1940 - 2021
Robert died peacefully at home on New Year’s Day. Ever the accountant, he held on just long
enough to maximize the tax benefits of his passing.
Rob was born in Buenos Aires to an Anglo-Argentine family. He was the firstborn son of Molly
Jenkins (née Hale) and Ian Paterson. He is predeceased by his younger brother Andrew and
the mother of his children, Linda Paterson (née Wood). He leaves behind his loving family; his
beloved wife, Wendy Winslow, his son, Toby (Nicole-Anne Boyer), his daughters, Rebecca and
Kate and his stepchildren, Toffer and Nicole. His younger sister, Pippa Blancpain, his sister-inlaw
Carol and his cousins Caroline Hayward and Jocelyn Broughton will miss him as will his
grandchildren, Hadley, Nate, Rose, Rae and Jacqueline. His Tickley Man impersonation always
sent grandchildren, nieces and nephews shrieking with eager anticipation.
As was the custom of Anglo-Argentine families in the 1950s, Rob was sent to boarding school
in England at age 10. He spent school holidays with his father in Scotland and made the long
trip back to Argentina to spend the summers with his mother. His headmaster at Bedford
School noted on one report card “I am convinced of his ability, but also of his idleness.” He
loved to to tell that anecdote after he graduated with four A levels, an honours degree in
Chemistry from St Andrew’s University, a postgraduate certificate from the London School of
Economics, and four professional accounting designations. Life to the end was all about how
the numbers added up. His knowledge of GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles)
and tax law made him an invaluable resource on many volunteer boards, but he lived in fear of
WAAP (Wendy’s Arbitrary Accounting Practices.)
After finishing university in 1963, Rob went on the adventure of a lifetime. He left England in a
small, rickety merchant ship carrying explosives and arrived in Columbia six weeks later. He
spent the next three months living rough and travelling along various tributaries of the Amazon.
Eventually he abandoned his carefree ways and flew to Buenos Aires to begin his military
service. His stepfather, Phil Jenkins, had arranged for 'le soldadito de la Patria' to be 'bien
acomodado.' Rob served in the Casa Rosada as assistant to an Argentine Airforce
Commodore. His bilingual skills were a great asset. One American general commented his
English was quite passable.
Rob’s training as a chemist led him to his first job at Shell Research, but he quickly realized
management consulting was more lucrative. After completing an accounting degree via night
courses at the London School of Economics, he joined Arthur Andersen in London in 1966. In
1975, he immigrated with his young family to Vancouver to work with Peat Marwick, becoming
a partner in 1980. He rejoined Arthur Andersen in 1990 as the partner responsible for the
business consulting practice, first in Vancouver and later in Russia where his responsibilities
spanned seven time zones from Moscow to Vladivostok.
Rob’s last job was ‘Information Technology Expert In Charge of Personnel & Financial Affairs’
for the United Arab Emirates University Faculty of Medicine. After the rigours of working and
living in Russia it felt like a holiday camp. Weekends were free to explore the gold and rug
souqs of Dubai or to camp with friends in remote wadis. He and Wendy married in 1998 in a
small, bizarre and memorable ceremony under Sharia law, followed by receptions with family
and friends scattered across five countries.
Rob retired in 2000 to become a househusband. He concluded cooking was just another
chemistry experiment and made breakfast, lunch and dinner almost every day. In the last two
decades Wendy and Rob had some fabulous adventures: camping across Oman on their
honeymoon, crossing the Pantanal wetlands in a dilapidated truck, exploring Iguaçu National
Park, savouring Mozart in the Musikverein, sailing the eastern Caribbean in a 67-foot boat,
swimming with blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos, bagging Munros in Scotland, shopping
for Persian rugs in Iran, suffering Turkish baths in Istanbul, bird-watching in Costa Rica,
learning about the people and history of Cuba, lazing in St Lucia and celebrating Christmases
in Tulum and Cancun with family. Closer to home, they hiked in the Rockies, photographed
icebergs in Newfoundland and ate the freshest seafood in Haida Gwaii.
Rob’s was a life well lived, surrounded by so many people who loved and respected him. He
advised them all on money management to the end. If you wish, please make a donation to a
charity of your choice in Rob’s honour.
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