In Memoriam

Robert Gilliland, BA’59, BSW’66, MSW’67

Robert GillilandRobert (Bob) Gilliland was born on November 26, 1935, in Toronto General Hospital, to Douglas and Gladys Gilliland. Bob had a younger brother, Doug, and the family grew up in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and finally Vancouver.

Bob graduated from King Edward High School in 1954, and at UBC earned his BA in Criminology and Psychology (’59), Bachelor of Social Work (’66), and Master of Social Work (’67). He completed his studies in 1987 with a PhD in Psychology from Pacific Western University. He met and married the love of his life, Gwyneth Witney, in 1961, and they had three sons: Brian, BASc’85, Stephen, and James (Jim), BCom’93, former chair of the Faculty Advisory Board for the Sauder School of Business. Bob was a man of many passions and pursuits. He was a UBC professor; a pioneer of many therapeutic methods; a student of shamans; a practitioner of Tai Chi; and a chainsaw bear carver. He was a free spirit with a great sense of humour and spent his final days visiting friends and family, joking, and laughing.

On the evening of August 14 in his home, Bob passed away peacefully with his family at his side. In lieu of flowers, donations to the BC Cancer Foundation would be appreciated.