"All that we send into the lives of others comes back into our own."

GREENWOOD, Donald Robin (Rob) March 22, 1938 December 9, 2011

Rob was born in Vancouver General Hospital and was raised in Port Moody. He grew up in the Ioco Road wilderness of the late `30s and `40s, and spent much of his childhood roaming the forests and mountainside surrounding his home, and swimming in the waters of the Burrard Inlet. He attended UBC and became a Music and English teacher. He moved his young family to Victoria in 1961 to take a teaching position at Happy Valley School, and continued teaching in Greater Victoria for thirty-five years (Gordon Head Junior Secondary, Cedar Hill Junior Secondary, Northridge Elementary).

Music was one of his great loves, which he indulged with years of sharing his beautiful tenor voice in choirs and shows, as well as building a reputation for being a reliably rocking piano player at numerous parties over the years. He loved to bring music to seniors homes at Christmas time, and filled his own home with music and singing.

He swam like a fish, winning races in his teens, and went on to teach many young people to swim. Rob was an avid reader of mystery novels, and passionately enjoyed crosswords, scrabble and other word games. He was proud to use his teaching skills helping new Canadians to learn English and he did so until his passing, as a volunteer at the Inter-Cultural Association of Victoria. He also enjoyed volunteering one day a week until he was no longer able to do so at Victoria Persons Living With AIDS Society.

Rob cared deeply about all people, and found gentle ways to encourage others to use their time and energy to do the same.

He will be sorrowfully missed, but joyfully remembered by all who knew him, but especially by his loved and loving husband Dominic and stepdaughter Kate Fetherston, his dedicated children Adam (Fiona), Risa, Anna Peron (Dennis Wallis), and Jennifer Cliche (Remi); sister Sylvia McConnell (Arlen), the mother of his children Jan Greenwood; the mother of his step-daughter Christine Fetherston; grandchildren Julien, Luc, and Adrien Peron and their dad Michel, Elise and Isabelle Cliche, and Mark, Amy and Paige Greenwood; as well, by his nephews, cousins, and aunt Helen Ewan. He was predeceased by his much-loved and loving parents Margaret and Harvey Greenwood.

A celebration of Rob's life will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 15th at the Fellowship Hall of the First Metropolitan United Church at 932 Balmoral Rd. In lieu of flowers, donations in Rob's name can be made to P.W.A. at http://vpwas.ca/donate.html