Bernard Raffo

RAFFO, Bernard It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Bernard Raffo. He died peacefully after a long battle with cancer, at the age of 87 on July 14, 2015. He is survived by his loving wife Ann; his children, Emma and Steven; and his grandchildren, Tyson and Sienna. Bernard was born in Manchester, England in 1928 to Albert and Gladys Raffo. He immigrated to Canada in 1951, settling in Toronto before moving to Victoria in 1972. His two great passions in life were jazz and art. He was blessed with a musician's ear and cultivated a remarkable depth and breadth of knowledge of the genre. Professionally, he co-founded and operated the Winchester Galleries until his retirement, taking great pride in identifying, supporting and promoting talented local artists. As per Bernard's request, there will not be a funeral. A private celebration of his life will be held on July 26th. The Raffo family wish to thank the staff at the Victoria Hospice for their support and compassionate care during his final weeks. If desired, donations may be made in memoriam of Bernard to the Victoria Hospice Society. Condolences may be offered at www.mccallbros.com.