We’re very much saddened to share the news of the sudden passing, on Thursday August 24th, of EPSVA member Dick Bevan. At the time of completing The Call Box, no obituary was located marking Dick’s passing. We have been advised that there will be a private family gathering at a later date.
Dick’s son is retired EPS member Jeff Bevan and his brother-in-law is EPSVA member Chuck McCann.
Dick Bevan joined the Edmonton Police Department on April 10th, 1961 and retired in 1995. Although EPS is no longer able to access historical records of members’ service, I located this information from a Facebook entry on-line: “Started as Beat Constable, Patrol Car, Traffic Motorcycle Enforcement, Accident Investigations, Detective Special Investigations, Auto Theft, Robbery, Polygraph, Hostage Negotiator, S/Sgt Training Sec., Staff Sgt. Training Unit, Senior Officers S/Sgt Tactical Unit that included Dog Unit, Under Cover Teams, Inspector Special Investigation Unit-Wire taps etc. Inspector i/c Tactical Unit, Duty Officer 24 hr. shifts, Operations Duty Officer, Divisional Inspector on retirement.”
John
Underhill passed away peacefully on August 6, 2023, at the age of 88, with the love of his life, Linda Hardy, at his side who, along with his family, will continue to honour his legacy by living their lives to the fullest. John was very proud of his family: stepchildren and spouses, David and Erin Hardy, and Shauna Hardy and Glenn Mishaw and; his six grandchildren, Sierra, Madeline, Tristyn, and William Hardy, and Calum and Jaxon Mishaw.
Born in 1935, in what is now the London Borough of Harrow, John grew up on the outskirts of London, England. Air raids, shelters and limited food marked John’s young life as WWII broke out in 1939, when he was four. His mother sent him and his younger brother to live in a rural area with lower risks of raids, as they lived only three miles away from the RAF Bentley Priory, the headquarters of the Royal Airforce Fighter and Bomber Groups, and German aircraft were constantly trying to bomb it, taking out many houses in his neighbourhood. At 16, John signed up for cadet force basic training with the London Metropolitan Police Service, and at 18, was automatically called up for two years of mandatory military duty, and because of his affiliation, he went into the military police. He joined the British Parachute Regiment where he served the remaining 15 months of his duty, which was very difficult training and he was one of the 15 out of 200 applicants that received his parachute wings and red beret. John later joined the Metropolitan Police Service and was posted to a station near Buckingham Palace.
John emigrated to Canada in 1957 and was accepted into the Edmonton Police Service (badge #149), starting as a Constable and later promoted to Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, and then temporary acting Inspector in charge of specific administrative areas. He started a revolver and pistol team, and enjoyed competing successfully against Canadian and US teams in the police games. John retired after 34 and a half years in 1990.
John was very active in sports. He loved to golf at The Royal Mayfair in Edmonton and Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale and had a 3 handicap with 8 holes-in-one. He was a true gentleman, had a great sense of humor and zest for life, loved to eat and savored every bite.
John met Linda in 1983, and they have enjoyed over 40 years together, golfing, wintering in Scottsdale and traveling to various places including Ireland, Scotland, Australia, New
Zealand, Alaska, and the US. John was predeceased by his first wife Lilian, father Ernest, mother Violet, and brother Alan.
John passed peacefully after a battle with Alzheimer’s. John’s family wishes to sincerely thank his caregivers Mireille Ares and Susan Ryan, and all of the staff at Touchmark at Wedgewood and Glenora Park by Revera, who helped make his life comfortable in his final year. At John’s direction, no funeral service will follow his cremation. He will be deeply missed by his family and many friends.
Arrangements entrusted to Connelly-McKinley Downtown Funeral Home.