Gregory Roberts Koyl

KOYL, Gregory Roberts May 1, 1951 - August 18, 2017 Hi, if you're reading this, there's a reasonable likelihood that I've slipped the bonds of this Earth and am tearing around on my 1968 Triumph Bonneville T120R in the universe, having a great time. I've had a wonderful, privileged life. Jack and Phyllis Koyl adopted me in 1951 and looked after me, gave me lots of stuff and made sure I was well fed and safe all the time. And I thank them for that. It was truly appreciated. Later, when marriages broke down, my stepmother Edith was my first angel. She truly, truly helped me get through high school with what she recognized to be a fairly serious problem with mental illness. She was there for me every step of the way. And I miss her terribly now and always will, unless I can find her as I travel the universe. My second angel was my former wife and best friend of forty years, Mary Koyl - my unfailing rock and the most important person in my life. The Universe was watching over me when I first set eyes on her at the University of Victoria so many years ago. Mary's mum, Elizabeth Williams, stepped in where Ede left off - I will forever be grateful to her for that and for always having time for me at the end of the phone, especially for our weekly chats where we set the world right. And I've never felt more at home than in the warm bear hug of my brother-in-law, Frank, and his family who unfailingly embraced me as one of their own. I've fond memories of riding my Triumph with my brother Paul and generally goofing around with him in our youth, the joy of being Uncle Gurgle to my wonderful niece and nephew - Lisa and Scott, and of playing the same role with Scott's two boys. I've spent good times and had good laughs over the years with my sister Anne, and her husband, Trevor. Likewise I have magical memories of my Uncle Lee and Aunt Enid as I was growing up - they played a big and much valued role in my life. I've been blessed with so many, many wonderful and steadfast friends, colleagues and mentors. These are just a few: Wayne Hatch above all - his wife Adele and their family who became my family, Stephen Gibson - my great friend since high school, Philip Halkett, Gerry Armstrong, Jim Walker (deceased), Jack Hall, Les Foster, Elaine Taylor, Jim Carson, Heather Murphy, David Buchan, Jim Crone, Ross Lambertson, Jack Macdonald, Lake Apted, and Tom Shoyama. Forgive me, those of you I've not mentioned by name - I trust you know who you are and how much you've meant to me. My gratitude also goes to Rick Hudson, my tireless and compassionate doctor who took good care of me and became a valued friend once he retired. My heartfelt thanks goes to Anastasia and Joanne, my longsuffering caregivers who made it possible for me to stay in my James Bay condo all these years, offering a weekly ray of sunshine and becoming my friends. And finally, I'm grateful for knowing the joy that comes with the unconditional love of all the four-legged pals who've walked this life with me. I had the good fortune to be raised in the 1950's in the small town of Cobourg, Ontario with the best Dad in the world who made ice skating rinks in the backyard, drove me back and forth to endless hockey practices and cadets, and made Christmas and birthdays pure magic. He was always there for me and loved me fiercely and unconditionally. He was a hard act to follow as a decorated war hero, professional hockey player and successful CEO, but I did my best. I truly enjoyed my days at the University of Victoria, financed by stints at Victoria's Yarrow Shipyard, several B.C. Forest Product sawmills and hard rock underground mining in Northern B.C., the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. My B.A in Economics, History and Political Science and M.A. in Public Administration opened the doors to a fabulously wide and varied career with the B.C. Government, serving in numerous central agencies and line ministries. My glory days were with the fine team at Treasury Board Staff, and with leading an equally as fine team as an Assistant Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Late in the 1990's, I was honoured to be appointed Assistant Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Forests. How I loved taking road trips on my Triumph Bonneville to hang out with regional staff who did the "real work". (Even though they had to bail me out on occasion by flinging my bike into the back of a pick up truck when it broke down at the side of the road. Thanks guys!) Nothing has given me more pride than to have served this beautiful Province and its citizenry with such a fine cadre of civil servants over the years. And this includes the privilege of playing a big role in the Provincial Government's Community Services Fund in support of the United Way. My final words to everyone reading this are simply to keep smiling, savour the good days, and never pass on an opportunity to be kind or generous, or both. So watch out for me in your rear view mirror and let's rock n roll! FRIENDS OF GREG KOYL: An informal "Raise a Toast to Greg Koyl" will be held on November 11th at 3:00 pm at the Reception Hall, Robert's House, 620 Toronto Street. Please RVSP to marykoyl@shaw.ca.