We just found out that Bud passed away.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, Marca.  We have fond memories of the two of you when we met on a cruise in 2010 to the Panama Canal.  Bud had such a great sense of humour.

I remember Mr. Rutherford from Metchosin School in the 1970's and he seemed to be the teacher to look to as a senior student.  Having lived in Victoria my entire life I have had the opportunity to bump into "Bud" the occasional time and it was fun to sit and have a beer some 30 years later.  Glad I had that opportunity!  R.I.P.

The world has lost a great man,Bud was the principal for all 3 of my girls,they just loved him. Our condolences.The Goyette family

Mr. Rutherford was a great teacher and I could never call him "Bud" in later days. Always Mr. Rutherford to me! So happy to see him so full of life at the CISV reunion in February. So sad that you had to lose him so young and my condolences. I hope it can be a comfort that was such a positive influence on so many lives.

Rob and family..so sorry about your loss..

To Sue, Steve, Alex and Joel, Mike and I send our heart felt condolences to you all. Now you will need to focus on all those special memories you shared with your dad. Thinking about you during this difficult time. Gale and Mike Penner

We became next door neighbours in 1979 and we are still here.  There was never a day that Bud was here along with another guy in the neighbourhood that there wasn't a burst of laughter emanating from the driveway between our houses.  We miss the laughter and the good humour and the endless jokes of a man that my youngest son (born in 1980) says was as nice as any man he ever met.  Kalen, who is in Amsterdam now says, "I knew Bud my whole life - death is so unkind to have taken him from us"! We miss you Bud - your joy & laughter will forever ring in the driveway....Love to Marca, Rob, Sue, Carolyn and families...

Easily the most influential teacher I ever had.  Mr. Rutherford took the approach of letting a kid pursue a particular interest, while maintaining curriculum.  With me, instead of insisting that I stuck to a textbook version of Creative Writing or having to put together endless Haikus (he was right- Haikus did not help later in life), he let me write a weekly hockey column all year.  I think he might have enjoyed them even more that I did, even lending me one of his own hockey biographies, by Punch Imlach, to keep the interest going.  Years later, never having imagined that I might actually one day interview NHL players, I drew on the love of the game and the writing that was encouraged in grade seven, when I did just that. Interviewing members of the Hall of Fame, quoting books, stats, articles- it was all started with enthusiastic encouragement by a teacher in Metchosin who was willing to stretch the boundaries a bit for a kid who loved hockey and was given room to follow a passion. I was fortunate to reconnect with Bud in the past decade, running in to him a few times a year.  Always with a handshake that could break a hand, his was a presence that left a person feeling as if they were the highlight of his day.  Not much different than in 1979, only now I'm old enough to appreciate the value and sincerity of his words.  What a great man, truly one of a kind. Condolences to his family, with thanks for sharing him with the rest of us.  Mine is only one story....what a difference he made.

Bud was a wonderful and sweet man. He will be deeply missed. We had the honour of being his neighbour over the last few years,and he has left a lasting impact on our hearts.

Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult times.

We will remember all of the good he did in this world.

So Sorry to hear of Bud's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this very difficult time
Marlene and Doug Richardson

Very sorry to hear of Mr. Rutherford's passing.  He was a wonderful and kind teacher (Savory Elementary 70s) and never changed over the years. I always enjoyed running into him at local events and at the Blues Bash!  He will be missed.  My thoughts are with his family and friends.

I remember Mr. Rutherford as my Grade 6 teacher up in Port Renfrew.  He was a great teacher, kind and fun too.My condolences to you Marca and your family.  Candy Green

Bud was just a great guy to know. I only met him in retirement so it was with interest I learned of his background and roots in Victoria. What a teacher he must have been? as President of CFAX Santas Anonymous as well as a volunteer today I came to appreciate Bud's Dedication to our charity. I know Bud will be dearly missed by family but I can tell you his extended family of friends at CFAX Santas Anonymous feel your loss just as deeply today. We stand in support of Bud's family and friends as we celebrate his life.

Bud was a motivating force among the retired Principals of Sooke district. He distinguished himself as a person of energy, humour, and dedication to young people. A remarkable person! A remarkable career!

A Great neighbour and friend. I enjoyed watchhing the children growing up and son Jim and Rob becoming best friends.  I will always remember Bud as a wpnderfull father.

Marca and Family   We are so sorry for the sudden passing of Bud. I have seen him many times at the casino, infact not that long ago. We shared some great memories about the old ballteam, when he went into Thrifty's he always made time to talk to my daughter Linda.  He was a great guy and will be missed.  Our thoughts are with you during these sad and difficult times.     Billie Stewart and Family.

My sincerest sympathy on your loss.  Mr Rutherford taught one of my classes at Colwood Elementary, then he moved to Metchosin Elementary the same year we did.  My sister, brother & I all had the pleasure of having him as our grade 7 teacher there.  I have many fond memories of him - such a kind and caring man, with a fine sense of humour.  I remember his delight in assigning lines to those who chewed gum - The mastication of the chicle product within the confines of an educational institution  etc, etc.   (For some reason, he once assigned these lines to the whole class!)  I have the pleasure of still being in touch with Ione Robinson, who taught at Colwood Elementary with Mr Rutherford.  She, too, was very sorry to hear of his passing.  She spoke of his kindness, his generosity as a teacher & a friend.  She always enjoyed working with him, and he often shared his teaching methods with her - in particular, she mentioned him showing her a better way to engage the students with a Social Studies unit.  I was very moved by the words Sue Agnew shared about her father on Facebook.  I think it speaks to the measure of a man when his children can speak so highly & lovingly of him.  (Mr Sundher, if you are reading this - I remember you as a student teacher!!)

So Sorry to hear of your loss, I didn't know Bud but grew up with Marca and all the Wilson family

So sorry to hear this,I enjoyed having him as my grade 6 and 7 teacher at Savory many years ago.My thoughts are with the family

What a wonderful teacher. One  of my favourites in the 70's at Colwood. Was excited to see Bud with his grandkids in the late '90's at a Wishart concert & discovering his daughter Mrs.Agnew taught  one of my kids.  Sympathy & blessings to all his family. I bet he was a fun Grandpa!,

As one of Bud's fellow Vic High grads, I have always remembered his cheerfulness and kindness.  Once, when I won a little award and was walking past him back to my seat, he murmered "Way to go, Carolyn." I've never forgotten that - in a small way it shows what a caring and supportive person he was.  My sincere sympathy to the family and to his many friends who are grieving today.  We will all miss him.

Bud, always a positive person and made you smile  I will miss him at Jazz &
Blues Festivals

The kindest, caring man I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. RIP Bud

I am very sad to hear about Bud's passing.  My thoughts are with his family.  I volunteered and worked closely with "Uncle" Bud during the Terrifvic Jazz Festival and then on the Board of Directors for the Vancouver Island Live Music Preservation Society working closely with him in the Transportation unit for both festivals.  I always had so much fun with Bud.  He will be missed.

Dear Rutherford Family:

It is with great sadness to hear of Bud's passing. I had the privilege of been a student teacher under Bud's mentorship at Metchosin Elementary in 1977. I admired and respected the time Bud gave me. Bud always said have fun, enjoy what you do, show respect to those you work with, and everything else would take care of itself. Over the years Bud continued to impress me with his compassion, great sense of humour, and love for his profession.

He will be missed and his legacy will continue on.

Ajmare and Catherine Sundher

OBITUARY

Robert Desmond Rutherford

29 September, 1936 – 21 September, 2015

First Memorial Funeral Services & Garden of Memories

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