ROBERT R. TAYLOR

Condolences & Memories (17 entries)

• We loved Mr. Taylor. He was such a lovely man. He was great at what he did. I was hoping to do another trip with him. Shocked to see his obituary on Google. So sorry for your loss. Terry and Linda Raniwsky in Windsor, Ontario. - Posted by: Linda Raniwsky (Client in 2009 for the Polar Bears in Churchill.) on: Sep 24, 2024

• Bob and I would meet at various art exhibits from time to time and being an artist myself, invariably our conversation would be about some artist or their work and I was always fascinated by his accounts of his photography adventures. Sadly missed, old friend. Tom Jones - Posted by: Tom Jones (Friend) on: Nov 02, 2021

• Lucky enough to meet Bob and appreciate his work. He told me to find what I liked to photograph and keep after it. - Posted by: russell murphy (just another amateur potographer influrnced by bob) on: Apr 09, 2020

• (Just caught this obituary.) I first met Bob at his shop on Osborne and later became a friend when I processed film for him while employed as a photo-tech for Henry Kalen. Bob and I spent a humour-filled few weeks traveling to Connecticut in 1974 to attend a Robin Perry workshop. I will never forget one evening in our shared motel room Bob painfully pulling small plastic-like nodules from his one hand. These were compressed skin and flesh created when a female Great Gray owl had struck him when he was setting up a blind to photograph her nest a year or more before; the nodules had finally worked their way to the surface. Years later Bob and an artist friend spent time with me and my family at Rush Lake. Sask. and the three of us hiked and photographed in the soon to be "Grasslands National Park". It was during this period that Bob gave me a compliment regarding a specific trait in my own 35mm photography that never fails to bring pride and inspiration when remembered. Bob was a remarkably inspiring man. Thank you for that gift Robert Taylor. - Posted by: Brent Skidmore (friend) on: Jan 23, 2015

• With about 18 others, in two vehicles, we explored and photographed for about a month. This had been what I thought was my "unattainable dream". He suggested that we keep a journal. I did. And although it was not published until 2014, the once in a lifetime experiences and memories of his kindness were as fresh as back then. He had a very gentle manner and was most generous with tips on photography that I still use today, thinking of him each time. - Posted by: Gerry Brophy ... known now as Germaine Gougeon (I was invited to accompany Bob and other photographers on an African Photo Safari, in Kenya July1985) on: Jan 12, 2015

• I was wandering through my winnipeg streets one sunny autumn afternoon, looking for art supplies to busy my hands and heart. Carrying my soviet 35mm, a volunteer suggested "you like old cameras? There's a bunch over here..." And i was redirected into a passion for photography. An estate from a polar bear photographer? He died? So i looked it up. Then i realized the importance of my coincidence that day. Thank you. I am very grateful for this camera i wandered across one autumn afternoon. - Posted by: Brett Ducharme (Found/donated camera) on: Jan 10, 2014

• I've known Bob since we worked together at the Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature over forty years ago. I left Winnipeg in the 70's, and although our paths haven't crossed very often over the years, time spent with Bob was always memorable. His devotion to nature and to his photography was infectious to say the least. I remember visiting Winnipeg in 1994 when a mutual friend of ours was very ill. Bob took me out for a drive one day to photograph the beautiful yellow fields of canola (or rape as it was called then). He lent me one of his cameras and told me later that my pictures turned out better than his. He was so generous and willing to share what he knew. He also kept our friend's spirits up with his very bad jokes. I'm glad that you got to go to Africa this year Bob, and I'm sorry I was never able to take that trip with you. And yes, you did manage to turn me into a birdwatcher. My sincere condolences. Bob will be missed. - Posted by: Claudia Logan (friend) on: Nov 22, 2013

• Goodbye old friend. It has been many years since we sat at your kitchen table and spoke of birds. I hope you are flying free with them now. - Posted by: Nancy Murdoch (Old friend) on: Oct 03, 2013

• Robert's profound love of photography and nature was an inspiration to us all. He made the world a much better place. Robert will be greatly missed. - Posted by: Ron Boily (Friend) on: Aug 27, 2013

• I regret that I never got to tell Bob this but he was the main inspiration that got me into nature tourism and videography. I think he knew that though. I currently am a naturalist for a whale watching company in Vancouver and it is because of his encouragement and inspiration that I am now part of this coolest of industries. I always wanted to go back to Africa with him and I am sad that I will never get the chance. I want to thank him for the memories, advice and increasingly silly jokes that was so Bobish. My condolences to Jennifer and his entire family. My husband George and myself have you all in our thoughts. I hope my life will be as fantastic as yours Bob. - Posted by: Kathryn Taylor (Friend and fellow traveler) on: Aug 26, 2013

