Dr Robert (Bob) Alexander Love 1924-2004

Dr Bob Love died in Victoria in December, 2004, after a long illness.

He was born in Quebec City in 1924, and after serving as a physical training instructor (he said they told him he wasn’t tough enough on the men) and X-ray technician during the Second World War, he attended medical school at McGill University. He started an internal medicine residency program at McGill, and married Nancy Law in 1950. They moved to Trail in 1952 so he could work in general practice, and he then completed his internal medicine in 1954–55 in Vancouver.

They returned to Trail, where they raised four children and were very active in the community. Bob bought a cottage at Christina Lake in 1960 and spent many happy times there with family and friends every summer for the next 40 years. Bob was an inspired innovator at the lake. His successes included teaching his kids to water-ski behind a sailboat with a 7.5 horsepower motor, a seven-story tree house, and the ability to fix many things with black electric tape (long before duct tape was in vogue).

In 1972, Bob and the family moved to Victoria where he continued for a few years in internal medicine, and then practised nuclear medicine at the Royal Jubilee Hospital until his retirement in 1990.

He was highly respected and loved by his family, patients, staff, and friends, and was known for his kind and gentle spirit. He was a faithful and active member of Cadboro Bay United Church. He loved sports of all kinds, playing bridge, listening to music, playing the piano, and travel.

He retained his love of medicine all of his life, and even in his last years would ask me if I had seen any interesting cases we could discuss.

Shortly after his retirement, Bob began his long battle with Alzheimer disease. In 2002, Bob moved into the Oak Bay Kiwanis Pavilion where he lived comfortably with the support of his family and the excellent staff. He dealt with his illness with grace and dignity, and retained many of his wonderful personality traits until his last days.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy; daughters, Heather and Rosemary (Douglas); sons, Robin (Deirdre) and James (Karen); and four grandchildren. He was a great husband and father, friend and colleague—and a gentleman to the end.

—Robin R. Love, MD
Nanaimo