The Ontario Volleyball Association (OVA) is saddened to hear of the passing of Dave Dobson.
Dave was a multi-region pillar of volleyball in Ontario, who’s impact on the development of young students and athletes over the past half century is immeasurable. Selfless, compassionate and all-around good person, this news is felt across the province.
Born into a dairy family from Cobden, a small community in the Ottawa Valley, in 1953, Dave attended Calton University and the University of Toronto before settling in the Durham region.
Over the next 28 years, Dave was highly active in the classroom and courtside, largely at Durham College (DC). Beginning in the late 1970’s he was instrumental in the development of their volleyball programs. From 1977, he would lead the men’s volleyball team for over a decade, winning several OCAA medals including Ontario Gold in 1987. Away from the competitive game, Dave was instrumental in organizing, developing and growing the DC Summer Volleyball Program for Children. His career with the Lords earned him a 3M Award for Coaching Excellence in Canada and a place in the Durham College Hall of Fame in 2003.
"The Durham College community is heartbroken by the passing of Dave," said Scott Dennis, Director of Athletics and Recreation. "Dave had an impact on so many Durham College student-athletes over the years, and his dedication to the program was unmatched. Even though he lived over three hours away, Dave would attend as many events as he could to cheer on the Lords. We will miss his smiling face around the gym and his contributions to the program will never be forgotten."
Following his “retirement” Dave returned to the Ottawa Valley and set about, in the way he always did, lending himself to the local community. At his alma mater Opeongo High School, he volunteered, coached, was a trustee on the local school board, and even drove a school bus.
At the club level, he helped fill the void of competitive volleyball in the Ottawa Valley as a founding member and President of the Ottawa Valley Vikings Volleyball Club. Beginning with just one team, the club has grown to over a dozen teams (boys and girls) and while he had stepped away from the day to day, Dave was always a constant figure around the gym and cheering from the stands. His exemplary conduct led to the creation of the Dave Dobson Award, presented to the Vikings athlete who best replicates his qualities of dedication to the sport and community involvement.
Dave was a champion for beach volleyball in the region, pushing for building of courts, growing leagues and founding the Spikes on the Beach programs in Douglas and Pembroke to bring training local so young athletes wouldn’t have to travel the hour to Ottawa to develop their skills. Every year, hundreds of locals from the Ottawa Valley get to play beach close to home from Dave's efforts.
“He’s a pillar of the volleyball community here in the valley,” said Tim Gilchrist, President of the Ottawa Valley Vikings Volleyball Club. “He was very passionate about it. His dream was to make the valley a hotspot for volleyball."
Dave was a valued member of the OVA community, heavily involved in developing our sport, and a great ambassador of the game. A previous recipient of the Recognition Award in 1990, Doug Robbie Volunteer of the Year Award in 1993, Achievement Award in 1994 and Diane Woods Special Achievement Award in 2016.
On behalf of everyone at the OVA, we extend our heartfelt condolences on the passing of Dave Dobson.
According to Kerish Maharaj – Manager of Marketing and Community Development, “Dave was one of the kindest and most supportive individuals in the OVA volleyball community, and his presence will be deeply missed. I will always cherish our early morning chats at Ontario Championships and his unwavering enthusiasm for growing the sport along with his reverence for its history in the province. His legacy lives on in the hands of those who continue to build upon the foundation he helped create. His impact on volleyball in Ontario is immeasurable, and his absence will be profoundly felt.”
For all family, friends, students, athletes and all others who were touched by the life of Dave Dobson, OVA joins you in mourning his loss.
An obituary with details of his celebration of life can be on Fraser-Morris and Heubner Funeral Home website.
More tributes to Dave Dobson
Dave Dobson - 1953-2025