1946 ~ 2021
Let us tell you about our Dad; he was Starman, a self-proclaimed “simple country boy, fresh off the rutabaga conveyance.” He was a big personality, who grew the best gardens, made the best pickles, pierogies, cabbage rolls and veggie casserole, and was the best storyteller.
Dad was proud of his upbringing in Oakbank. He loved animals (even cats, despite what he might have said) and animals loved him – a trait he inherited from our Grandpa, Michael. Chickens may be the exception to the rule; when he was young, he was scared to collect their eggs from the coop and convinced his twin brother Richard to take that role while he “kept watch.” That being said, one of his favourite stories to tell was about his chicken Ralph being spared from becoming Sunday dinner (spoiler alert: Ralph was in fact dinner at some point).
Both “a trained observer” and a teacher, Dad spent time in the schools of Springfield, the Planetarium at the Manitoba Museum and in Churchill where he taught courses on Aurora and astronomy. Churchill is where he met our stepmom, Dawn. The community was further solidified as part of his identity when at two years old his granddaughter Maelle named him “Grandpa Churchill” because he talked about Churchill so frequently and fondly.
Teaching ran in the family and the field of education is where his mother (Anne), sister (Eleanor) and brother also focused much of their careers. It helped that he was an award-winning public speaker, so when he spoke people listened. Dad would employ his teaching skills with us (Shane and Jill) and his grandkids Maelle and Jack; always pushing us to do our best and then do better. Thank goodness he jumped at the chance to help homeschool the grandkids during lockdown last year because new math is a mystery wrapped in an enigma. Nothing brought him more joy than to introduce the beginnings of “the calculus” to a new generation.
One of Maelle’s favourite things about Grandpa was that he didn’t mind rough housing and often times Grandpa would start it by threatening to eat their toes. He’s always known how to crank up the energy with kids; we have vivid memories of him throwing us and all our friends in the lake in intense games of Beat the Beast when we were little. Related to cranking up the energy with kids: one of Jack’s favourite things about Grandpa was that he would feed them ice cream and tell him not to tell his parents (Jill and Mike).
Dad was involved in his community in various ways including car rallies, Kinsmen, Toastmasters and Parliamentary Procedure groups of all sorts. He treated his friends like family, and he would do anything for family; build houses and fences, cook ribs, play Santa, rebuild a motorcycle engine, organize a birthday gift hunt or hang nine odd-shaped photos at precarious heights over a stairwell.
We’d love to share with you some of the highlights of our life lessons from Dad:
- Always look up, that’s where you see the best stuff
- You’re never too young to solve for X
- Be generous always
- Identify your crutch words and eliminate them
- The best ingredients make the best dishes
- Be proud of the things that make you different
- Never stop moving; better yet make lifelong friends and stay active together
- Use things the way they’re meant to be used
- Smart people golf
- Refined sugar is to be avoided at all costs, unless you’re giving it to your grandkids in which case any amount is fair game
- If you hook the audience in with a good story, it doesn’t matter how terrible the punchline is
- Standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona is in fact a fine sight to see
- Do or do not, there is no try
There is an enormous hole in so many lives now that he’s gone; we miss him terribly. Those who knew Dad may be familiar with a little speech he would give whenever gifts were being exchanged, so we’d like to close with this message to him: On behalf of lawn bowling and other kindred sports we’d like to show our appreciation for all your endeavours to date, we anticipate your good work will continue in the future, and Dad, thanks for coming out. We love you.
In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Churchill Northern Studies Centre: https://churchillscience.ca/
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Mae Vermeulen
Roger was full of fun and fancy. He always treated people respectfully and gave 100% of himself to his own improvement and to those around him who also wanted to learn and grow. I love a good story and especially one that is told by a person who knows how to tell one…Roger was that person. He was so willing to share his knowledge, which is such a gift. Never got up to Churchill when he was teaching people about the Norther Lights…so sorry I didn’t. The world is a lesser place because Roger is no longer in it. We need more people like him…so I am very glad he created some.
Ruth Luff
Our deepest condolences to you and your family. I know there are no words of comfort to ease the pain of loss, sending love and blessings, Ruth and family
Alan Dyer
My deepest condolences. I was very saddened by the news.
I owe much to Roger. He gave me my start in my multi-decade planetarium career, recommending me as the Manitoba Planetarium’s first intern in 1974-75, and then serving as my mentor for the few months of my internship. In 1975, he then recommended me to his friend John Hault, then director of the Queen Elizabeth Planetarium in Edmonton, for my first full-time job at a planetarium. Many years later in 2013 he asked me to take over his aurora tour group instruction at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, a program he began in the 1980s, and that still continues, or will post-COVID. He will be missed by many as his work touched so many. — Alan
Marilyn Robinson
I feel privileged to have known Roger for a number of years through various parliamentary study groups. His storytelling skills were par non – and embellished by the impish twinkle in his eye! He loved to teach and made even the most complex concepts understandable. He will be missed,
Gord & Kim Thomas
You have described your dad and our very good friend so well. We can relate to it all. Definitely a huge hole left in our lives also. We feel the loss to our core.
