Robert George Palmer

Robert George Palmer Sept 10, 1948 – March 19, 2026

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Robb, beloved husband, father and brother, at the Palliative Care Ward, Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria BC. Robb is survived by his wife of 54 years, Susan (nee Dufty), sons Robert Andrew of Calgary and Ryan William and daughter-in-law Lisa of Langford and sister Lynda Mary Palmer of Calgary.

Robb was born in Nottingham. His parents, Bob and Dorothy, immigrated to Canada in 1953. They settled in Regina where Robb grew up and graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 1968 with a BA in Math. His career in IT began at the University Computer Centre and continued at the Province of Saskatchewan System Centre.

Robb and his beloved wife Sue married in 1971. They moved to Calgary in 1979 where Robbie and Ryan were born.

There, Robb worked for Shell Canada. His many roles included overseeing the transition of the IT Department when the head office relocated from Toronto to Calgary, and Director of Computing and Services.

An assignment to Shell International took the family to London from 1986 to 1989 with frequent trips for Robb to the headquarters in The Hague. The boys came back to Canada with short-lived English accents.

In the mid-1990’s Robb began work for DMR Consulting, which was later acquired by Fujitsu Consulting where he became a Partner. He filled several leadership roles during his tenure, including VP HR and VP Client Executive.

After leaving Fujitsu Canada Robb launched his own management consultancy focused on leadership roles within the energy and technology sectors in Calgary.

It would be an understatement to say Robb and Sue enjoyed travelling. Shortly after their marriage they spent ten months camping in Europe. Before moving to Calgary they worked in New Zealand for a year and then camped in Australia for six months, travelling through Asia and Greece before returning to Canada to start their family. Living in the UK afforded more opportunities to explore Europe. A family trip to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji was a highlight when the boys were teenagers.

With Robbie and Ryan making their own way in the world by 2007, Robb and Sue took a year off and hit the road again, starting in Central America and Peru, followed by six months touring in Australia, mainly camping until it got too hot in the Northern Territories. This adventure inspired thoughts of retiring permanently, and after some short term contracts interspersed with a few winters in Scottsdale they admitted that they were done with work.

They were also done with Prairie winters and so moved to Victoria in 2011. Since Robb’s parents and Sue’s mother had retired there, the couple was familiar with and appreciative of the charms of Vancouver Island. They never regretted their move and were grateful every day to be living in such a beautiful corner of the world.

Still, there was nothing Robb liked more than basking in the sun and walking along a tropical beach, so their once or twice yearly trips to Mexico continued.

Throughout his life Robb was athletic. He loved sports and always maintained an admirable level of fitness through daily workouts and long walks with Sue until his 18 month battle with cancer took its toll.

Those who knew Robb will remember him as a loving man devoted to family, a loyal friend, a valued and respected colleague and mentor, an instigator of wide ranging dinner time conversations, an amateur photographer, an amazing baker of chocolate treats and a master trivia quiz setter. His sense of humour, his laughter and his innate wisdom will be sorely missed.

The family is very grateful for the care Robb received at the BC Cancer Centre and for the compassionate care of the Palliative Care ward RJH. If anyone wishes to make a donation in his memory, the BC Cancer Foundation or the Victoria Hospice Foundation would be worthy recipients.