Robert died at 88, at the Royal Jubilee Hospital, on May 26 2023. He was peaceful and comfortable at the end, surrounded by his loving wife Maureen and two daughters, Konia (Dawn and son Jordi) and Lycia. He was born in Bangor, Northern Ireland, and immigrated to Vancouver, Canada in 1970 with his young family. As an architect, he held a long position at Public Works Canada, but also designed and completed many home renovations. He and Maureen were life-long swimmers, and married in 1963. In his retirement, he pursued his love of the arts, the outdoors and exercise. He sang in various choirs and produced daily sketches of life around him. He and Maureen travelled the world extensively and settled in Sooke in 2011, joining the walking group and re-discovering his love of cycling. He is predeceased by his parents, Wakefield and Dora Jane. He is survived in the UK by his brother Thomas (Zillah) and their 3 children; Tom Jr (Dorothy and children), David (Sally and daughters) and Samantha (Andy) among other dear relatives. A joyful and easy disposition, he connected well with others from all walks of life and will be sorely missed, particularly at their home at Minton House, Cook Street Village, Victoria. His life’s richly intellectual, cultural and artistic musings were developed into a book entitled A View from Here which was submitted to the publisher on the day of his death. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the charity of your choice.
A Celebration of Life was held on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at 2:00 pm, in the Sequoia Centre, McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC.
Condolences to the family may be offered below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
59 Responses
Dr Lycia Trouton about my father: He had this home-made bumper sticker on the Kombi Van or Pop-Up VW (stick shift) van in our childhood, camping around BC: ” A Dome is a Home from Womb to Tomb.” The saying came back to me on Dad’s Deathbed at RJH. It turns out it is the BF Assoc.’s 40th this year: See — https://www.bfi.org/get-involved/donate/
In Dad’s notes about what he wanted to let others know in his funeral or Celebration of Life, upon dying: “I love you all!– If there is a field beyond Ideas out there…I’ll be meeting you again… RW xxxooo ‘Wakefield’
I want my Family to Remember me for: being a Husband and Father and Friend
To the Hills, I will lift mine Eyes
Ere I sleep for every favour I will…
Then, I found a newspaper clipping on the Power of Hymns from The Vancouver Sun, April 16th 2002 folded inside his Methodist hymn book which he kept beside his bed in the last few years, at MintonHouse.ca
Dad’s Favorite Flower was a Daisy.
and Favorite Colours: Yellow, Green, Blue, Black
He greatly admired Henry Moore’s Knife Edge in QE Park Vancouver, The Abstract Modernist painter, Bridget Riley https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridget_Riley and Barnett Newman’s Voice of Fire, created in the year of my birth, 1967, for Canada’s Expo in Montreal which inspired Dad to get us out of N Ireland, and (after a brief stint in Killarney Gardens, East Van, settled in Southlands, Vancouver, BC where I lived until 1984 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_of_Fire#:~:text=Voice%20of%20Fire%20is%20an,special%20commission%20for%20Expo%2067.
I am missing you Dad; your voice and 6’2″ presence and can’t wait to read your “View from Here” and help Mz Nancy Rose Meeker usher it into e-print-on-demand with @friesenpress.com
Very sorry to hear about the passing of Bob, Such a wonderful person and many great memories spending time with you all.
My heart and prayers go out to all of you. Please take care of yourselves during this difficult time.
I was so sad to hear of Roberts passing. I know he was such a light to his family and I have fond memories of him from the times I met him at their house in Esquimalt.
I recall Robert’s warm smile and keen curiosity. His ability to make even a stranger feel immediately at home and welcome in his presence. Roberts energy and positivity were something that stood out for me.
I’m deeply sorry to the Trouton family for this huge loss. I know Robert is dearly missed.
Dear Maureen, Konia and Lycia,
It was with great sadness and not a little shock that we heard of Bob’s passing last week.
