Harold Morton Robinson

Harold is predeceased by his beloved wife, Lonnie (née McLeod), who passed away in 1996, and is survived by his children, Katherine, Scott (Nik), and Mary (Steve); his cherished grandchildren, Maud, Declan, and Fiona, of whom he was immensely proud; his siblings, Eric and Lorraine.

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, on March 15, 1935, Harold grew up in Victoria, B.C., attending Victoria High and served as valedictorian in 1953. The school’s motto, “Palma Non Sine Pulvere – No Reward Without Effort,” aligned perfectly with his approach to life. He earned a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education, and Master of Education degrees from the Universities of Victoria and British Columbia.

Harold was a gifted high school teacher in Victoria, Chemainus, and Lake Cowichan, known to his students as tough but fair. He had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and loved to travel, to read, and to learn about other people and their experiences. He had little patience for narrow thinking and taught his children and his students the importance of questioning those who are certain they have all the answers. He lived life on his own terms to the very end.

In retirement, Harold continued his lifelong commitment to learning. He devoted countless hours to refining his French, deepening his already extensive knowledge of the First and Second World Wars, and tending to his garden. He carried on a spirited rivalry with the neighbourhood deer, who insisted on eating the blossoms of his carefully tended plants. In true Robinson fashion, he met their persistent incursions with determination on every front.

A memorial service will be held later this spring, with details to be announced.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Victoria Hospital Foundation or BC Cancer Foundation.