Peter Brendan Murtagh

February 7, 1936 – November 5, 2022

Peter Murtagh is no longer here to take in a rugby game or travel the globe, but his memory will not be forgotten. He died peacefully at his Minoru Residence home in Richmond, British Columbia on [date of death], after living courageously with prostate cancer for the past five years. His resilience, determination and strong will to live inspired many, most especially his two children. Cancer caused Peter to develop paraplegia, but he never let his condition define him nor change his positive attitude.

Peter was born in Dublin, Ireland and grew up in the village of Ballough. He was the eldest of seven children, and notably the quietest of the bunch. Peter was bred into the family business, having grown up next door to Murtagh’s Pub. He started serving in the pub on weekends when he was ten. By the time he was 21, Peter was ready to explore bigger job opportunities and fully embrace his sense of adventure. He and his brother Sean emigrated to Toronto, Canada, before he eventually settled in beautiful British Columbia.

Peter found his footing in Richmond, BC, where he lived close to the airport. He loved aviation and the atmosphere of working at the airport. His career brought him to work for a variety of airlines such as CP Air, Ward Air, British Airways, and Air Canada. He used his work benefits to indulge his wanderlust and travelled all over the map, especially enjoying Honolulu. One of his favourite memories was of looking out into the ocean and sipping a Mai Tai at Dukes Bar on Waikiki Beach.

Peter was as a sun worshipper and blessed with an olive complexion. He was even mistaken for a local in places as far-flung as Argentina, Indonesia, and Brazil. Peter loved visiting his children abroad in Australia and New Zealand. His favourite last trip before being diagnosed was to Bali in 2016. Although he couldn’t swim, Peter found the pool at the private villa too tempting to avoid. He took the plunge, and his first swimming pool experience quickly became a memorable one with his son, Mark.

Peter was an avid sports fan and a lifelong Rugby supporter. When he moved to Vancouver, he played Rugby for the Rowing Club Rugby Section, based in the magnificent Stanley Park. His heart forever belonged to the Leinster and Irish Rugby teams and rarely missed a game no matter what time zone he was in. He always found a way to watch the match and cheer for his team. Peter was a fair and admired Rugby referee and called up for games throughout British Columbia, California and England.

He had a love and appreciation for all genres of music, from Techno to 70s and 80s rock. He enjoyed Irish traditional folk, easy listening and classical. Overall, Peter had a youthful presence and attitude. He was known for his outrageously young looks, with most of his co-workers thinking he was a decade younger than his age. His energy and zest for life will be greatly missed.

Peter is survived by his wife, Maire Murtagh. He leaves behind two children, Jennifer Murtagh and Mark Murtagh, and two grandchildren, Kaylee and Ronan Schaeffers.

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