Tom shared with us the news about the operation, its serious nature and the level of risk attached, but I think we had (perhaps naively) assumed that Bob’s fit lifestyle & optimistic spirit would ensure a positive recovery. We were devastated at the outcome, and share your sadness and grief at this time.Over the last few days I have been reflecting on Bob’s life, memories of time spent with him (both physically & in the many letters, cards & notebooks he sent)& his influence on me and the rest of the family.
My memories are, without exception, warm & happy – a kind & caring Uncle whose “joie de vivre” was infectious & who always showed a genuine interest in what we were doing & what we thought about the world. Over the years I recall receiving some great letters encouraging me to think differently…”Climb a mountain and shout your name loudly from the top of it!”… “Think Yellow!”…”Avoid living in spaces with right angles”…just some of the stand-out advice that I really have taken on board!
To us growing up in 1970’s+80’s Belfast, it was really special to have such a creative thinker as an uncle,& part of the family who had had the energy & courage to emigrate to an exotic new world +live there in happiness and success.
In a way, that in turn gave us permission to think differently, explore the world with confidence, challenge accepted norms and embrace new ideas. So Bob will be sorely missed here as well as in Canada, by everyone who new him & anyone who was lucky enough to experience his warmth, love of life, engagement with ideas…+ of course his genuine kindness.
Bob was an amazing uncle! We will remember him with love always.
I will make sure I can connect with the celebration event planned for later this summer.
I would like to send you some music I have made in the hope you may find it fitting for the event; firstly an original Piper’s Lament that was originally created as part of the underscore for the theatre show-“Chuculain, the Hound of Ulster.” Although quite a solemn piece, I think Bob would enjoy the connection it has to the folklore+mythology of the homeland! Secondly, I’d like to send a more upbeat piece, perhaps more reflective of Bob’s love of life & generosity of spirit.I’m arranging these for solo piano and will record and send the sound files to you in the next week or so.
Please understand that we are standing beside you at this sad time & share your sorrow, while cherishing such lovely memories of a fine man whose love + influence reached further and deeper than he could ever have known.
Love from nephew David, wife Sally, daughters:Evie and Paddy. 31st May 2023 Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Dear Maureen, Konia and Lycia, I learned today that our dear Bob had passed. Our neighbour and friend of many years. His fondness for our children and how he enjoyed their company.
Bob was young at heart, his patience helping Stephen and Richard prepare our home with Balloons before Paul and I came
Home from work. Always ready to have a good laugh.
We are all so sorry. Courage Maureen, Konia and Lycia.
We have you in our thoughts. Love, Paul, Lolita, Stephen,Richard
Thinking of you Lycia and your mom at this sad time.
With fond memories of the Troutons and our Vancouver days.
Nerida in Australia.
So very sorry to hear of Robert, but thank you, Lycia, for remembering us.
We have his hand-made Christmas cards – no more. Very sad.
Give Maureen our love. Will write to her.
Love, Pat and Noel, London, UK
Pat Murrill and Noel Hayes (Mr and Mrs)
Tim Gosley, Victoria, BC
Dear Lycia and Maureen,
My heart felt condolences for your lovely Robert. I did not know him well, but have a fond remembrance of his giving me a tour of Lycia’s art works at the Errant Gallery, where he was so articulately explaining the varied works of the daughter he was so obviously proud of.
Dear Trouton family,
My deepest condolences for your loss. I worked together with Lycia as faculty members at a college years ago. We have been good friends since. Through Facebook photos that Lycia shared I have gained some insight into Robert’s life. Although I never met Robert in person I can only imagine what a wonderful person he must be because of the lovely person Lycia is whom he had a large part in raising. Reading his obituary I learned what an extraordinary life he had and his varied talents. May he rest in peace.
Sincerely,
Mythili
Toronto, Canada
My deepest sympathies on the loss of your father, Robert. I remember meeting him when you were a teenager and how he encouraged your artistic development throughout the years.
Robert was a visionary, an artist and a kind, sweet man. It was his passion for life, freedom of artistic expression and continued interest in all that was around him, that you should always remember and take to heart.
Lycia, you were a wonderful daughter; he was so proud of you. Please send my love and condolences to Maureen; so very sorry for your loss.