'Truly irreplaceable': University lecturer killed in Northern B.C. dedicated career to studying plant life

A university lecturer and father-of-two who died during one of his characteristic, solitary camping trips through British Columbia's haven-like backcountry was a deeply introspective outdoorsman who, friends say, was profoundly engrossed with nature and the study of plants, to which he dedicated much of his life.

Leonard Dyck, 64, spent two decades researching botany, particularly interested in seaweed, its perils and its persistent survival. He completed a bachelorof science degree in marine biology in 1978, a mastersof science in botany in 1991 and his PhD in botany in 2004.

Photos from a class trip to Vancouver Island in 2017 show Dyck pinching two danglingbunches of brown seaweed through fingerless knit gloves, standing in the muck of low tide in a pair of rubber boots. Hiseyes dart away from the camera under a furrowed brow, peeking atthe researchmaterial at hand.

Friends who knew Dyck for years said his research and curiositydominated much of their conversations, the topic only superseded by mentions of his wife and two children.

"He liked to think really deeply about some, what I would consider to be, some rather esoteric biological questions," Robert deWreede, a professor emeritus of botany at the University of British Columbiawhere Dyck lectured. "Then, he also was deeply involved with his family."

Patrick Martone, a professor in the Department of Botany at the University of British Columbia, called him "a really special man" and "truly irreplaceable."

"He had an amazing depth of knowledgeand a way of opening students' eyes to the diversity of life that we study," Martone said in a statement.

"I will miss Len's laugh, which often followed some wry comment. It makes me tear up thinking that I won't get to hear it again. He held his cards close to his chest, but as soon as you realized how much passion he had for his work, he was so much fun and a joy to be around."

Dyck's body was discovered along a gravelly highway pullouttwo kilometres south of Dease Lake, B.C., on July 19. RCMP had trouble identifying the body and released a composite sketch, hoping for tips from the public.

Mounties announced Wednesday the body had been identified as Dyck.

"We are truly heartbroken by the sudden and tragic loss of Len. He was a loving husband and father. His death has created unthinkable grief, and we are struggling to understand what has happened," the man's family wrote in a statement, adding a pleafor privacy.

UBC also issued a statement late Wednesday saying its community is "shocked and saddened" by Dyck'suntimely death.

Two men suspected in Dyck's killing,theircamper truckburned in a clearingnot far from where Dyck was found,have been criminally chargedbut not apprehendeddespite a nationwide manhunt.The men are also suspected of gunning down two tourists Australian Lucas Fowler and American Chynna Deese further northeast four days before Dyck's body was discovered.

Dyck lived in Vancouver, making him more than 1,700 kilometres away from home whenhe died. It's believed he had travelledto the quiet of Northern B.C. for a summer camping trip.

"He was spending a lot of time with his children [lately], sometimes going off on camping trips and so on. He often would tell me about the trips that they'd taken together. And I guess one of these trips resulted when he went off on his own camping up north," saiddeWreede.

Dyck, who also went by Len, often chose to campin areas that exemplify therugged, pristine country synonymous with the Pacific Northwest. He cruiseddown the postcard-like Oregon Coast and wandered deep into the British Columbian wilderness, sometimes with his family, sometimes alone. He liked it either way.

"He really enjoyed that, just as he enjoyed doing all the outdoor research that was involved," DeWreede said.