Lari  Robson

April 1, 1942 –

July 18, 2012

Lari left his

potter’s wheel after a long, difficult illness.

The best husband, father and friend anyone could imagine, he will be remembered for

the joy he gave to others, 

his “humble brown pots,” his unconditional love,

his great sense of

humour and his pure pleasure in life.

 ?

A celebration of his life

will be held in the fall.

JONES,

Diana Suzanne (Wilkes) It is with great sadness that we announce that Diana passed away peacefully in her home on Salt Spring Island on Wednesday July 11th 2012. Born in Persia in 1934, Diana grew up in England before moving to Canada in 1958 and raising a family in Toronto. Diana is predeceased by her husband of 42 years, Gordon, and will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by her sons Christopher (Christine Williams) and Michael (Rebecca), and the 4 children to whom she was “Salt Spring Grannie”. A resident of Ganges, BC for 15 years, Diana had a tremendous impact on her local community as a volunteer and will be remembered for her grace, kindness, good humour and generous friendship. A memorial service in her honour will be held on Salt Spring Island at a later date. If desired, donations in Diana’s name may be directed to the Canadian Cancer Society.

Robert Francis

Cake

August 10, 1920 – June 30, 2012 Born in London, Ontario. Bob passed away at home June 20, 2012. Predeceased by his wife Mary, his sisters Eileen and Rene, he is survived by his sister Velma, his brother in-law John (Valerie), his son John (Carol), granddaughter Shauna (Ian), great grandchildren Zadie and Aubrey, step-granddaughter Bonnie (Dan), step-greatgranddaughter Chloe, his son David (Sandra), step-grandchildren Tammy (Ed) and James, step-great granddaughter Dianne.

Bob served in the RCAF during WWII attached to the RAF as leader of a Mobile Radar Unit “landing on Gold Beach on the evening of D Day and maintained operation in the battle zone almost continuously through until VE Day in Germany”. After the war he returned to London, Ontario with his war bride Mary, attended the University of Western Ontario receiving this BSc then achieving his masters in Meteorology at U of T. He and his young family moved to Gander, Nfld. where he worked as a meteorologist and he learned to fly fish for salmon. The next stop was Montreal where David was born, then back to Ganger until 1960 when the family moved to Toronto until retirement. Once retired, Bob and Mary moved to SSI for a home base traveling to the south for the winters.

Special thanks to Melissa, Rachel and Janis, Dr. Gummeson, and all the wonderful Home Support and Hospice Workers who helped Bob stay in his home until the very end. No service by request. In lieu of flowers, donations to the charity of your choice.

Audrey Boyte Isaacs

February 8, 1922 – June 29, 2012

Audrey Boyte Isaacs left us June 29, 2012. In her last 21 years on Salt Spring Island, she had grown, nourished and been nourished by a wide circle of family, friends and neighbours. Her charm, wit, style and sharp intellect enriched the lives of all who knew and loved her. Having turned 90 on February 8, she said she had lived a good life with only a few “potholes” along the way. Her determination to move past the potholes remains an inspiration, as does her kindness and spirit of unending curiosity about life. People who knew Audrey felt a special connection with her.

Audrey is survived by her younger brother Bill, with wife Gwen, in Sechelt, son Pierce in Washington State, daughter Frances, with partner Laura, in Ottawa, and numerous beloved nieces, nephews and cousins. She very much enjoyed her “diva” role at the last Boyte family reunion. Many in Audrey’s wider circle considered her as their own mother, sister or grandmother, as well as friend and neighbour — especially Wendy and Jeanette and their families — and she was pleased to be so chosen.

She was born in Saskatoon in 1922 and moved to Mill Bay, B.C. with her parents and siblings Doris, John and Bill, when she was 10, a time she remembered as wonderful. Living through the Depression and the Second World War formed both her frugality and her belief in pursuing higher education where ever possible. After marriage with Frank Isaacs in 1943, her life in North Vancouver raising a family and helping with his business was a time of hard work but some ease. She enjoyed golf and curling, was good at both, and made many friends along the way.

There had been no funds for university after her senior matriculation in 1940, but Audrey took courses throughout her life, fostering her love of archaeology and languages. When her marriage ended, she found a job to support herself and obtained her Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University in 1984, taking courses at night while working full time. She was justifiably proud of her degree in Archaeology and Spanish.

Audrey was gifted in music, playing piano and singing, in drawing and painting, and in writing. She read widely throughout her life and was a Salt Spring Island writers’ group member, attending her last meeting only a few weeks before her passing.

While she had successfully fought cancer in recent years, it had returned. Audrey stayed in her home, independent as she preferred, until a week before the end. A sincere thank you to Dr. Paula Ryan, the Red Cross, the considerate and helpful Home and Community Care Nurses and Hospice Society Volunteers, and the Acute Care Nurses providing palliative care whose skill and compassion helped ease Audrey’s last days in Lady Minto Hospital. A special thanks to friends and neighbours whose generosity and kindness made Audrey’s life a joy.

While no formal service is planned, Audrey would have liked to have known that family, friends and neighbours gathered with those they cared about to celebrate her life – in her own words – “in song and laughter.”

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BALINT, Leslie Frank

We sadly announce the death of our father Leslie Frank Balint, June 27, 2012.  He was 86 years old and liked to boast that he was the oldest cyclist on Salt Spring.  He cycled almost daily from his home at the top of Cranberry Road to Ganges until a crash this winter broke his wrist, and since then he has made the trip on foot. He emigrated from England with our mother Claire (d. 1987) in 1956 and spent many years in the Toronto area. He then moved to Cobourg and Kingston Ontario until he finally fulfilled a lifelong intention to settle on the West Coast in 2010.  Frank trained as a photographer but worked as a designer and carpenter most of his life.  Always generous and caring, he was very physically active and justifiably proud of his fitness which he attributed to his vegetarian diet. He had a lifelong involvement in activism and social issues and enjoyed the solidarity of the Unitarian Church which shared many of his passions.  He will be missed by his sons Sean (Jennifer) and Jeremy (Sarah) and grandchildren Maia, Aisha, Graeme, Noal, Weston, Jessa and Tahlea.

