Line of Duty Death Ceremony for David William Mason
Notice 23-132
Date: November 3, 2023
Subject: ** UPDATE ** Line of Duty Death Ceremony for David William Mason
To: All Members
Line of Duty Death Ceremony
David William Mason
March 3rd, 1968 – November 1st, 2023
VISITATION, CEREMONY, RECEPTION
Tuesday November 7th, 2023
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
BAYVIEW GLEN ALLIANCE CHURCH
300 Steeles Avenue East, North York
The ceremony will follow the Visitation at Noon.
Reception following Ceremony.
Family Request
The family is looking for a photo of Dave in uniform. If anyone has one, can you please forward it to peritore@torontofirefighters.org
Correction
Dave Started with Toronto Fire Services on September 11th, 2000, not as previously reported.
Dress
TFS personnel attending the funeral are to wear full dress uniform, (white shirt and gloves), and cap.
Shrouded Cap badges.
Form Up and Rolling Salute
We will be forming up and honouring Dave with a rolling salute. Members will be asked to form up and come to attention when the command is given.
The rolling salute begins at the colours (Canadian Flag salute comes up) and is completed, at the rear step of the caisson, (salute comes down), then bowing your head as the family passes. Continue to stand until you’re dismissed.
Our goal is to make it look like a wave.
The following was copied from the funeral home website and can be found here.
Following the diagnosis of glioblastoma, David fought determinedly to prolong his time and, true to his nature, inspired us all with his efforts to be present and positive. More than anything, Dave valued his whole family and a very wide circle of loyal friends including his trusted firefighter colleagues.
David is the incredibly proud and cherished father of Stefanie and Shawn and the best friend and loving husband of his devoted soulmate, Susanne. The youngest child of Fred (d.2006) and Lois (d.2005) Mason, he was raised in North York with his siblings Keith (Sally), Ruth Montgomery (Brad), Beth Frederick (Allan), Kevin and Neil (d. 2000) (Lynda) who all loved him. Oh! So much! He will be hugely missed by his nephews and nieces and Susanne’s children Keegan (Bree) and Mack and his loved and adoring grandkids Ayla and Griffen. He was the respected and admired son-in-law of Karen and Stu Jarvis. Dave regarded his four lifelong best friends Dave Baird, Rob Mezzapelli, Pete Rehak and Chris Manos as brothers.
Our cottage on Manitoulin Island was his favourite place to be and his spirit of fun and resourcefulness will forever permeate that landscape. “Dave’s Trail” will be a legacy enjoyed for years to come.
Dave was an avid fisherman, a keen fan of Toronto’s sports teams, a talented athlete/coach and an outdoor enthusiast. His creative, artistic, problem-solving mind resulted in the construction of many memorable projects. He was a dedicated, hard-working, and well-respected firefighter at R225 with the Toronto Fire Services since September 2000.
A good guy who could deliver a good laugh, a good meal, and a good prank, Dave taught us to ‘not sweat the small stuff’, to be kind to others and appreciate differences, and to take responsibility for one’s own happiness. He measured success by the number of satisfying memories he collected. By any standard, Dave was indeed a very successful man!
Go fishing, Dave! We’ll take care of things here until we meet again.
We will never forget someone who gave us so much to remember.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kanejerrett-thornhill.ca for the Mason family.
Members who are struggling with the news are encouraged to reach out to any of the following support services:
TFS Peer Support – (416) 338-9327
Chris Rodrigues – (416) 338-9557
North Chaplain Ted Leck – (647) 461-4047
East Chaplain Tahseen Gill – (647) 568-6050
South Chaplain Daniel Chandran – (647) 262-9897
West Chaplain Todd Riley – (416) 318-9167
City of Toronto EAP Telus Health 1-833-382-5610
In Solidarity,
Gerlando Peritore
Chair, Ceremonial & Bereavement Committee
Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association
I.A.F.F. Local 3888
647-525-5775