SCAMMELL – Robert H. Scammell (Bob), passed away peacefully November 24 at the Red Deer Regional Hospital with his family at his side. Mourning his passing are his wife of 54 years, Barbara, his son John (Darlene), daughter Maura Hooper (Chris) and grandchildren, Sarah Scammell and Thomas, Jack and Myles Hooper.
Bob was born in Edmonton on Nov. 29, 1937, the only child of Elsie and Harry Scammell. The family moved to Brooks in 1938. Harry was an avid gardener, fisherman and hunter and Elsie, a master chef and writer. Learning from them, Bob made those activities a part of his life.
Bob graduated from the University of Alberta in 1959 with an honors degree in French and English. Having been given an entrance scholarship he then attended Dalhousie University Law School.
After graduating from Dalhousie in 1962, Bob married Barbara Boyden of Pincher Creek. The couple settled in Red Deer, where Bob practiced law for 37 years. Bob did service to his profession as a Bencher of the Law Society of Alberta and served on other boards.
Bob turned his passion for the outdoors into a second career in writing. He wrote a weekly outdoors column that appeared for over 50 years in the Red Deer Advocate and Brooks Bulletin. He also published in The Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Lethbridge Herald, Pass Promoter and the Pincher Creek Echo and numerous outdoors magazines. Bob authored three books, The Outside Story, Good Old Guys, Alibies and Outright Lies and The Phenological Fly,
Bob contributed to the community by serving on many boards including the Red Deer Public Library, Fish and Game Association, Alberta Conservation Association, advisory council to the Minister of Environment and Minister of Lands and Forests and the Red Deer Press.
Bob won many awards including several from the Outdoor Writers of Canada, Alberta Achievement award, two Mayor’s Recognition Awards, the Shimano National Communications Award, was a member of the first Canadian Team to enter the World Fly Fishing Championship in England in 1987 and was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
The family extends their gratitude to the staff of Unit 22 at the Red Deer Regional Hospital for the care and compassion they have given Bob the past five months.
A memorial gathering will be held at the Red Deer Golf and Country Club November 30th from 1 to 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Red Deer Public Library or the Alberta Fish and Game Association.
