Guy MacPherson

Obituary

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Guy MacPherson on January 31, 2024, peacefully surrounded by family.

Guy was born in Victoria BC and raised in Oak Bay. There he attended Jiminy Cricket School, Willows Elementary School, Oak Bay Secondary School and the University of Victoria where he earned a degree in English and Philosophy. Guy loved basketball, jazz, comedy and above all else, good grammar. To honour Guy please make sure you use the word "literally" and the phrase "it begs the question" in proper context. He will be taking notes.

Guy's love of jazz started early and came from his father, Canadian jazz legend Fraser MacPherson. During COVID he started to write a book on Fraser, spending countless hours researching and interviewing friends and colleagues. This labour of love was recently completed and is due to be released in April this year.

Guy was also a long-time Georgia Straight comedy writer, had his own co-op radio show and podcast 'What's So Funny?", taught English as a Second Language and coached Louis's elementary and high school basketball teams. His quick wit and dry sense of humour was present in everything he did. He made us all laugh and always kept us on our toes.

Guy took up table tennis later in life. He joined the North Shore Table Tennis Club and hosted an annual table tennis tournament for his friends. To qualify for that tournament you had to be good enough to be competitive but not so good that you would make him look bad.

Guy's unwavering love of his family was ever-present and he made lifelong friends wherever he went. This was evidenced by the outpouring of support while in hospital and the tributes received after his passing.

He will be forever remembered as "Gus MacFuss", "Fraser's son", "Dad" or just "Guy".

Guy is predeceased by his parents Helene de la Hitte MacPherson (1987) and Fraser MacPherson (1993), grandparents Rodolphe and Veronique de la Hitte, aunts Jane MacPherson, Betty Falt and Uncle George Falt.

Guy is survived by his wife and best friend for the last 23 years Liz Jones and their son Louis MacPherson. He is also survived by sisters Andrea de la Hitte (Daren) and Angela MacPherson, sister-in-law Sue Jones (Pal), brother-in-law Ian Jones (Jenn), parents-in-law Bob and Johanne Jones and cousins Marilyn Falt (Souhail), Janice Barton (Shawn) and Megan Barton as well as nieces and nephews, Simon, Kaite, Julian, Meghan, Hannah, Easton and Connor.

Thank you to Dr. Renouf, Dr. Pavlovich, Nurse Practitioners Orla Adams and Carolyn Kei from the BC Cancer Agency, all of the nurses and doctors at VGH, especially those in Palliative Care and most of all a huge thank you to Dr. Duncan Miller, our family doctor who provided so much support throughout Guy's illness. 

Thank you to all of our friends and family for your love and support.

 A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Fraser MacPherson Jazz Fund in Guy's memory.
https://frasermacphersonjazzfund.ca 
(Please note the direct deposit does not work)

Memory wall

February 23, 2024

I met Guy in 2004 when he started What's So Funny? on Co-op Radio. I was the Program Director at the time and I remember being so excited to see Liz pregnant that I blurted out my own early pregnancy to them both.

Guy's show was on Sunday nights so I wasn't at the station when he was, but he would make it a point to come down at other times to go for tea/coffee. Our conversations would generally start with sharing our current TV watching addictions and then meander into the political and finally to the personal, as our kids were the same age. It was always an interesting conversation because he wasn't afraid to push my predictable lefty assumptions. Our meet-ups would usually end with him assigning me some kind of TV watching homework. I never followed his penchant towards old-timey movies but I do credit him for my binge-watch of Hiking with Kevin (Nealon) on YouTube. (Second only to Mac'n'Jac in the Maritimes!)

Guy knew how to nurture a friendship. He would reach out for walks during COVID and more coffee/tea visits every few months after I had left Co-op Radio. I remember him always promptly waiting at the café, with head down in some book or another.

I so desperately wanted to include the proper use of "begs the question" in this post but I honestly could not figure out how to use it correctly - sorry Guy, your job here is still not done! You are so missed, my friend, but know that you left a legacy of creativity, connections, and somewhat better grammar.

Leela Chinniah

February 23, 2024

Guy was so obviously incredible, in so many ways, to so many people, Liz. Hannah and I are so deeply sorry for yours and Louis' profound loss and grief. We are thinking about you and sending so much love, prayers, strength during these most difficult days xo

Kim Schrader

February 21, 2024

A huge loss. Guy was such a no nonsense, witty, smart and funny man. Loved chatting basketball and other game talk with him. Loved his enthusiasm. His way with language. His big heart. I miss him. I find myself picking up my phone to text him a quick note, to get his opinion on something, get his unique angle. Condolences to Liz and Louis as well as the rest of his family and friends. A terrible loss.

Peter Pare

February 14, 2024

An irreplaceable part of the comedy community. One of the best comedy interviewers and someone who brought joy often by not laughing. A great man that I'll really miss.

Ian Boothby

February 9, 2024

Guy’s quick wit and smarts were a treat—and his memory of basketball trivia always impressed. Condolences from Max and me.

Debby Neal

February 8, 2024

I am so sorry. My heart. Guy was a great human who loved his family more than anything. Hearing from him
was always a big treat. A mensch to his core. May his memory be a blessing.♥️🎈💔

Sarah Silverman

February 8, 2024

I first met Guy in the late 1980s when I was working at Punchlines comedy club in Vancouver. Guy was in the audience and, when we were introduced to one another after the show, I learned very quickly that he was one of those rare people with whom you can become acquaintances and friends in one fluid motion.

The friendship hit the ground running and we soon bonded over our mutual love of comedy, writing, basketball, lively political debate and a certain brand of melodic pop-punk music.

I will remember and cherish him for his kindness, his Saharan-dry wit and his stoic bravery in the face of his most recent challenges.

And though I will miss him greatly, I am forever thankful that I was afforded the privilege of being able to call him one of my dearest friends.

Gerry Swallow

February 8, 2024

So sad to hear the news! Our Dads were literally jazz colleagues together. Later I had the pleasure of creating family portrait art for him and Liz and Luis. Prayers and condolences to all.

Amie Stafford

February 7, 2024

I met Guy when we were kids . We spent a lot of weekends together mostly at his place as he had to be close to look after his mom who had MS. Guy introduced me to the world of Jazz and the arts which for me was something I never experienced growing up in a sports family. I introduced Guy to sports soccer Basketball at Willows school.Although Guy liked playing sports he read and studied the players especially Basketball the stats and the set plays and before I knew it Guy knew more about sports than I did! I got to be a host on his late night UVic DJ shows he did the 1 am -5 am show where I think 3 -5 people were listening! That was fun for me to experience that with him. He obviously took that to the next level with his pod casts ! Guy Thanks for being a great friend growing up! Until we meet again! PS have a shot of Scotch with your mom for me! Les

Les Bryan

February 7, 2024

A life well lived...a life well loved. Thank you, Guy,for the chats, the songs, the jokes, the love. I can picture you and Norm Macdonsld are having a good old chuckle in the herafter... that would be your style. Love P.

Pal Mann

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