Robert Daniel Macrae

Former Rector of St. John the Divine Anglican Church, Archdeacon of Juan de Fuca, Honorary Commander of the Clan MacRae Society Worldwide, Bob was born and raised in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and died in Victoria after a short illness. He is greatly missed by his wife Susan (Haywood-Farmer), daughters Julia (Travis Carey), Bridget (Mihailo Arsenski), Phoebe (Martin Elfert), and Caitlin (Panayiotis Pappas), grandchildren Amiel, Miriam, Athanasia, Theodore, Timothy, Michael and Maria, older brother Kenneth (Simone) and a large extended family. Bob was a man of many talents, most notably an ability to recognize and encourage the talents of others. He was a significant leader in the Canadian church, forward looking, passionate for social justice, inclusion and ecumenism; an extraordinary priest whose ministry touched and influenced many lives. Prior to coming to Victoria, he was vicar to parishes in Ashcroft, Clinton, Kamloops, Westsyde and Savona. From 1966 to 1977 Bob worked at the National Office of the Anglican Church managing portfolios in a variety of social ministries and serving as first Secretary of the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund. Bob always dreamed up big projects, and saw some amazing results, for example the successful boycott against Nestlé in the late 70's for their promotion of infant formula feeding in the global south. A consummate host, Bob was always keen to meet new people and make connections. He loved reeling people in and telling a good story. Bob was a lover of the arts and a strong supporter of many musical endeavours; he was passionate about genealogy, especially researching his family's history in Canada, and he loved learning new things, exploring new places, camping, fixing things, making toys with his grandchildren and helping people. Generally an earnest person, Bob also had a proclivity for hysterically uncontrollable giggles over the complexity of daily life, affectionately called in our family "the purples." He was a man with a real twinkle in his eyes whose indomitable spirit never gave up on life, even at the last. Life just won't be the same without him. For such a unique life of faith in action we say "well done thou good and faithful servant."

Funeral Service