Richard was born in Rock Bay, BC August 2, 1944, and passed away peacefully on November 4, 2022 at the Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria, BC with his children by his side. He was predeceased by his parents Tony and Florence Roberts, and Barbara, his wife of 55 years. He is survived by his children Hilary and Michael (Melanie), sisters Margaret (Dan) and Charlotte, and brother David (Nadine), and his grandsons Owen and Josh. Richard was also a great grandson of Stephen and Jane Cook of the ‘Namgis First Nations of Alert Bay.
Richard grew up in Esquimalt and attended St. Michael’s Prep School where he was Head Boy in Grade 9. He was awarded scholarships to attend Ridley College in St Catharines, Ontario. He received his BA (Honours) from the University of Victoria and his Master Degree in Economics from the University of British Columbia. While at the University of Victoria, Richard joined the University Naval Training Division later transferring to HMCS Discovery in Vancouver. He retired as a Lieutenant in 1974.
Richard and Barbara started their married life in North Vancouver in 1967 before moving to Ottawa where Richard joined the Department of Fisheries. Over the course of his career, he was involved in several major policy initiatives including the extension of fisheries jurisdiction to 200 miles (1977) and amendments to the Fisheries Act (1991). Richard retired from Fisheries and Oceans in 1996, and he and Barbara fulfilled their dream of returning to Victoria. They especially enjoyed their many sailboat trips to the beautiful islands and inlets along the south coast of BC, and sharing these trips with friends and family.
In 2010 Richard was appointed as a member to the Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal of BC. During his 11-year tenure, he participated in over 500 appeals, 300 of those as panel chair.
Richard was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was a keen family sports fan, coach and cheerleader! He especially enjoyed summer visits by his grandsons, where he perfected his hidden talent for making ice cream. Richard had been competitive in correspondence chess as a teenager and became an avid online chess player in his retirement.
The family would like to thank the friendly staff of Somerset House retirement home, and the staff at the Royal Jubilee Hospital for their compassionate care of Richard in his final days.
No service by request. In lieu of flowers, donations in Richard’s memory can be made to the Cancer Society of BC with thanks at https://bccancerfoundation.com/ways-to-give/give-in-memory-honour-or-celebration/
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
at www.mccallgardens.com
15 Responses
I am deeply sorry to hear the loss of our friend and colleague.
I am privileged to have known Richard, worked with him, and learned from him, when I joined the tribunal in 2014. I remember Richard being kind, calm, compassionate and thoughtful during our hearings, making sure the appellant felt he/she was heard.
With heartfelt condolences for the loss of our friend to his children, family and friends
I met Richard when I became Chair of the BC Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal. It quickly became apparent that Richard was not only highly capable, but also incredibly warm and personable. Richard became a trusted advisor to me as I learned the ropes in my new job and I considered him not only a colleague but also a friend. Everyone here at the Tribunal that knew Richard speaks fondly of their interactions with him. It was an honour to work with Richard and he will be greatly missed. My heartfelt condolences to Richard’s family and friends.
Very sorry to hear of your loss, best to all Richard’s family and friends with great memories of such a genuine and accomplished person. I worked with Richard on the EAAT tribunal since 2013. He was the best mentor I had for writing style and accuracy. It was truly an honour to finally get to talk with him in person (on Teams) at a recent workshop. RIP Richard <3
I offer my sincere condolences to the Robert’s family. Though I did not know Richard well, I had the honour of serving with him as a member of the Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal since I was first appointed to the Tribunal in 2016. He was always a highly influential mentor and advisor to me and many other of his colleagues on the Tribunal. I will always appreciate and value his sage advice and leadership.
Condolences to the Roberts family on this sad occasion. I worked with Dick for several years in the Fisheries Department both as his colleague and supervisor. He was a dedicated and able man and a trusted friend. We all had a unique experience during our time in Fisheries and were close associates both in the office and during leisure time. Hilary and Michael may remember the pig roasts we had at our farm in the old days with their mom and dad. We all remember them both with great affection.