Greenspace Alliance of Canada's CapitalIn memoriam: Bill Royds
Bill Royds, 61, passed a way before sunrise on February 20, 2009, after a long illness.
Bill has made a deep impression on many people involved in a wide range of activities: statistics (his original field), the free software movement, internet security, municipal politics, love of nature and nature conservation, love of poetry, choral singing. Most of all, Bill always spoke proudly of his family, rejoicing in the blossoming out of his three daughters.
Greenspace Alliance members and friends will remember him especially for his numerous contributions to the various causes and projects undertaken by the Alliance. He became involved almost from day one, set up the group’s first web site and served as moderator of the e-mail list service. He conceived of the Poets’ Pathway as a fitting memorial of Canada’s nature poets. He served as vice-chair in 2002 and chair or co-chair in 2003-2004.
He possessed an encyclopedic knowledge in an astonishing range of fields, and what he didn’t know his nimble fingers were sure to soon locate on the internet! He was extremely generous, enthusiastic and indefatigable in sharing his knowledge and insight with others.
There will be no funeral. A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 24 at 1:30 p.m. in the "Sacred Space" at Beechwood Cemetery, followed by interment of the ashes at Poet’s Hill there.
Our sincere condolences go to Rhoda and daughters Amelia, Jessica, Linley and family.
The Greenspace Alliance Board
For more about Bill Royds on this web site see:
A bio:
http://greenspace-alliance.ca/node/224#bill
His citation for the 2006 Ontario Natural Heritage Award:
http://greenspace-alliance.ca/node/212
His entry in the “Introducing yourself” forum: http://greenspace-alliance.ca/node/294#comment-107
About Poet’s Hill:
http://greenspace-alliance.ca/node/128
On the genesis of the Poets' Pathway:
http://greenspace-alliance.ca/node/131
Memorial Service - 24 April 2009
The Sacred Space at Beechwood Cemetery was filled for a beautiful memorial service in honour of Bill. Lay Chaplain Caroline Elson of the First Unitarian Congregation spoke opening words and introduced the various contributors -- The Chalice Choir of the F.U. Congregation (to which Bill belonged), a reading of Archibald Lampman's Winter Uplands and of Lorne Peterson's Trillium Hills by Jane Moore, and eulogies by Erwin Dreessen, Joseph Potvin and Craig Taylor (the latter read by Bill's son-in-law, Amos Varco). Bill's three daughters then shared some memories of Bill, as did several members of the audience.
At the reception later, attendees were treated to a series of slides with photos spanning Bill's entire life.
The take-home card featured "Song" -- the poem by Christina Rossetti (1830-1894):
When I am dead, my dearest,
Sing no sad songs for me;
Plant thou no roses at my head,
Nor shady cypress tree:
Be the green grass above me
With showers and dewdrops wet;
And if thou wilt, remember,
And if thou wilt, forget.
I shall not see the shadows,
I shall not feel the rain;
I shall not hear the nightingale
Sing on, as if in pain:
And dreaming through the twilight
That doth not rise nor set,
Haply I may remember,
And haply may forget.
The second line is repeated on the bronze plaque marking the placement of Bill's ashes at Poet's Hill.
E.D.
P.S.: An animated reading of Rossetti's poem, is on youtube .
Where to send donations
Rhoda Bellamy advises:
Several people have asked me where to direct donations in Bill's memory. ... I suggest one of the following three or another organisation of your choice:
The Poets' Pathway
1217 Maitland Avenue
Ottawa, ON, K2C 2C4
Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club
Box 35069, Westgate P.O.
Ottawa, ON, K1Z 1A2
First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa
30 Cleary Avenue
Ottawa, ON, K2A 4A1
[specify for the Chalice Choir]
From the Certified Information Systems Security Professionals
An In Memoriam on the site of the Certified Information Systems Security Professionals:
http://infosec-inmemoriam.blogspot.com/2009/02/bill-royds.html
Erwin
Bill's Obituary in the Citizen
Bill's obituary was published today in the Ottawa Citizen at http://www.legacy.com/can-ottawa/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=124603820. From there one can view and sign a Guestbook.
Erwin - 25 Feb 2009
Gosling Community - Remembering Bill Royds
Thoughtful words by Joseph Potvin: http://www.goslingcommunity.org/BillRoyds.shtml Ron