Robert J. TROPAK

TROPAK, Robert J. BSW, LLB
October 9, 2014
It is with profound sadness and much love that we announce the peaceful passing of Robert J. Tropak.
Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife Shelagh; family pet Blackjack of Edmonton; mother Elizabeth of Winnipeg; brother John (Silke); nephews Nick (Alicia) their daughter Anna and Joe (Yeori) their son Jack, all of Calgary. Also left to mourn are mother in-law Patricia Hamilton; sister-in-law Laura Hamilton of Calgary; brother-in-law Jeff (Laura) of Winnipeg; nieces Tara (Rob) of Gatineau and Jamie (Jazur) of Winnipeg; extended family and numerous friends throughout Canada.
Robert was predeceased by his father John, October 9, 1989.
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Robert received his B.S.W. (Bachelor of Social Work) from the University of Manitoba 1975, was on the Dean's Honor List 1972-1973 and recipient of the Max Margolis Prize 1973-1974, 1974-1975. Rob returned to the University of Manitoba to peruse his life-long dream of becoming a lawyer. He graduated from the Faculty of Law 1991, articled for the Federal Department of Justice and was called to the Manitoba bar 1992 and the Alberta bar 2007. While attending University in the 70's, he was a part-time counsellor with the Manitoba Youth Centre, Student Parole Officer with the Parole Service and Audio-Visual Coordinator for the School of Social Work in Winnipeg. In May of 1975, Rob joined the National Parole Service, as a Parole Service Officer, resided briefly in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan as Assistant Coordinator of Community Resources, Prairie Regional Headquarters. During the 80's Rob held the positions of Head of Living Units, and Assistant Warden for Stony Mountain Institution in Manitoba. Working with Winnipeg Parole, and Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), he was a Manager for the Manitoba-North Western Ontario District (CSC), including Area Director and Acting District Director of that district as well as Deputy Warden for Rockwood Institution, frequenting Edmonton during this time. During the 90's Rob began practicing family law and civil litigation, from 1999-2001, Rob served as the Prairie Regional Chairperson for the National Joint Committee of Senior Corrections and Justice Officials, past President of the Canadian Criminal Justice Association (CCJA). Leaving Manitoba family and friends behind, Rob returned to Edmonton and was appointed to the National Parole Board, Prairie Region which he served as a board member for a five year term. In 2007 he joined Attia, Reeves, Tensfeld & Snow and where he built a successful family law practice and never looked back.
Rob was an intensively private person, fiercely loyal with family, friends and clients. There was nothing Rob would not do for his family and close friends which he loved unconditionally. Often, he could be heard raving about his nephews Nick and Joe and how very proud he was of them. His gregarious nature and huge personality was not overshadowed by his physical stature. Rob was a handsome man, standing 6'5 ', (thick) brown hair and brown eyes, signature moustache (which he sported for many years, until recently) and big beautiful smile. Besides the occasional pair of jeans, Rob's favourite colours were black and white, his wardrobe represented absurdly so, teased by family and friends regularly.
Equipped with Ping clubs, Titleist 2 balls, "Blackjack" loved golfing with his brother John, friends, from Rossmere Golf and Country Club, Winnipeg. He took great delight anticipating the annual golf trips to Phoenix, stating, "I've got this figured out!"
Spending his birthdays in Cancun with Shelagh, walking the beach (end to end) and snorkeling were some his favourite pastimes, swimming with turtles in Hawaii, sting rays in Grand Cayman and dolphins in Cancun. Taking his Mom on a cruise for her 90th birthday remains one of his fondest memories. Leaving the jag at home, he walked everywhere he could, often with Blackjack in tow. Rob enjoyed walking other cities, Montreal, Ottawa, NYC, San Francisco, and Vancouver, modern and contemporary museums, art galleries and architecture topping the list of attractions. With a keen sense of style, design, and tape measure in hand, Rob relished in revising floor plans, exteriors and constructing life-size cardboard furniture.
In his youth, Rob was an accomplished accordion player, attending the Ted Komar Accordion School and entering into the Manitoba Music Competition Festivals in Winnipeg. His musical tastes were vast from early Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holliday, Vivaldi, Yoyo Ma, Rolling Stones, Beatles, Jessie Cook, Leonard Cohen, Guns n'Roses, to name but a few.
Equally, with robust enthusiasm, he cooked and entertained as often as possible, among his favourites, pasta carbonara, BBQ ribs (with homemade sauce),lobsters, banana flambé plus many more delicious creations. He also appreciated restaurants, bars and joked of ownership of such establishments upon his retirement. When it was appropriate to do so, Rob enjoyed volunteering in the political arena in Manitoba, working tirelessly, making life-long friends along the way.
Rob's other love was the law. Honesty and integrity paramount, it was difficult to differentiate between the lawyer and the man because they were so naturally intertwined. Intelligent and witty, he was a gifted story-teller, laughing at the 'situations' he often found himself in. Throughout Rob's life, his kind demeanor amplified, it was not out of character for him to help (or come to the rescue) of complete strangers caught in difficult or challenging circumstances.
Isaiah 43:25-26
"I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence."
Funeral Liturgy will be held at St. Joseph's Basilica, 10044 – 113 Street, Edmonton, AB at 1:00 p.m., October 25, 2014.
The family extends sincere appreciation to Dr. Dhawan nurses and staff; Cross Cancer Institute Dr. Nijjar, nurses and staff; Oncologist Dr. Joy, nurses and staff; Department of Symptom Control; and Palliative Care, Dr. Hewitt, nurses and staff, Home and Palliative Care nurses and staff, Royal Alexandria Hospital Emergency Doctors nurses and staff, Dr. Voldeng, 5th floor nurses and staff, Palliative Care Program Dr. Ana Hermosa Garcia nurses and staff, Grey Nuns Palliative care consultant Selina, Edmonton General 9Y Hospice nurses and staff. A special Thank you to Dr. Hasinoff, Cindy and staff for their amazing care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Robert's memory to the Cross Cancer Institute, 11560 University Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1Z2 online https://albertacancer.ca/donate/in-memory
To send condolences, please visit www.connelly-mckinley.com.