Well-known Langley businessman and volunteer John Dance died Tuesday, after a fall last week. He was 77.
Mr. Dance operated insurance agencies in Langley City and Aldergrove for many years, but was probably best known for his many years of service with three of Langley’s Rotary Clubs. Most recently, he was a member of the Langley Sunrise Club. He also was a former president of the Langley Chamber of Commerce, and was involved with the first Langley City downtown business association.
As a community volunteer, he was involved in a large number of community events and fundraisers. He was president of the Langley Days Society and a founding member of Langley’s Citizens on Patrol.
He worked in his early years as a milkman, but then went into the insurance business, first in life insurance and then expanding to offer general and auto insurance.
“It was a family office with his wife Gail, myself and at one point Dad had Gail’s first husband Bill working with us,” said his daughter Tracy Dance-Olson. “At home you could often find Dad doing Autoplan at the kitchen table for customers that had forgot to renew. Sometimes he would be so busy when I came to visit, I would be helping out renewing auto insurance at the kitchen table.”
In the 1980s, one of Mr. Dance’s employees had a new baby and had trouble finding daycare, “so Dad being Dad said to Susan “just bring the kid to the office then” and she did. Lindsay became well-known to the customers and was even featured in some of our advertising,” recalled Dance-Olson.
David Truman, assistant governor of Rotary District 5050, said Mr. Dance was the only person who had belonged to three Langley Rotary clubs. His service was recognized by Rotary by awarding him three Paul Harris Fellowships.
He was a leading organizer of Rotary Tip ‘n Taste, and had over 35 years of perfect attendance at Rottary meetings.
He is survived by his wife Gail, four children, Melanie, Tracy, Brent and Michele, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, with a fourth due any day. He also has three step-children, Serena, Venetia and Rick, and three step-grandchildren.
A celebration of life is being planned for Feb. 22. It will be held at 2 p.m. at the Langley Masonic Hall, 20701 Fraser Highway. The event is being organized by Langley Sunrise Rotary Club.