We have so many fun memories and even a few challenging ones but we loved him.
So many golfing memories we will continue to take with us…especially the battle for that greenie money!
He will always be remembered every time we are out golfing. There will be stories to tell.
We enjoyed helping him in his amazing garden. He was sure rarely idle.
Hard to believe we will never get another email from him with the Princess Auto flyer information on good deals on a forge. Maybe someday it will happen Roger and we will make some knives.
[I will now have to clean up and sharpen any new knives I get for my knife collection. Roger loved to see any new ones I acquired and fix them up. That was really special to me and I will miss that a lot – Kim]
We would try to give the presentation speech back to him but we never could pull it off as well.
He will forever be with us in our hearts. You all have our condolences and we want to help out however we can. Love to you Dawn. Hope we see you soon. – Gord & Kim
Scott Young
So sad to hear of Roger’s passing. Working at the Planetarium, I mostly knew him by reputation as one of the early pioneers, but I got to meet him a few times. I’ve listened to his voice countless times in some of the early Planetarium shows he narrated as training tools, though. A gifted storyteller who inspired thousands to look at the sky.
My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
Paul Ratson
He will be missed
Ronald Waldron
I got to know your dad first as a planetarium intern at the Museum of Man & Nature in the fall of 1981 and then we reconnected when he asked myself and Alan Dyer to take over his aurora tours in Churchill as his health began to fail. What a legacy he has left us all. I always enjoyed his booming voice mixed with that incredibly dry wit. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Lillian Mabon
What a pleasure to have met Roger. “Larger than life” how fitting. May you take comfort remembering his stories. Thoughts and prayers. RIP my Toastmaster friend.
Vera Chernecki
My heartfelt condolences to his family-what an amazing human being Roger was! I got to know him through the MB Association of Parliamentarians when he and Dawn joined. I discovered what we had in common was our love of wild mushroom picking and were privileged to get invited to his “Stash” where he picked. I gave him a casserole of my holubsti and we were supposed to have a “bake-off” with our recipes. Rest In Peace, Roger.
Vera and Ray Chernecki
Jenny Gates
A funny, energetic, welcoming and enthusiastic gentlemen with a hearty laugh. Rest easy, friend.
Brian Burke
I will miss Roger hugely!!
He was one of the last of our racquetball-“dead ball association”) lunch buddies!
I have years and years of stories about Roger on the courts!
Huge lefty swing and always up for a beer after a match.
I valued him as a good friend and will really miss him–BUT will never forget him!!
Ray Craddock
I first met Roger in Churchill in 1995. I had been asked by Mike Carter, then the director of the CNSC, to pick Roger up from the train station and ferry him out to the research facility. My first question was, “what does the guy look like?”, to which the response was, “big guy, looks a bit like a bear, probably wearing a red parka and might be a bit grumpy”.
Needless to say, on arrival at Churchill train station, it did not take long for me to spot my target.
To me, on first impression, Roger seemed a somewhat loud and imposing person, brimming with energy and also quite irritated at his confinement on the train for so long. On that first trip out to the research facility, I could not have predicted that we would go on to become friends for the next 25+ years.
Our common ground was quite basic on the surface, Roger was just starting to learn to ride a motorcycle in anticipation of turning 50, I had ridden motorcycles since I was a child and therefore I had knowledge that Roger could use. It was through this “vehicle” that we got to know each other and ended up in a partnership over the next decade involving building a workshop, acquiring all manner of forlorn and forgotten motorcycles and parts and, slowly rebuilding them. It was Roger, and his sister Eleanor, who helped me establish myself in Winnipeg, both of them were exceptionally generous with their time and resources in assisting my search for a place to live and work.
Without a doubt, over the following decade, Roger, me and our mutual friend Ray “2”, truly enjoyed our on and off road motorcycle excursions together. Too many adventures and misadventures to mention, but ultimately a good time was had by all. We bonded through those experiences and they will live on in our memories.
Roger was generous, engaging, highly intelligent and an enthusiastic teacher. He was a wise counsel and a good friend. He will be missed.
My sincere condolences to all of his family and friends.
Ray
Laverne Wojciechowski
My condolences to Roger’s family and friends. I can still hear his hearty laugh. I will always remember the Toastmaster rib cook-offs, the speeches, and the all the fun we had at those events. I will also always remember the fun times and tasty food on Christmas eve. I enjoyed his humour and enthusiasm. He will be missed.
Laverne
Fumiko Woloshyn
Roger is my nice brother in law.
As you know he was quite skillful at many things.
Also he was good at many things.
He contributed to society and worked as a guide
at Churchill for a long time.
If I say all of the things, one by one, it is endless.
However, one thing I’d like to say, that is, cooking
perogies and cabbage rolls.
I remember that when Richard and I visited him,
he always welcomed us with his cooking.
Especially the perogies and the cabbage rolls made
a strong impression on me. Someday I curiously
asked him how to make them. He gave me the recipes
and showed me a demonstration. It’s not only a nice
demonstration, but also the cooking is wonderful!