• I think the first time I encountered Bob was one day my dad recounted at dinner that he had picked up a young fellow that morning who was skipping school to go birdwatching. My sister recognized his name because they were in the same class at Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute. It was after that that he and I became friends. We often travelled to school together, him to Ryerson and me to the U of T. I recall going with Bob to Centre Island in Toronto to collect saw-whet owls. We snared quite a few for Bob to take home to weigh, measure and band and we put them in small cloth bags for the trip. The thing was that the owls kept sharply snapping their beaks closed and people on the ferry were curious about that, so Bob took one of the owls out of its bag and proceeded to give the folks a nature lecture. Bob was also the Best Man at my first wedding. Over the last 50+ years Bob visited our homes in Victoria, Vancouver and Edmonton and it was always as if we had seen one another the previous week. I never ceased to be amazed at the size of his circle of friends. Once I picked him up at the bus depot in Victoria and before we had gone around the block he said, "Pull over, there's so-and-so on the sidewalk". I swear he would have met somebody he knew if he were wandering in the Sahara. Bob's puns were a great part of his charm, corny though they were. I believe I still have a copy of the back page from Life Magazine which published one of Bob's photographs. It was called "Switched to a Siding" but they had taken out Bob's image and left his Volvo and the mess of road lines that had been painted every which way on an unused part of the road. He was very proud to have had that picture published so early in his career. I also cherish the portraits he took of my children when they were very young; of course the portraits were taken out in the Vancouver Island rainforest. Bob was a very modest person and until I read his obituary, I didn't know about all the many prestigious awards he had received. Well done my friend! Several of his books have pride of place on my bookshelves. In the last couple of years we spoke infrequently but I always got an emailed polar bear Christmas greeting. My wife and I will miss Bob and we offer our deepest condolences to Lynda, John, Jennifer and all of Bobs's many friends. Bruce & Lindsay McWhirter, Edmonton Alberta - Posted by: Bruce McWhirter (Lifelong Friend) on: Aug 25, 2013

• Enjoyed meeting up with Bob for coffee or breakfast whenever the occassion permitted....there were always many new stories. My sincere condolences..He will be missed. From my i-pad Glasgow, Scotland Dave Purvis (Winnipeg) - Posted by: Dave Purvis (Friend) on: Aug 25, 2013

• We met due to an Africa trip and have been together for Sioux Narrows art festival August long weekend which we called Africa weekend. We were very priviledged to have Bob with us this last long weeked. He will be missed. Our sincere condolences. Barb and Neil Long - Posted by: Barb and Neil Long (Friend) on: Aug 23, 2013

• In 2010, a conservation group from MB hosted a tour of the Pine to Prairie International Birding Trail sites for a group of six Minnesotans. This is when I met Bob, as he was a tour guide. He certainly knew his birds. We all received a complimentary signed copy of his book. He told me he bought mice to feed the starving Great Greys. I enjoyed his love for puns! I feel privileged to have known Bob. My condolences. - Posted by: Cleone Stewart (birding friend) on: Aug 23, 2013

• We are so sorry to hear of Bob's passing. Our sincere condolences to Jennifer, friends and family. We met you Jennifer, at our friend Lois Mitchell's home in Chatham, Ontario during one of Bob's visits to Point Pelee. Unfortunately, we were away at the time of Bob's last visit to Point Pelee this past May. We have always felt very fortunate to have known Bob. His knowledge of birds and wildlife and his photography enriched our lives. It will continue to do so through his books that are on our bookshelves. Bob was a very special person and will be sadly missed!!! - Posted by: Nancy and Gordon Swatkow (We met Bob through our friend Lois Mitchell in Chatham Ontario. We enjoyed Bob's company every year) on: Aug 23, 2013

• So sorry for your loss, Jennifer! - Posted by: Leslie (Stunden) Kerschtien (Childhood friend of Jennifer) on: Aug 23, 2013

• He was such a great person. Always had grest stories to tell. To the family, always remember his happy laughter, hugs and his silly jokes. Don't dwell on the sad parts remember him as he was always. A strong man made of love and steel. God Bless - Posted by: audrey Redford.ss (friend) on: Aug 23, 2013