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Robert Stewart blazed a trail for others to follow — literally.
Robert, who was 89 when he died on Aug. 26, loved to volunteer.
He jumped on a bicycle six times to help raised money for Habitat for Humanity to build new homes for people who needed them in its Cycle of Hope.
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But it was at FortWhyte Alive decades ago where Robert made his mark — and people have been following them ever since.
He was involved in blazing and clearing some of the original trails when it was known as Fort Whyte Nature Centre.
Robert would bring his family to the duck house, the first on-site building where school programs were housed, where he became one of the facility’s first educator-volunteers.
Barrett Miller, FortWhyte Alive’s group & corporate programs manager, said “Bob’s example guided me to see how to use one’s deep knowledge and intellect to inspire others, to fix broken parts of our world, to be a gracious host and friend, and to build the same gifts in others.
“Bob has left a generation of staff and volunteers equipped in the best ways, practically and intellectually, to carry on and grow his work. I know that this legacy is not unique to the FortWhyte Alive community, but that this is Bob’s legacy to our city, province and world.”
Robert was born in Winnipeg and attended Robert H. Smith School and then St. John’s Ravenscourt School. He later graduated from the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Education and returned to St. John’s Ravenscourt as a teacher. He taught science and biology, as well as coaching in several activities including basketball, curling and chess club.
His family says he taught them the importance of giving back to the community through volunteering.
“His encouragement and love will always be remembered,” they said.
Robert is survived by his wife, Judy Stewart, two daughters and three grandsons. He was predeceased by his son.
Read more about Robert
How They Lived
Maddy Hanson helped paint the arena white.
That’s because Maddy, who was 67 when she died on August. 30, was one of the ones responsible for what has become the Winnipeg Whiteout whenever the Winnipeg Jets make it to the playoffs.
She was marketing VP of the Winnipeg Jets 1.0 during the playoffs in 1985, when she met with CKY radio executives. Having no budget, they came up with the idea of just going on the radio and asking Jets fans to wear white to the playoff game. They did – and they have been doing it ever since during playoff season.
Read more about Maddy
John Furtado dedicated his career to improving lives and helping many people regain mobility.
John, who died on Sept. 3 at 68, was born in Portugal and came here as a child.
He grew up to become an orthotist and was a business partner at Anderson Orthopedics. He was also a member of the Canadian Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists.
Read more about John
Helga Malis was born and raised in Gimli and came back there in the 1990s.
Once back Helga, who was 89 when she died on Aug. 13, threw herself into her Icelandic heritage.
She was secretary of the Icelandic National League of North America, Gimli Icelandic Canadian Society president, one of the editors of the Icelandic Canadian Journal, and she was the original Fjallkona dresser before being named a Fjallkona herself in 2010.
Read more about Helga
Bill Atkinson worked at a lumber camp and at other small jobs during the Depression before securing a full time job with Winnipeg Supply and Fuel.
But, it wasn’t too many years before Bill, who was 107 when he died on Sept. 5, left that job to enlist with the Canadian Armed Forces during the Second World War. He rose to become an officer in the Royal Canadian Medium Artillery before being shipped overseas.
Bill saw action in Holland in 1945 before the European side of the war ended and he was sent back home where his job was waiting for him at Winnipeg Supply.
He continued working there until the company was sold to new owners, prompting him to resign and create his own company: ABCO Supply and Service.
Read more about Bill
Pompeo Cespe loved soccer.
Pompeo, who died on Aug. 31 at 79, left Italy for Winnipeg as a young adult and worked for Con-Force for 43 years.
But, after work, he loved and participated in soccer. He was a national referee for the Canadian Soccer League, commissioner of the Winnipeg Old Timer Soccer League for 28 years, and president of the Italian Bari Club of Manitoba for many years.
Read more about Pompeo
A Life’s Story
Lisa McRorie may have written books of fiction, but her greatest non-fiction joy was raising and advocating for her child living with special needs.
Lisa, who was 55 when she died of a heart attack on April 29, was the author of a series of five books titled The Harry Russo Diaries. She wrote them under the pen name Lisa Emme.
Supplied Lisa McRorie’s greatest joy was her son, Quinn.
But, after Lisa’s son, Quinn, now 28, was born and then diagnosed with Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome, he became her priority as a single mother.
“She was determined, caring and fearless,” Lisa’s mother Val, said.
“Lisa did everything she could to make life good for Quinn. She was devoted to him.”
Read more about Lisa
Until next time, I hope you continue to write your own life’s story.
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