Robert George Weyant

Weyant, Robert G. (Bob), Professor Emeritus of General Studies, University of Calgary, died peacefully in Victoria on Saturday, February 25th, 2017. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey on July 27th, 1933, Bob was the first in his family to attend high school, graduating Lincoln High in 1950. The many cultural and social experiences of nearby New York City opened his mind to the complexities and opportunities of the world of arts and ideas. Following those threads, he completed his B.A. at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, went to Kent State University in Ohio for his M.A. then to the University of Iowa where he earned a PhD in Experimental Psychology under the supervision of Kenneth Spence. He began his professional life at St. Lawrence College, New York, before investing most of his career in the University of Calgary, his academic home from 1965-1989. Bob was Professor of Psychology (1970-1981), as well as one of the founders of the new interdisciplinary Faculty of General Studies and Professor of General Studies (1981-1989). He was known as a superb and respected teacher. He also served on the Board of Governors, the university Senate, and the General Faculties Council for a number of years, playing a major role in shaping the then-new university, and took on the positions of Dean of Arts and Science (1972-1975), and Dean of General Studies (1981-1986). His colleagues appreciated his sharp intellect, ready humour, and dedication to opening students' minds to the world of ideas.
In his own research, he was particularly interested in the history of psychology and more broadly, the history of ideas, especially the eighteenth century, and published articles in that area. He was also the editor of a facsimile edition of Condillac's Essay on the Origin of Human Knowledge, and one of the editors of the interdisciplinary volume Science, Pseudo-Science and Society. From early in retirement, he devoted time to exploring wide-ranging intellectual interests, putting both his voracious reading habit and his considerable writing skills toward ideas that intrigued him. The work of Charles Darwin was a favorite topic as Bob followed questions of intellectual, scientific, and social history through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, including with his most recent work-in-progress, Darwin's People: A Study in Influences. In his later years, he also taught seniors, enjoying their commitment and enthusiasm for the subject matter. A long-time jazz aficionado, he served on the board of Jazz Winnipeg and through recommendations and gifts of music and books, he made sure friends and family could share in the pleasures of the reading and listening he enjoyed. He is survived by Marsha Hanen, his wife and life partner in more than thirty years of mutual love, support, and shared commitments; his sons Stephen Weyant (Gina) of Western Australia and David Weyant (Charlene Anderson) of Calgary; his brother Charlie Weyant (Ellen) of Salem, Oregon; his two step-daughters Amy Hanen (Shari Novick) of Toronto and Sharon Hanen of Concord, Massachusetts; his nephew Greg of Philadelphia; his brother-in-law Ron Pearlman of Toronto; his first wife Doris B. Weyant; and by the great joy, love, and pride of his life, his now-grown grandchildren Robert Benson Weyant, Anna Weyant, and Austin Weyant. He was predeceased by his parents Edgar and Emma Weyant and by his infant son Robert.
Burial will take place at Royal Oak Burial Park http://www.robp.ca/park/park-map 4673 Falaise Drive, Victoria at 1pm on Saturday March 4, 2017. Friends who wish to join the family there are welcome, and also invited to gather from 3pm - 6pm to share memories at 505 - 2829 Arbutus Road, Victoria. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations in Bob's memory to Our Place, the inner-city community centre he supported https://www.ourplacesociety.com/donate or to The Victoria Symphony Society https://victoriasymphony.ca/support-2/donations/ Tributes and memories may be shared by visiting www.earthsoption.com

Graveside