Leslie David Copan (1928 – 2020)
Leslie David Copan, or Les Copan, to everyone that knew him, passed away on May 12th at the age of 93.
A passionate numismatist, Les was involved in the study and collection of currency from childhood onward. Recognized as Fellow of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (FRCNA) and as Fellow of the Canadian Numismatic Research Society (FCNRS), Les was active nationally and locally in the Vancouver Numismatic Society and North Shore Numismatic Society for decades He was also a regular dealer at VNS and NSNS coins shows when they were held at Oakridge.
An active volunteer, Les served on organizing committees and as general chairman of numerous Annual CNA Conventions from 1963 to 1977. Predeceased by Ivy Beaton, his loving partner of 30 years, and by his children Lee, Michael, and Stephen, he is survived by his daughter Gail, grandson Robert and granddaughter Willow, and great-grandchildren Anthony, Kaitlyn, and Adam.
Les lived most of his life near and connected to the ocean; he joined the navy at 15, serving on the Pacific coast and aboard an escort minesweeper in the Atlantic during World War II. He remarked that he had sailed halfway to Europe many times but never actually made it all the way there.
Les attended his last North Shore Numismatic Society club meeting in April, 2011, and was a resident at the George Derby Senior Centre in Burnaby when he passed away.
