Obituary of Raymond Rowat

Life Legacy Raymond Miles Rowat passed away on Sunday, Sept. 11, at Verdun Hospital in Montreal following a brief illness and a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 87. A lifelong resident of Shawville, Que., where he worked as a notary for 40 years, Raymond was predeceased by his wife, Carol, in 2014. He was the youngest son of Harland and Bessie Rowat; his brothers Cameron and Frederick ("Bud") died in 1981 and 1997, respectively. His daughter-in-law Colleen Ritz predeceased him in 1995. Raymond is survived by six children: Douglas (Pamela), Nancy (Ernest), David (Mary Lise), Robert (Darly), Alison (Rusty) and Andrew (Kara.) He was grandfather to Alexandra, Elysabeth, Margaret, William, Mary, Miles, Julia, Simon, Caroline, Cameron and Olivia. A graduate of McGill University (BA '51, BCL '54), where he had a room at the Montreal Diocesan Theological College, Raymond was a firm believer in higher education. He could — and often did — conjugate Latin verbs in five tenses for anyone who would listen. Before family responsibilities took over, he liked spending time at the Lake Dumont Fish and Game Club where he was a life member. He enjoyed walking the back roads and trails of Bristol Township and called himself a "three-season swimmer," an exploit he endeavoured to accomplish annually at Long Lake. When snow fell, he donned cross-country skis and recruited all six of his children to join him, no small undertaking. They would be rewarded with his homemade French fries when they got home. Later in life, he and his wife replaced their skis with snow shoes and groomed their own trails. Raymond enjoyed the mental challenge of playing bridge and liked to unwind with a round of golf at the Oaks of Cobden, proudly walking all 18 holes. He inherited a love of music from his parents, both accomplished pianists. Over the years he became obsessed with certain composers — Beethoven, Liszt and Chopin were his most serious afflictions — and their music was essential to him as the isolation of Alzheimer's set in. Raymond also played flute in the Shawville band where he cultivated some of his best friendships. Cutting trees for firewood was also a serious hobby as anyone who spent time in his over-heated "Barbados room" can attest. Another field of interest was World War II history, especially the Holocaust, whose atrocities troubled him greatly. He and his wife were devoted members and supporters of Shawville United Church. Raymond spent the early years of his retirement caring for his ailing father- and mother-in-law, setting an example for his own children who would eventually be called upon to care for him. Even diminished by Alzheimer's disease, he never declined an invitation to go for a walk or a drive and was happiest taking in the view of the Ottawa Valley from his home on Maple Street. His family thanks the staff of Vista Residence in Montreal for their outstanding care. A service of remembrance will be held on Saturday, Oct. 8, at 12 p.m. at Shawville United Church. Donations in his memory to the Alzheimer Society of Canada would be appreciated.