August 20, 1935 – November 24, 2021

Dan Overmyer, past president of Nature Vancouver and editor of Discovery, passed away on Wednesday, November 24 after a brief battle with cancer. He spent his final days peacefully surrounded by loving family and friends, listening to music, and sharing stories and meals in his cozy Vancouver apartment.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Dan grew up in China and the Philippines, spending the majority of his career as a pioneering scholar of Chinese popular religions and philosophy in Vancouver, BC, where he lived with his wife, Estella (d. 2018). He published widely and taught for 27 years at UBC and in universities around the world. He is survived by his two children, sister, and five grandchildren.

His autobiography and professional record are here: https://asia.ubc.ca/profile/daniel-overmyer/; he expressed his philosophy and love of life and nature in this essay: http://www.anpere.net/2007/7.pdf  

Dan was an ardent protector of Mother Earth. Donations in his honour can be made to Nature Vancouver https://naturevancouver.ca/product/donations/. A celebration of Dan’s life and a memorial service will be held in Vancouver in the coming months.