Robert Ilario Fogal passed away at the age of 51 on October 20th in the city of Castlegar, British Columbia surrounded by family, friends, and the Selkirk Mountains he came to love.
Rob was born in Windsor Ontario to Silvio and Pierina Fogal on August 11th, 1963. He spent his childhood amongst a loving extended family and many good friends, and went to the University of Windsor and the University of Waterloo, where he graduated with an MA in Environmental Science and met his wife Deborah McFarlane, in 1991.
As a young geologist in his 20’s, he worked for a number of firms in Northern Ontario and the Northwest Territories, where he would regale his family with tales of life in the bush. More recently, Rob’s professional life saw him as an Environmental Consultant/Geoscientist with TRI Resources and SNC Lavalin and most recently as an Environmental Specialist at Teck Resources. Before moving to the Kootenays, Rob worked a number of years with General Motors in Michigan. Rob was known for his dedication to his family, his love of cooking for family and friends, woodworking as well as travel, and for his deep attachment to and knowledge of the natural world around him. Rob was an avid athlete and outdoors man, spending winters skiing Red Mountain with his family, as well as running local roads in preparation for his next marathon.
Rob was involved in a number of community activities, including Castlegar Search and Rescue, the Kootenay Association for Science and Technology, as well as being a loyal member of Kinnaird Park Community Church. He spent a decade as a dedicated coach volunteer for Castlegar Minor Soccer and the Kootenay South Youth Soccer Association, where he had the joy of coaching his own sons and many aspiring soccer players who benefited from his expertise and enthusiasm.
Rob is survived by his wife Deborah (McFarlane), sons Josh and Ben, parents Silvio and Pierina, sister Joanne (Mike) and brothers Roger (Georgina) and Gary (Lek), sisters-in-law Dawne (Tim), Jane (Tim), AJ (deceased) and Margot, mother-in-law Jan (Paul - deceased) and father-in-law Allan (Karen), as well as many uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews and nieces.
A Celebration of Life service for Rob will be held at Kinnaird Park Community Church; 1250 26th Street, Castlegar at 10am, on Thursday, October 23rd, with Pastor Rob Scott officiating. Burial will follow at Park Memorial Cemetery.
The Fogal family wishes to extend sincere thanks to all those who provided excellent care to Rob over this past year including the skilled surgeons at the Vancouver General Hospital, staff at the Oncology department at the Trail Regional Hospital, Dr. Ellen Smart, Dr. David Laroque the home care support nurses including Candice, Anita, Rihanna, Cathy and Dorothy, home care support workers who helped with Rob’s palliative care as well as the many friends and family who came to visit, and loved ones from afar who called to share a happy memory during his last weeks.