April 17, 1944 — June 1, 2026

We will remember Donald Leslie Hood, who passed away on June 1, 2026, at the age of 82.

Born in Mission, British Columbia, and raised in the Fraser Valley, Don had a youth of adventure and loyalty to family. He travelled before settling into a career of teaching, spending much of his life in Kamloops, where he taught English and left a lasting impression on generations of students. Many former students will remember him from the classroom. Perhaps he was the teacher who introduced you to S. E. Hinton’s The Outsiders and sparked a lifelong love of reading. He might also have introduced you to Beatnik poetry, likely a little off course for high schoolers, but the sort of thing he enjoyed teaching. You might remember the collection of pet rocks that somehow found a home in a corner of his classroom, or his creative, slightly unexpected approach to teaching. Or perhaps you ran into him years later at the local supermarket where he would stop to say hello, share a quick story, and ask how life was treating you.

Don had a gift for making people feel seen, often with a bit of humour tucked in. He loved poetry too, not just teaching it. He wrote poems for people and about people, and he wrote well, in his own way and his own time. Teaching was only one chapter of a life lived with curiosity and movement. Don enjoyed the outdoors, time spent on trails and in open places that gave him room to think. He didn’t shy away from the brighter lights either.

Las Vegas and Reno were never off the table, and when winter took hold, he often headed south in search of sun. He spent over 3 decades with Maxine and, later in life, they moved north for a quieter life and to be closer to family. Later, Don met Barb, and the two of them spent many years together, embracing aging, new friendships, and winters in Mexico, away from the cold.

Many knew him as Mr. Hood. To us, he was Dad, though he always signed his cards and letters as Pops. Don was kind, patient, and quietly mischievous in the best way. He celebrated our successes, encouraged us through challenges, and always made time for the people he loved. His kindness was steady, unshowy, and real. He is survived by his daughters, grandchildren, his brother, and a circle of family, friends, former students, and all those whose lives he touched.

• Date : 2026-06-01
• Location : Kamloops