. He moved to Canada in 1966 and continued his career with Prudential, becoming a Branch Manager where he looked after the recruitment, training and development of new sales agents.

After nearly 24 years there, he moved on to BMO Nesbitt Burns as an Insurance Advisor. He joined Canaccord Genuity Inc. in 2002 as an insurance and estate planning advisor. He left Canaccord in 2009 and formed his own company, David Chescoe Insurance Services.

His charm and wit were magnetic, and he loved to talk politics and discuss the latest columns in the National Post. He was best known at family gatherings and social settings for his impeccable Winston Churchill impersonation. He also loved referencing lines and skits from Monty Python’s Flying Circus and The Goon Show.

He was a gifted artist and loved to spend his time painting or working in his prolific garden.

Most of all, though, he will be remembered as a kind and loving father, and as the best Grandad imaginable to his grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his younger brother Robert, and his first wife, Josephine with whom he had two children. At his request, his ashes will be buried with Josephine’s ashes.

David is survived by his older brother John (Tess), his wife Debra Ann (Morrell), his daughter, Caroline (Jeff Morris), his son, Jonathan (Kindree), and his grandchildren Robert, Steven and Adam Kemp; and Devon and Kienna Chescoe.

Friends are invited to attend a visitation at St. John’s Anglican Church, 67 Fowler St., Richmond on Saturday, August 10th from 11 am until time of memorial service at 12 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society. 

LIVESTREAM: Please note, due to a lack of cellular reception in St. John's Anglican Church, our team is recording the service, and it will be viewable through the below link the evening of the service. Thank you for your understanding.