It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our dear friend and loved one known to some as “Robbie”, to others as “Barb”, and to still others as “Auntie Barb”.
She passed away suddenly after a fall.
She was born in Ocean Falls, BC and loved the friends she made and every minute of the years she spent there. As a young child, her natural athleticism shone and her first sport in elementary school was swimming under the well-known coach, George Gate. During her teens basketball became her passion and she later became known for her jump shot, which originally had a flat arc because of the low ceiling in the high school gym. It had been previously believed that women weren’t capable of executing a jump shot.
In her first year at UBC she played for the “Thunderettes” and the team won their first Western Canadian university basketball championship. Also in her first year as a student she began her coaching career with the UBC Junior Varsity team, a passion she followed for the next 10 years. After graduating from UBC she was one of the inaugural selections to the newly formed women’s National Basketball Team. She played with them for 4 years and in 1967 her team won the bronze medal at the Pan Am Games.
Her career took her to SFU where she was the women’s Athletic Director and women’s Basketball Coach for 11 years. She was instrumental in the initiative to allow female athletes full athletic scholarships. In 1981 a serious car accident ended her coaching career and triggered lifelong health complications. She continued to work at SFU as an undergraduate advisor and she retired as the Associate Registrar at Capilano College. In 2009 she was inducted into the Basketball BC Hall of Fame.
She is predeceased by her parents, Wilfred and Aileen Robertson; brother, Hugh (Buck) Robertson; and brother-in-law, Ben Goble.
She is survived by Jill Gift her partner of 30 years; her sisters, Patricia Goble and Janice McKay; brother-in-law, Patrick McKay; Jill’s brother, Paul Gift; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
A celebration of her life will be held in early May.
Our hearts are broken.
May her soul be at peace.

Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Barbara Frances
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