Barking at shovels

Barney Glen Roald, 1943-2006

Uncle Glen
July 18, 1943 – March 7, 2006

Two weeks ago now, my father's younger brother passed away after a long battle with cancer. He died surrounded by family, which was the only way he would have wanted it.

I grew up in Halifax and Glen and family lived in Vancouver, so I never saw as much of him as I should have. When I visited, he was the warmest and most welcoming uncle anyone could have; and he was not just like that for nephews. I think his favourite role was host, particularly for the legendarily huge Christmas Eve dinners served at a table extended on trestles the length of his living room.

He curled. He rebuild classic cars. He was an actor, mostly in community theatre, but he has a line in an early episode of the X-Files, and he created a character for a local Vancouver ad campaign that got famous enough to be parodied in a political cartoon. He lived his enthusiasms.

He made people feel part of the family. He will be missed.

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