William ‘Bill’ Roff
1935-2019
William James « Bill » Roff, age 83, of
Frasers Mountain. It is with shock and sadness that Bill’s
family announces his sudden death as the result of a tragic accident
on Thursday, June 20, 2019. Bill was born on July 24, 1935 to Eric and
Elsie (Allen) Roff at Leigh-on-Sea, Es,
England.
Before
attending university, Bill registered as a conscientious objector and
served his national service as a member of the Friends Ambulance Unit.
After graduating with honours from Queens College, Cambridge, he
lectured at Hull University in England.
In
1965, he emigrated to Canada to take up a teaching position at Queens
University in
Kingston, Ontario. After 16 years at Queens, Bill decided to
give up his teaching position to pursue his two passions, painting and
gardening. Bill’s spirit can be found in the many paintings
that he has left behind and in all the beautiful gardens he
designed.
It
was in Kingston, where Bill met the love of his life, Nancy Chisholm.
Whether they were at the race track with their horses, entertaining
their many friends, visiting family in England or gardens in Italy,
they were always there for each other.
In
1996 Bill and Nancy retired to her family farm in Frasers Mountain,
where Bill produced many paintings of the farm and scenes of Pictou
County. Until Nancy’s death in 2016 Bill and Nancy spent
many hours simply enjoying each other’s company in the large
gardens Bill designed at the farm.
Bill
is survived by his sister, Janet Watson (Colin), London, UK; his
brother, John (Rose), Sandhurst, UK; his nephews, Alan Watson (Maude),
Edinburg, VA, USA; Stephen Roff, Sandhurst, UK; and his niece, Mary
Watson-Nunziato (John Nunziato), London, UK. He is also survived by
his sister-in-law, Frances Chisholm, Valley View Villa; and by
Nancy’s nieces and nephews, Sandy Chisholm (Kathleen),
Sydney; Mary MacNevin, Halifax; Nancy Phelan, Winnipeg; Anne Chisholm
(Robert Walsh), New Glasgow; James Chisholm (Pauline),
Sydney.
Along
with his parents and Nancy, Bill was predeceased by his sister,
Margaret Roff and his nephew, David Roff.
A
celebration of Bill’s life will be held at R.H. Porter
Funeral Home, 55 Almont Ave., New Glasgow on Sunday, June 30 from 2:30
– 4 pm.
Donations
in Bill’s memory can be made to Saint Martha’s
Regional Hospital Foundation, Att: Sarah MacDonald, 25 Bay St.,
Antigonish, NS, B2G 2G5; The Nature Conservancy of Canada, 245
Eglinton Ave East, Suite 410, Toronto, ON, M4P 3J1; or a charity of
your choice.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de William ‘Bill’ Roff 19352019..
Décès pour la Ville: New-Glasgow, Province: Nova Scotia