OBITUARY
Roland Humphreys Webb
September 2, 1975 – January 17, 2013
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the tragic loss of our beloved Roland “Rollie” Humphreys Webb. Rollie passed away suddenly in a motor vehicle accident; he died instantly and did not suffer. He is survived by his father Roland Sr., his brother Sean (Jessica and their son Linden), his two children Abbie and Ethan, and was predeceased by his mother Angela (2007). He is lovingly remembered by his partner and best friend Helena and her two sons Darwin and Andrew, his stepmother Elaine and his stepsiblings Ainsley (Charles) and Zachary (Jill) and his children’s mother, Tracey. Rollie was born in Sydney, Cape Breton. He moved to British Columbia when he was five years old and grew up in White Rock, graduating from Semiahmoo Secondary in 1993. Rollie had a lifelong love of first aid, paramedicine and emergency patient care. Rollie began volunteering with St. John Ambulance while in high school and joined the BC Ambulance at 19 as the youngest licensed paramedic in the Service. For the next 18 years he worked initially on the street, then in dispatch and in 2008 became the Superintendent of Emergency Management Services, the youngest Superintendent in the Service at that time. In this role he was deeply involved with BC Paramedic preparations for the Olympics and most recently the rapid establishment of the Mobile Medical Unit at Surrey Memorial Hospital when the existing emergency facilities shut down due to flooding. In his spare time he organized and managed the medical support for the very popular annual BC Bike Race. In parallel to his career, Rollie loved the mountains and outdoor sports including hiking, skiing, snow shoeing, biking, mountaineering and rock climbing. He combined his love of the outdoors with his skills in emergency medicine, and volunteered with many local Search and Rescue organizations including Surrey, Lion’s Bay, Salt Spring Island and since 2002, with Coquitlam Search and Rescue. An excellent teacher and trainer, he worked for the Justice Institute training Dispatchers, for the Canadian Military training SAR Technicians, most of whom served in Afghanistan, taught many SAR volunteers throughout the lower mainland and taught a number of other courses for the general public. These included Automatic External Defibrillator training for employees of public facilities, stores, offices and others sites too numerous to mention. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 25 at Our Lady of The Assumption Church, 3141 Shaughnessy Street, Port Coquitlam. The Coquitlam Search & Rescue team is organizing a Celebration of Rollie’s life to be held at Buntzen Lake on Saturday, January 26 and will confirm further details via their website and at the Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider participating in a trust fund being set up for his childrens’ education.
Services
- Funeral Service Friday, January 25, 2013
REMEMBERING
Roland Humphreys Webb
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RECEIVE UPDATESJason McMillan
July 11, 2013
I went to high school with Rollie. He was one of the most optimistic, kind hearted and good people that i knew then, and i imagine that he lived the rest of his life in a similar fashion. Helping people was always a priority to him. What a loss. My sincere condolences to the family and close friends. Hope your at peace Roland Webb.
Kenneth Brogan
February 8, 2013
Roland,
Just heard of your great loss through Kevan Parry. I send you my condolences to you and yours.
Ken Brogan, CCGC Class 1975
Myles Ross
February 7, 2013
Roland,
I also have just heard of your great loss. I an sending my condolences to you and yours.
CCGC, Class 1975
February 7, 2013
Kevan just informed me of your loss. My condolences to you and your family.
Robert Hadley, CCGC, Class 75
February 7, 2013
Roland Sr., I just read about your loss in Maclean's for February 11, 2013 (The end). My condolences to your family on the loss of your son.
Kevan Parry, CCGC, Class 75.
Blair & Judy Gilhen
February 7, 2013
Rollie,
My wife and I were heart broken to hear of the loss of your son. Please accept our sincerest condolences.
January 28, 2013
Dear Rollie: I have just learned of your untimely and tragic departure from us with shock and deep sense of loss. Our younger brothers should not go before us.
