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Robert Duncan Stevens was born on 18 July, 1962 in Rome, Italy while our father was working at the Canadian
Embassy. Rob was both a Canadian citizen and a Roman citizen.
 
Click on photos to enlarge them.
Mom and Rob at the hospital in Roma, Italia in 1962.
Dr. Arnott Hume "Pete" Stevens and Dr. Estelle Stevens had
five children. The sequence of birth was: Colin, Dave, Mary, Marjorie and Rob.
Click on photo to enlarge it.
Rob and a Japanese officer during a visit to our home by some of the officers
from the Japanese sail training ship, T. S. Nipon Maru to Vancouver, BC in 1971.
The whole Stevens family as we were about 1973 in the backyard of our house
on Osler Street in Vancouver. Rob is
in front with the German Shepherd and is about 10 years old in this photo.
Rob attended a German school in Bonn, Germany. He not only had to learn the
subjects that were being taught, but he had to do it in German - a new language
to him. To Rob's credit he succeeded. After returning to Canada, he
attended Shawnigan Lake School on Vancouver Island for 2 years and graduated in
1980. Rob later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of British
Columbia.
Rob's graduation photo from UBC
Click on photo to enlarge it.
Rob second from left with family.
Click on photo to enlarge it.
Rob teaching his daughter Ashley to roller skate.
Click on photo to enlarge it.
Marjorie in discussion with her brother Rob in discussion at Christmas 1999.
Rob died of cancer, peacefully, after a very long, brave fight, at 10:00 pm on
15 February, 2001 at St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
His wife Cynthia, his eldest brother Colin and his dog "Baggins" were
with him. The 15th of a month on the ancient Roman calendar was the
"Ides". Somehow that seems fitting for a man born in Rome.
I want to thank the staff at the Palliative Care Unit at St. Paul's
Hospital. They are a wonderful bunch of people. They were extremely professional
and did everything they could to help Rob be as pain free as possible and to
maintain his dignity. The staff were wonderful towards the family and friends as
well. We were allowed to visit Rob at anytime and were even allowed to bring in
his puppy "Baggins" (How can you tell that Rob liked to read Tolkien's
books?). Many family friends also visited Rob. At one point I
counted nine visitors in his room! One of the doctors on the ward was a friend of our mother's and had met Rob before.
Remember these people who spend their days and long nights caring for people in
the Palliative
Care Unit at St. Paul's Hospital as well as their patients, and count your blessings.
Rob was the youngest - only 38 years old. He was laid to rest on Saltspring Island in BC
in the Purdy-Cunningham Anglican "Memorial Cemetery" 200 metres
East of the movie theatre off of Upper Ganges Road on Saturday 2001 February
17 with the Reverend Canon Dr. Kim Murray officiating. There was a sprinkling of
snow on the ground. Rob's grave is in the new
section and is on the left as one enters the gate. The graveyard is in a
beautiful quiet spot surrounded by trees and farms. Deer, bald eagles and other
creatures of nature abound in the area.
Photo montage showing the new area of the Anglican cemetery where Rob was
later buried. Photos were taken by Colin a couple of days before Rob died. The
photos were damaged in the film processing. The deer had appeared been 1/2 inch
above the word "Where" on this photo. Rob loved the woods, and
when he was sick, asked to go to the woods and lakes.
Our
family enjoyed so many wonderful holidays on Saltspring so it is a fitting place. A Celtic cross will be mounted in the middle of the cemetery later this
year, and this ties in nicely with Rob's Scottish heritage.
The memorial Service for Rob was held on Monday,
March 5 at 1 p.m. at St. Faith's Anglican Church in Vancouver, 7284 Cypress St., Vancouver. Many
family and friends attended. Our brother Dave gave an excellent eulogy for
Rob.
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