Agnes Jean Hoskin

(nee Morton) 1919 – 2012

Born July 28, 1919 in Shackleton, Saskatchewan, to James and Hazel Morton, preceded by sister Effie (the Model) and followed by sister Betty (the Athlete), Agnes Jean Hoskin made her mark in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing her.

It began in Winnipeg with not your typical childhood and adolescence that included skating, swimming and bowling at the Winter Club, summers spent at Farlane learning archery and how to shoot a .22, the odd shopping jaunt to New York with her sisters, a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba…the budding poet, writer, voracious reader, photographer and dry wit lived something of the glamorous life. A good thing, because life was about to change.

Jean married Dave on September 16, 1944, he being a dashing and decorated member of the First Special Service Force, back from the war and finishing up his degree at McGill University in Montreal. Home base was a small apartment where first son Jim was born. The family moved to an apartment above Dave’s warehouse and office in East End Montreal, where Tom, Dorothy and Gordon were born. Moving to St. Lambert, Jean and Dave rounded out the herd with the birth of Robert. She became an unofficial “block parent” on Edison Avenue. Running a busy St. Lambert house in winter and a Woodlands summer cottage, she added chauffeur to her job description as she ferried innumerable kids to and from all manner of sports, school and social events.

As if this wasn’t enough, Scouts Canada came calling and Jean was drafted as Akela for the Storer Wolf Cub Pack, a role in which she excelled for more than a dozen years. Moving to her beloved 155 Riverside Drive in St. Lambert, she managed a household that served as family campground for Expo 67, driver’s training track, auto repair garage, laboratory, animal shelter, snowmobile course and Teenage Party Central.

Jean took on the Sunday School Superintendent’s role at St. Barnabas, a task that she performed with her usual good humour and sense of commitment for many years.

Having seen four of five kids through university (the last one was just starting), it began to look as if there might be something called retirement after all. In 1977 she and Dave pulled up stakes and headed to their second true home – Salt Spring Island.

On Salt Spring Island Jean and Dave settled into their Tripp Road home on St. Mary Lake after a brief time at a home on Welbury. Jean again became involved in Scouting as the Akela of the Salt Spring cub pack. She participated in the camera club, entering many beautiful photographs in the Fall Fair. Her home became a favourite spot to visit by relatives and friends, far and wide. Main attractions were: her growing teddy bear and wind-up animal collection, the cows in her field (Mary Tyler Moo, Goldie, Kahlua, and Tia Maria), and swimming and sailing in the lake. She loved to row her boat on St Mary Lake and in the summers she became a regular early morning swimmer at the outdoor pool at Portlock Park.

After the death of her husband, Dave in 1980, Jean began traveling the world, enjoying visits to South Africa, the South Pacific, Alaska, Australia, England, Scotland, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Greece as well as Disney Land and Disney World. The photo of her going down Splash Mountain was featured on her fridge for many years.

She is the much loved Grandmother of Allison, Daniel, Jennifer, Caroline, David and Michelle. Jean had many happy visits with them at her Salt Spring home, as well as in Calgary, Brossard, and Vancouver. She is also the beloved mother-in-law to Flip, Eric, Christiane, and Nancy.

Jean was one of the first residents of Meadowbrook when it opened. She enjoyed meals with her friend Queenie. In 2007 she moved to the Extended Care Unit at Lady Minto Hospital. Here she led a dignified battle with the effects of progressive Parkinson’s disease and visual loss due to macular degeneration. Her friend Hilda Lucas coordinated a team of caring, conscientious assistants to feed Jean her meals. She was compassionately and professionally supported by Dr. David Woodley the ECU staff. Many thanks from the family to all her caregivers. She passed away on June 27 surrounded by the love of family and friends.

All who knew Jean admired her independent spirit, her “no frills” approach to life, and her wicked sense of humor. She is much loved and will be greatly missed.

At her request, there will be no funeral service. If you choose to make a donation in her memory, please consider THE LADY MINTO HOSPITAL FOUNDATION.

john myers

MAY 25, 1933 – JUNE 26, 2012

Passed away June 26th at Lady Minto Hospital after a valiant battle with cancer.

John was born in England and moved to Canada in 1957 where he enjoyed a 27-year career as a school teacher, vice principal and principal working for the North York School Board. After retirement, John went on to work as a clerk in the Supreme Court of Ontario.

John and his wife Joan moved to Salt Spring Island in 1993, where John became well known for his strong commitment to the community.

John and Joan were active members of the Trail and Nature Club, where John served as president. John was the founder of the Channel Ridge Home Owners Association and its president for eight years, was an active member of the boards of Greenwoods, the Sailing Club and the public library (serving as treasurer) and he volunteered for over 18 years at the Visitor Information Centre.

John is survived by his loving wife Joan Myers, daughters Philippa (Charles) and Lesley (James), both of Ontario, step-sons Alan (Dianne) Tromba of Vancouver, and Kim (Christine) from Ontario, and five grandchildren, Tammy, Logan, Ryan, Chelsea, Riley.

A special thank you to Dr. Beaver, Dr. Berg, the nurses at Lady Minto and Joan’s personal angels.

A Celebration of Life will take place at the Lions Hall on Thursday, July 12th, beginning at 2 p.m.

No flowers, please. Donations to the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation or Cancer Lodge in Victoria would be appreciated.