It seems so very long ago that you came to join me at the "tender" age of nineteen in 1993, out of the big city to a country village. We knew you were good, didn't we, but did either of us have any idea of what a star-studded career you had ahead of you or how many lives you would touch in such a positive manner?? No, I don't think it ever entered our little heads.
Rollie; I am so proud of what you have accomplished in both your career and personal life and want to thank you so very much for the opportunity to have had just a little bit of guidance and inspiration in making it come to pass.
Jim UC ret'd Stn 330
Ian Pratt
January 26, 2013
You have been my best friend for the past 5 years and have looked up to you like a brother. You will be on my mind every day and I will miss you. Rest in peace my friend.
Roy Daniels
January 25, 2013
Rest in Peace Brother
From a
40 years as paramedic in B. C.
January 24, 2013
Please accept my sympathy.
Maurice
Maurice D Smith, Kingston, Ontario.
Dwight Yochim
January 24, 2013
Rollie was a huge member of Coquitlam SAR and will be deeply missed. His dedication to training others so they would have the skills necessary to help others was second to none. Who knows how many lives he has had an influence in saving and will continue to have an influence in saving into the future.
The Gauthier Family
January 24, 2013
Our thoughts are with Roland's family and all those who were touched by him. He will be sadly missed.
Amy Sheridan
January 23, 2013
Sending so much love and support to your family, my dear friend. Your laugh was contagious; it was easy to be your friend...you were, and always will be, such an amazing person who touched and affected so many people's lives for the better. Oh, how we will sorely miss you, but will never, ever, forget you or all the positive things you accomplished in your short life.
Take care, dear friend. See you on the other side. *Hug*
Jonathan De Serres
January 23, 2013
R.I.P Roland Webb. The world will not be the same without you. My deepest condolences go out to his family and friends. Sorry for your loss!
Adam Lund
January 23, 2013
Rollie is a co-author on a submission to the 2013 World Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicine. In early January, before submitting it, I asked all of the co-authors to send me their credentials, and the letters they wanted to follow their names. Rollie sent me:
Roland Webb, RN, CA, PhD - he told me that stood for 'Rescue Nerd,' 'Captain Ambulance' & 'Prehospital Dude'
It is my privilege to carry forward Rollie's name, and to include him as a co-author and scholar as well as an amazing friend, team-mate & leader.
Adam Lund, UBC Mass Gathering Medicine Interest Group
January 23, 2013
I send my greatest sympathies to Rolands family and friends. I had only met Roland once, he seemed like an amazing person with so much to teach, I can only hope to be half the paramedic he was.
Again I am very sorry for your loss and I hope that you can take comfort in knowing that his legacy will live on as he touched so many lives.
Scott & Leah Wright
January 23, 2013
Words of comfort simply cannot meet the magnitude of the loss we are all experiencing losing Rollie. Our thoughts and love go out to Abbie, Ethan, family and friends, and in time may you find peace, love and comfort in the memories you cherish. Rollie was a devoted father who led a rewarding life and accomplished so much in such a short time, he certainly lived life to the fullest. He was a very special friend to our family, and Scott & the kids will miss the outdoor adventures (whether it be skiing, riding, bike park, soccer games or just hanging out), he will be truly missed. Our heartfelt condolences, thinking of you during this difficult time. Much love, Scott, Leah, Tyler and Amber xo
Gina Campbell
January 22, 2013
Our hearts go out to Rollie's family, friends and dear children, Abbie & Ethan during this very sad time. Rollie's love of life will live on in spirit through his children and through the great legacy he leaves... as an amazing father, friend and active member of our community. Our prayers, love and deepest sympathies to the family. With love Gina, Matthew, Aidan & Lucas
Candace Gauthier
January 22, 2013
I am so sorry Rollie was taken so tragically! Rollie was such a kind, caring and selfless man. He was so passionate about SARS, Ambulance and anything he took on. His family was always his priority. I feel so honoured to have had the privilege of knowing Rollie. We had many great adventures while we worked together as paramedics. I know my life was forever changed by knowing him. Although he is gone he won't be forgotten. Hugs to you all during this time. Love Candace
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