Robert E. IHRIG

IHRIG, Robert E. ('Bob')
Passed away peacefully at Stratford General Hospital on Sunday evening, November 27, 2005. Bob will be remembered for his many artistic talents and deep generosity. Predeceased by his parents, Emmamae Ewart Ihrig, who worked for the Stratford Festival from 1958-1973 and Henry Ihrig. He leaves behind a sister, Agnes McCabe of Lansing MI., brother, Fredrick Ihrig of Golden CO., his niece Karen McCabe of San Francisco and Stratford and nieces and nephews Suzanne McCabe, Katherine McCabe, Daniels McCabe, Rita McCabe, Kevin McCabe, Judith McCabe, Terry McCabe, Debbie Nagy, Melissa Kalaf, Julie Ihrig and Camella Ihrig.Long-time resident of Stratford, Bob was born in Lansing, Michigan. He and his family lived in Germany from 1936-1939. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951-1953 and then obtained a Masters of Art from Michigan State University before moving to Stratford in 1957. He had a career with the Stratford Festival that spanned four decades – as a dresser (1957), a prop- maker (1958-1960), Supervisor of Exhibits (1961-1968) and Exhibits Coordinator (1990-98) and Exhibits Archivist (1998-2004). During his time at the Festival, he supervised such major exhibitions as Faces of Canada (1964), 100 Years of Theatre in Canada (1967) and the Tanya Moiseiwitsch Exhibition (1992). He was the Founding Director of the Rothman Gallery (1967) and Director of the Kitchener-Waterloo Gallery from 1972-1980. He was a member of Stratford's Gallery 96 from the early 1960s until the present, curated numerous exhibits at the Art Gallery of London, and served as President of the Canadian Arts Association. He was an instructor at Michigan State University, taught and did photography for the Stratford Chefs School and was a founding member of PAL (Performing Arts Lodge) Stratford. Bob was an accomplished artist, painter and photographer with his works collected throughout North America, as well as an avid art collector. A memorial celebrating Bob's life will be held in the spring of 2006. The family would like to thank the Palliative Care unit of Stratford General Hospital for their kind care of Bob during his last months. In lieu of cards and flowers donations can be made in Bob's name to Gallery 96 or Stratford PAL, and sent to W.G.Young Funeral Home, 430 Huron St. Stratford, ON. N5A 5T7.