SATURDAY, July 13, 2019

SHEARER, David Ian

January 11th, 1935, – March 29th, 2019.

(Age 84)

A celebration of life for the late David Shearer is to be held July 14th, 2019 @ 1:00pm at the residence of Derrick & Rhonda Shearer.

Directions from Lethbridge:

Highway 3 east to

Broxburn Road (RR210)

North 4 kms on

Broxburn Road

Please follow the signs

STANGROOM, Robert (Bob) W.

March 15, 1921 – June 27, 2019

During his lifetime of 98 years, Robert (Bob) W. Stangroom was an Olympic level swimmer, an Air Force Corporal, a demanding and dedicated swimming coach, and a physical educator passionate about health and community, but his greatest roles were that of a father and mentor. As the oldest in a family of 6, his early life prepared him well, living on the shores of Hudson Bay and helping his mother look after younger siblings while his Mountie father was out “getting his man”. His teens and twenties found him playing surrogate father to his much younger sisters, carrying them piggyback up the hill from his job as a lifeguard at Locarno Beach in Vancouver. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1939, wanting to be a pilot but, limited by his bad vision, spent the 6 years earthbound as a mechanic and fueler. The experience cemented his sense of duty and responsibility instilled by his pioneering parents and upbringing. Post war, he enrolled in the first Physical Education class to graduate from UBC, aiming to feed his passion for a healthy lifestyle and aquatics. His students and younger sister, Margaret, who swam in the 1954 Commonwealth Games, benefitted from his quiet, straight forward style of teaching and coaching. In pursuit of his passion for getting as many people involved in recreation, he returned to school at the University of Washington, graduating with an MSc in Physical Education, an unusual achievement in 1955. Over the next ten years, he and his wife, Mary Lou, hopped across the country from Nelson, BC and community recreation to Ottawa and the DND, finally settling in Fredericton, with a professorship at UNB. Along the way, their 3 daughters were born and life became all about his girls. The early morning swim practices tested our dedication but never his. His Phys Ed students and colleagues remember his quiet intellect, compassion and high standards. Volunteering for the Red Cross Water Safety programs that he helped develop was central to his philosophy and core values. And he had a ready, able and enthusiastic squad of daughters and Aquanauts to do the water safety demonstrations! To quote him, “Swimming is not just a sport or pastime, but a life skill.” In retirement, he continued to be a lifelong learner, encouraging each of his grandchildren to pursue their education and their dreams, always with a dose of love couched in humour. He continued to swim, even competing at Masters Nationals with UBC Masters in the 80-85 age group where he set a Canadian record in 50 Fly. Ever the athlete, he impressed everyone with his youthfulness and humility. He left this world just a few days shy of his and Mary Lou’s 64th wedding anniversary, and was predeceased by his dear sisters, Dorothy and Mary and brother John. He will be missed more than words can express by Mary Lou, by his daughters Randi (Stewart), Karen (Robert) and Mary Kay (Greg) and by his 7 grandchildren, Kenzie, Ellian, Devon, Cameron, Liam, Hannah and Jackson. He is survived by his brother, Tim and sister, Margaret, and numerous nieces and nephews. A celebration of Bob’s life took place on July 4th at The Gardens, in Lethbridge, AB. His daughters have set up a Memorial Fund through the University of New Brunswick to support a student with his passion for community recreation and lifelong activity and volunteerism. Please go to http://www.unb.ca/giving, click on Give Now and direct your donation to the Robert (Bob) Stangroom Memorial or contact Marcie Nixon directly (nixon@unb.ca) (1-506-453-4986).

To express condolences, please visit: http://www.mountainviewmemorial.ca.