June 24, 1950 – November 5, 2021
DAVID “MO” ROBERT ARMSTRONG was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma,
June 24, 1950 to Neill and Jane Armstrong. His family moved frequently due to his father’s career as a professional football player and coach. Mo lived in Philadelphia, Winnipeg, Stillwater (where he was known as “the Fleet Footed Westwooder” on the school playground), Houston, and Edmonton. Mo attended his first year of University in Weatherford, OK on a basketball scholarship and then returned to Edmonton to complete his degree. He graduated from the University of Alberta in 1975.
Mo headed to Claresholm in the fall of 1975 to begin his 31-year teaching career. Moving to Claresholm was one of the best things that ever happened to Mo. The town embraced him with open arms and warm hearts, often feeding him at family tables on cold winter nights. He developed lifelong friendships with many of his former students and their families.
Mo (known as Mr. A by his students) taught Social Studies and English, delighting his students with his love of learning and sharing of knowledge. Outside the classroom, he coached girls’ and boys’ basketball, baseball, and flag football. A renowned orator, he served as announcer at many hockey, basketball, baseball, and football games across the province, and became known as the “Golden Voice of Claresholm”. He also provided several commencement addresses and even managed to live out his fantasy of being a musician as he ended those graduation programs with a unique song joined by a band comprised of fellow teachers and former students.
All who knew him would attest that Mo was a born storyteller. He partnered with his brother Neill to form the Brothers Armfinnigan, a duo that went on to write the Adventures of Ploox over a three-book series. Mo shared this story with his students throughout the years, bringing them along on wild adventures that took the novels’ characters from Oklahoma to Mexico. In his retirement, the Brothers self-published the series and Mo took Ploox on the road, making author visits to numerous schools in Southern Alberta. Thanks to its loyal following, Ploox gained momentum and is now on the way to Hollywood to be remade for the screen, allowing Mo to realize a life-long dream.
Mo spent his best years at Barley Acres with his wife of 41 years, Janie, raising their children Cayley and Quade (and in later years, enjoying visits from their grandchildren), taking long walks across the prairie, listening to his latest playlist, and looking at the foothills out of his writing room while typing the pages of Adventures With Ploox.
Mo was a friend to all, engaging in conversation with everyone he met, sharing his favourite topics including music, books, philosophy, and current events. His closest friends – the Fennies – became more like family over the years. The love, time, conversation, and help they gave as Mo neared the end of his life meant more than anything to him.
Mo passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends on Friday, November 5, 2021. Mo is survived by Janie, his wife of 41 years; his daughter Cayley Mosca (Nicholas); son Quade Armstrong (Erin); granddaughters Eloise Mosca, Sloane Armstrong, and Shay Davy Armstrong; sister Gail Iaccobucci (Joe); brother Neill; sisters-in-law Becky Bittle (Bob), Pam Bellatti, and Susie Glasscock; nephews Cole and Taylor Farden, Beau, Kiet, and Hute Armstrong, Joey, Ryan, and Brad Bellatti, Josh and Jamie Bittle, Taylor Glasscock, and Michael Iaccobucci; nieces Aelee Armstrong, Elspeth Bittle, and Jenni Gordon; and many very loved grand-nephews and nieces.
The family would like to thank Mo’s home care and the palliative care team, in particular Olive, Josh, Tanya and Dr. Shukkoor.
In celebration of Mo’s life, please call a friend who knew him and share a good story. He always loved a good story. Take the best of him with you – expect the best in others, support the arts, support your community, take the high road, be non-judgmental, kind, inspiring, warm, curious, compassionate, grateful, loyal, constant, and loving. And if someone in your life needs one – give them a nickname.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Claresholm Public Library, Box 548, Claresholm, AB, T0L 0T0; the Claresholm Arts Society, Box 3082, Claresholm, AB, T0L 0T0 or KidSport Claresholm, Box 1245, Claresholm, AB, T0L 0T0.
To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com