Robert Dean Elphinstone

With great sorrow, we announce the death of Robert Elphinstone on May 31, 2023 in Nanaimo, BC. Rob is survived by his wife Debbie, daughters Cassandra and Melanie; brother Dave, Dave’s wife Ellen, and their daughter Erin; brother Jim, Jim’s wife Debra, and their children Michael and Robyn; Robyn’s husband Darren and their daughter Madison; as well as extended family and friends. He was predeceased by his father Norman in 1991, and his mother Joyce in 2016.

Rob was born and grew up in Calgary, Alberta. He passionately loved the outdoors and enjoyed running, hiking, camping, climbing, mountaineering and backcountry skiing. In his youth he was an active member of the Calgary mountaineering community. He traveled extensively around the world in his twenties visiting Svalbard, North Africa and Asia. His most memorable adventure was a mission to Afghanistan in 1985, during the Soviet occupation. He was there with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) and served as their photographer. He was profoundly touched and changed by the people of Afghanistan whom he met during that time. A selection of his photographs from the journey can be viewed at the website listed above.

Rob worked at the University of Calgary until 1999, doing research in space physics. He studied the aurora borealis (northern lights) and his many publications in the field are still frequently cited. He was in Kiruna, Sweden in 1986 as the images from the Canadian UV auroral imager on the Viking satellite were received. He travelled extensively around the world to present his work at conferences and workshops.

In 1999, the family moved to Nanaimo, where Rob was above all a special dad to his daughters. He was the most loving, kind, patient, hilarious, selfless dad, and the most strong, spiritual, humble, intelligent person. He wasn’t scared of anything. He lived his life for those he loved, filling it with adventures. He walked Cassandra and Melanie to school and helped with their homework, he taught us how to be brave and face things we didn’t know how to handle, he showed us the beautiful parts of the world and how to find joy in the most ordinary things. Every life he was a part of was changed for the better. No amount of time would have ever been enough but we hope wherever he is now is free from suffering. We hope he is painting peacefully watching the sunset at the beach.

While in Nanaimo, he was also able to return to his lifelong love of art. Inspired by the beauty of the west coast, he created many outstanding landscape oil paintings in a style he coined ‘actualism art’: You may view these at the website listed above.

No matter what he chose to investigate, Rob brought brilliant, original, creative ideas and endless curiosity to projects in art, physics, mathematics, and biology. He always lived in the present moment, and enjoyed whatever he was doing. Rob was incredibly generous, caring, and wise. We were so lucky to have had him in our lives.

We are very grateful to the doctors, nurses, and paramedics for their wonderful care of Rob over the past year at NRGH and the BC Cancer Agency. They were always kind, compassionate, and knowledgeable despite the difficult conditions under which they are working.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, July 19 from 4:00-7:00 pm at Rathtrevor Beach Picnic Site 1.