Robert Bartolo – November 9, 2021
Robert “Bob” Oswyn Bartolo passed peacefully in his sleep, into the presence of His Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ on Tuesday, November 9th at the Wiigwas Nursing Home in Kenora (formerly Birchwood).
Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, on September 17, 1933, Bob overcame childhood polio and other significant challenges to pursue his dream of higher education. It was a dream which took him to the University of Manitoba, where his studies culminated in a teaching degree and an MA in Classics in 1971. It was there that he met and married Cicelyn Elvina James, from Tobago, and the two began their new life together in Canada.
A lifelong teacher, Bob taught in Trinidad, rural Manitoba and then close to three decades in Kenora, where he was known as “Mr. B” to the generations of students he taught at Lakewood and Beaver Brae Secondary Schools. Bob taught French, English, History, Latin and Special Education, and it was not uncommon for him to tutor and assist students who needed help after school and on his own time.
Bob was a long-time member of Calvary Church, loved to teach and sing, and in turn was blessed with a church family that time and again demonstrated their love for Christ in how they cared for him, especially in his final years. He was a proud member of the Gideons, loved visiting prisons, hospitals and retirement homes, where he would often sing and conduct services. Many of the staff at the Wiigwas Home, where he lived his final months, recalled how he and Cicelyn would faithfully come and visit the residents.
Bob was predeceased by his wife of 48 years Cicelyn Elvina Bartolo, his parents, Henry Egbert and Shafina, sister Angela and brother Mervin. He is survived by his brother Maxwell (Lima) & family.
Bob is survived by his three children: Richard (Karlene), Ron (Anna Maria), Roberta (and daughter Tatum), and his grandchildren: Ricardo, Rachael, Xavier, Dante, Micah and Lizzie. He spoke often with great pride about his children’s accomplishments, and will be remembered by his grandchildren as a story teller who encouraged each of them to live up to their potential.
We would like to express our gratitude to Pastor Mike Davis, Marg Gudereyan, Albert Rogers, Reynolds & Loraine Hermanson, Dwayne Krashel, his close neighbours, and the many others who cared for our father in ways that we, his children, could not, living at a distance.
A celebration of Bob’s life will take place at a date TBD, most likely in the spring of 2022. Donations in his memory, if desired, can be made to Calvary Church (Kenora), the Gideons, World Vision and Hope for Dementia.