1937-2011
We regret to announce Roberta’s passing at Lady Minto Hospital on Saturday night, October 15th.
Roberta loved living on Salt Spring though in recent years severe COPD kept her from enjoying all the Island had to offer. Salt Spring was her West Coast Martha’s Vineyard, an island she had frequently visited while growing up in Massachusetts. Roberta and Stan purchased a retirement home on Salt Spring on the second day of a brief visit in 1992. ”The Island chooses its people and it doesn’t take long”, she would say.
Roberta grew up in Boston, Massachusetts and graduated with a BA in English from Boston University. She then completed two years at Boston University’s Law School before transferring to Temple Law School in Philadelphia when she and Stan got married. After four and a half years in Philadelphia, they moved to Montreal where Roberta worked, in turn, as an Assistant General Counsel in the Law Department of Sun Life of Canada, as a U.S. tax specialist for an international accounting firm, and as an Assistant Vice-President in charge of Bell Canada’s Tax Department.
In 1980, a one year stay in Vancouver led, long before the year was over, to a decision to relocate. Roberta began her career in Vancouver by passing the BC Bar, thus becoming one of the very few lawyers in British Columbia qualified to practice in both the U.S. and Canada. She then spent the final fifteen years of her career first with another international accounting firm and then in private practice. She retired in 1996 and a year later she and Stan moved permanently to their Salt Spring home. Until her health interfered, Roberta pursued long deferred interests in tai chi and painting.
Roberta leaves behind, in addition to her husband Stanley, her sister Barbara Stone and her brother-in-law Richard Stone; their two daughters Julie and Donna; her brother-in-law Abe Porter and his three children Matthew, Philip and Lesley Porter; Matthew’s wife Kathy and Phil’s wife Sue; and five grand nieces and nephews.
Roberta was most grateful to all those who cared for her over the last few years—Dr. Bobbie Creighton, always both able and understanding, for all he did, the “on call” physicians and dedicated nursing staff in Lady Minto’s Emergency Unit, and the wonderful and caring members of Salt Spring’s Ambulance Service. Thanks as well to the SSI Fire Department, for first responder assistance when needed and for always being there to help with transfers, and to all the home care workers from Beacon Community Services who visited Roberta.
At Roberta’s request there will be no service. Also, no flowers please. Instead, if you are so inclined, please make a contribution in Roberta’s name either to the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation or to the charity of your choice.