David Michael Robert Taplin was born in Chesterfield, England on July 19, 1939, and died on May 31, 2022, in Lynn Valley, BC, Canada. Educated at Christ’s Hospital School in Sussex, England (1950-57), he became a materials engineer with a DPhil (Oxford), DSc (Aston), MA (Dublin) and was a university professor including in Australia, India, Canada, California, Ireland & Singapore. He published some 200 books and research papers in the field of fracture mechanics, structural integrity, metallurgy, and industrial ecology. He was President Emeritus of the International Congress on Fracture (2010 Japan), Fellow Emeritus of Trinity College Dublin (1992 Ireland), and a Fellow of the Institute of Materials (1974 UK). Survivors include daughters Louise (Somerset), Alison (Devon) & Tessa (Madrid-Paco) and sons Justin (San Francisco-Kate) & Toby (Vancouver-Ann), grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Sailing, Rugby, Bridge & Poetry were amongst his passions – and above all the immense joys of Family – and of wonderful, enduring Friends. A funeral service is planned at St Clement’s Anglican Church.