Delbert Michael Laverdure
January 22, 1958 - April 9, 2008

Del Laverdure, Past President of the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation, passed away April 9, 2008 after a battle with cancer. Del was 50 but had already achieved much in this world and had an impact on his community that far exceeded what one would expect from such a young man.

Del first became a Board member in 1999 and remained an active member until August 2007. Shortly after becoming a Board member, Del was elected President of the Foundation and served as President for six of his seven years. He was a strong and powerful voice behind the many events, campaigns and fund raising successes of our Foundation. Del ran an “efficient meeting” and brooked little, if any, straying off of the topic in discussion. However once the topic was completed then an “open season” on the item could begin.

Del was a strong believer in his city and although we were fortunate to have him as our “leader” for six years we always knew he was involved in many other groups, programs and activities in the city and he gave them his same 100% attention and support he gave to the Foundation.

When something needed to be done, Del’s direction as President was very clear and that was to do it! He led us through the completion and installation of the CatScan, the planning and initial years of the MRI campaign, the planning stages of the Maternal Child Centre of Excellence and was there to cut the ribbon as we completed our $2,000,000 campaign and opened the NICU in June of 2007.

Del had a wonderful ability to make things happen and very often most people had no idea that he was the one pulling and prodding everyone involved to get the job done. He liked to be in the background at events and occasions although we were all subject to the “real” Del when we had a meeting and he would get going on an item or idea. After much blustering (and a lot of laughter) he would then turn our attention to the topic and we would complete the task.