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
Hi Lycia,
Thinking of you. You did him proud and he was very lucky to have you in his last years. I hope you get their perseverance!
All the best to you and your mum and your sibling for the celebration. I hope it’s a day full of memories, old friends and some good laughter.
To your Dad,
Orla – Ireland/Victoria
I so appreciate that you have kept me in the Loop and especially enabled me to speak to your Mother. The years in between fall away.
Very best wishes and love.
Alison Curtis, UK
Lycia and Maureen
What a beautiful celebration of life booklet for
Bob…thank you.
We watched the service last night and were with you very much in spirit….peaceful and
perfect.
You both spoke from your hearts and Bob would have been proud of the beautiful tribute ….
He was such a talented and interesting man.
Humble, gracious and so friendly and warm natured. It’s so hard to believe he’s not around
anymore. You must miss him so much.
Our love to you both
Elwyn
It was my pleasurable honor to participate in the Life Celebration of your father Robert Wakefield Trouton. It was a lovely service and well attended.
I did prepare another bit of poetry – A thought that perhaps your father would have spoken to Maureen – or you – on his pending death?
1808 – Irish poet Thomas Moore
Believe me if all those endearing young charms,
Which I gaze on so fondly today,
Were to change by tomorrow and fleet in my arms,
Like fairy-gifts fading away
Thou would still be adored as this moment thou art.
Let thy loveliness fade as it will;
And round the dear ruin, each wish of my heart.
Would entwine itself verdantly still.
Thank you so much Dear Friends : Very Dear Friends (for almost five decades !!)
We are so grateful — you ALWAYS welcomed us, and still do…….
… gentle, kind, funny Bob, even now, you continue to make us smile ,squishing down the sadness
and inspiring us to wonder and be curious about this whole earthly adventure .
with all our love and gratitude
from
The Bresler Family
Peter , Margaret / “pip” , Ruth, Marc and Helen
Bob- I loved him from the start-his quirky sense of humour,sharing his curiosity of the world and keen interest on what makes people “tick”. We would meet up in Montreal, Ottawa over the years when he came to conferences. We went on several holidays together(Maureen Bob & I )-a cruise whereby he started to shred his original wet suit from his swimming days with Maureen (Both excellent swimmers) on the deck of one of our trips together!
I will miss him terribly. Thinking of you Lycia, Konia, Maureen. Maureen you & I will always meet up over the years. I was glad to spend time with you just recently June 27-July 12 2023
Jean Biro
Ottawa
Frances and Alan Boyd, Bangor Co Down Northern Ireland
Dear Lycia and Maureen
Sending our love to you both at this sad time. Bobby was a very dear friend to us and to our family, he will have lots to talk about with his dear friend John, we have great memories of his visits we had lots of fun and laughter together, he loved staying with us in Windsor Avenue his old haunt. We will miss his cheerful phone calls. Pass on our regards to Konia. Take care xx
Dear Maureen, Lycia and Konia,
We are very sad to hear Bob-san passed away, but my dad Hideo is there up in heaven, so please don’t worry! I am sure they are laughing and having some beers together. I always remember Bob-san’s gentle smiles. Thanks to Bob-san and you all, our family could have great time in Canada and in Japan!
Thank you very much for everything, Enjoy lovely sketches in heaven! See you again!
With love,
Chie, Manabu, Chiharu and Taiga Okamura
Keiko, Chika Mochida
I was very fortunate to work with Bob Trouton as a fellow architect, while both of us were working with the Architecture and Engineering Services of the Govt. of Canada for many years.
Both of us were elected nationally to a small executive team of the Architecture & Planning Department of. Govt. of Canada Public Works & Govt. Services.
It was a great opportunity for me to know Robert Trouton as an Architect, Artist, a Colleague and to acquire professional knowledge from him.
Bob was a true intellectual in his own right. It was a great experience to know him.
He was an Artist with a great sense of humor.
We all, including his family and friends pray for Eternal Peace for his soul.
Ranjit Dhar, Toronto, Ontario
Bob Trouton was easy to get to know and lots of fun to be with. With his sense of humor and his intriguing view of the world and what makes it tick, conversation with him could go on without limit. A fellow architect, we clicked right away. Living way down in Seattle, I had less opportunity for getting together with him, but those who lived in British Columbia were so fortunate. I’ll miss him.
Bob Smith
Seattle, Washington