Obituaries

Robert John Roycroft passed away on January 20, 2024 at the age of 75 years.

He was predeceased by his parents Thomas Edward Roycroft May 19, 1975 and Alma Theresa Roycroft (Mang) Feb.11, 2004, his sister Marion Frances Gracey Dec. 13, 2013 and Peter Gracey Jan. 21, 2021.

Robert is survived by his sister Carol Mae Casswell, niece Sonya Gracey and grand-nieces Penelope-Rose and Eloise Frances-Mae, "Uncle Allan", and many cousins and other nieces.

Robert attended 8 years of schooling at Wascana Elementary School, then from 1962 four years of High School at Martin Collegiate, both in Regina, SK, taking many optional courses with an emphasis on Arts. School consultant Joyce Deutscher was guiding him during those years up to graduation in the spring of 1966. He also learned 4 years of accordion and then 3 years of pop piano with Mr. Gilboe at Arcade Music Studios. Robert was a member of the Regina Dolphins swim group and during the next few years did a lot of family babysitting and summer jobs to afford books, art supplies, car gas, and incidentals. In the fall of 1966 he enrolled in art classes and convocated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in 1971, then continued with Education classes and convocated with a Bachelor of Education Degree in 1972. He took a five month holiday to London, Paris, Tunis, and Spain in the fall of 1972. In the fall of 1973 to 1975 Robert was hired to teach grades 7 to 10 at Onion Lake Central School. This was his impetus to a lifelong beading hobby.

In the fall of 1977 Robert was in New York “the big apple”, designing, directing fabricating and installing numerous Electric signs. He was also involved in workspace interior renovations, hired by North Star Electric Sign Services in New York, N.Y. for six months.

Norman Mackenzie Art Gallery hired Robert as an Outreach Officer touring original Art Exhibits to schools and community centres across all of Saskatchewan in the fall of 1978 - 1983. Robert matted and framed new works including many small original expensive medieval prints. He and Betty Struthers inventoried Norman Mackenzie’s original bequest including edge Numbering Roman coins with tinny white lacquer numbers, delicate work. Then as a technician Robert completed two sets of inventory files with matching slides documenting the permanent Saskatchewan Arts Board collection and many other projects.

In the summer of 1986, Gordon Staseson directed Robert to select art to install at the 1986 Expo Saskatchewan Pavilion (Grain Elevator) in Vancouver, B.C. for the Saskatchewan Economic Development World Trade Show and thereafter ensure the return of the art.

Robert was a founding member of the Saskatchewan Craft Council. He edited for 3 years the Saskatchewan Society for Education art monthly journal. Robert curated the Fabric Phantasmagoria Exhibit touring Prince Albert and North Battleford in 1983.

In 1989 - 1991 the Regina Public Library English as a 2nd Language program hired Robert, of which he innovated the program by training adults who had completed the course to be tutor assistants: mentoring new immigrant clients. The library won an award for this initiative.

In 1990 - 2000 the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program hired Robert to educate degree teachers Art teaching methodologies and concepts (music, visual arts, sculpture) during spring intersessions at Whitehorse Yukon College for ten years. He also supervised and evaluated local Saskatchewan teachers during their practicum.

In 2016 we moved to a new location in Northwest Regina in August and sold both our old houses by next fall.

No service will be held. Memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Hospitals of Regina Foundation.

As Robert's favourite phrase was, "Travel the sunny side of the street".