Bob Sparks passed away on October 14th, 2019 after a 2-year battle with cancer. His quiet tenacity and resolve throughout chemotherapy, and after when he decided to allow nature to take its course, was a lesson in resiliency we will never forget. As a private person who didn’t like to burden others with his story, the depth of his resiliency remained largely unseen. However, as his children standing in the aftermath of his journey, we are extremely proud of everything he has accomplished and want to share a part of it.
Prior to his diagnosis, our father’s steadfast ability to push through his worst days in the name of love was a pattern he carried with him throughout his life. As a young man, Bob Sparks fell in love with and married a beautiful, brilliant woman (our mother) who would later be diagnosed with Schizophrenia. Bob fought hard to keep our family together, and when that no longer became possible, he fought hard to keep his children safe while providing a sense of stability. As a single father, our dad gave us the gift of a relatively normal childhood: camping trips that inspired our love of nature, birthday parties with friends, and family dinners – all during a time when he was still reconciling with the loss of his wife.
When we eventually ventured out into the world on our own, we did so with full confidence that no matter where we were, our dad would show up on our door step with a single phone call. Our dad’s loyalty, however, didn’t just extend to us. Throughout his life, he was in service to his friends, his sister, his parents, and the mental health community that he avidly supported. As a professional, Bob wore many hats. While his careers in accounting and finance were the most prominent, his love of early computer technology would lead him to become a successful independent computer specialist. His true life passion, however, was serving the community during his time working with the Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House and the Burnaby Mental Wealth Society.
In the final few years leading up to his diagnosis, he became a full-time caretaker for his mother in Chilliwack in order to keep her at home for as long as possible. It was during this period that, after decades of struggling with alcoholism, he successfully overcame his addiction and gained a new lease on life. He developed a passion for the outdoors and spent much of his free time exploring and hiking in Chilliwack’s backcountry. In the final year of his life, he made the decision to pick up his roots once again and start fresh in Prince George to spend the remainder of his time closer to his daughter. Despite all odds, he made it to his daughter’s wedding in the August of his last year. One of his last achievements was watching his daughter walk down the aisle.
In the end, Bob’s legacy was Love. It was his greatest gift, and his greatest lesson to us, his children. While we witnessed the hardships in his life, and the ghosts that haunted him, we will forever stand in awe of his perseverance and the love that shone through the cracks even in his toughest hours. We couldn’t have asked for a better father.
Bob Sparks, may you finally rest in peace.
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