I like his cooking. Since then these dishes are our special
and necessary ones. I prepare them for Christmas,
Easter, etc. and will continue to do so in the future.
Roger gave me one of his family’s customs.
Fumiko
Ray Macisaac
To Dawn and the family my deepest condolences. Roger was a true force of nature, a powerful speaker, gifted storyteller, but most importantly fiercely dedicated and loyal. He will be truly missed.
Bonnie Fedak
My sincere condolences to the family.
Roger Woloshyn: My mentor, my muse, my dear friend. He was my first managing editor during my initial foray into journalism. Nothing like starting at the top. Roger shaped my writing skills from the get-go. He challenged my repertoire, and he made sure to cut me off at the knees (gently, but firmly) if I didn’t pay attention.
And he challenged me as a person. His support, encouragement, and applause – as I navigated through a journalism major at college in mid-life – meant the world to me. Roger held nothing back when it came to a “teaching moment,” yet he always made sure I was left with a positive sense of accomplishment.
Those teaching moments extended into the realm of cooking whenever we spent the occasional day together making a batch of pirogies or cabbage rolls, at which he was a master. When canning season arrived, it was Chunky Relish and Million Dollar Relish. He had a way of making all that work seem like a well-deserved vacation.
Roger continually nudged me to experience new things. I peaked his interest when I attended motorcycle riding classes. After earning my license, he asked me to take him for a ride on my Honda Shadow. It must’ve been quite a site. Me: 5’2”. Roger: 6’3”-ish. He was hooked. I will forever cherish the many day trips we shared rollin’ down the highway, and the time spent just “hangin’ out” with our bikes and each other.
Roger always said, “Nothing is more important than family.”
We kept in touch and made a point to book regular lunch dates a few times a year so we could share pictures of our kids and grandkids – and take our “Obligatory Selfie.” His larger-than-life persona and the impact he had on my life is unexplainable. He had to be experienced to be understood. All I can say is, “Thanks for the memories, Roger. It was a privilege.
“You will be missed, but your star will continue to shine, Starman.”
— Bonnie
Sheldon Rosenstock
My most sincere condolences to Dawn, Jill, Shane, Richard, Mike, Maelle, and Jack on your loss!
The memorial expressed above was exquisite and hit the mark in capturing Roger.
Roger and I first met at a provincial racquetball tournament in December of 1978, and we took it from there for 42 years — first as racquetball players, then as acquaintances, and finally as longtime friends. What a character, but a character of the noblest kind!
Roger was a highly intelligent, multi-talented guy with his fingers in so many pieces of pie through the years with opinions of so many of them (paraphrased); as examples: racquetball (‘lefties may be fewer, but they are the more special group’), golf (‘golf is a highly mental game, so golfers are smart’), gardening (‘all you need is water, sun, and a lot of knowhow’), astronomy (‘just look up and view the wonder’), public speaking (‘you need to know how to deliver the message’), Parliamentarians (‘ “Robert’s Rules of Order” is the final authority’), building houses, additions, and fences (‘I would prefer a wooden horse as my assistant’), science and mathematics (‘it all begins with The Calculus’), and of course, education (too many to mention).
As we are aware, Roger was a passionate and knowledgeable astronomer. He got his start after completing the Astronomy course with excellence at the University of Manitoba that was followed by becoming the professor’s choice as Planetarium Assistant during the next academic year(s) and summer(s) at the U. of M.. After earning both his B.Sc. Degree and Teacher Certification in the Faculty of Education, Roger had to choose between his two passions, astronomy and teaching students in school, and eventually landed his first choice as the Director of the Manitoba Planetarium and also its teacher who educated the clientele. Today, there is an accompanying Manitoba Museum Science Gallery located just outside the Planetarium. Those of us who knew Roger back then are aware that this exhibit originated from Roger’s creative and innovative mind as “Touch the Universe,” which was based on emphasizing touchable and interactive activities that were strategically focussed on the necessary senses required to explore (the) Universe so that participants could simulate the experience. Yes, Roger was an inventor, and educational inventor; and he continued his teaching years later in Churchill where so many adult students learned to look up with knowledge, skill, and appreciation.
It might be difficult to find two more distinctly different individuals than he and I, but Roger and I fortunately negotiated a common ground by sharing our passions for racquetball, support for education, and viewing and predicting curling as arm-chair analysts marvelling at the players’ skill. We
managed to maintain our interest in racquetball after he quit playing when four of us who had met and played for years following the late 1970s began meeting regularly for lunch and called ourselves “The Dead Ballers Society” after the “Dead Poets Society” movie, and of course, Roger installed himself as President! The only two items of business on the agenda at our meetings were lunch together and lively conversation, and the President ensured it.
All that I can say about Roger and education is that we need more science and mathematics teachers like him, even though he used his talents in so many related and invaluable ways.
Regarding curling, I received my last e-mail from Roger this past Monday about the ongoing Brier results with his usual contrary minded opinions. Before the Brier began, in which there were so many strong teams from which to choose, Roger predicted that one of the men’s teams would win, and his prognostication just might be right. Roger definitely had his favourite teams, and he even predicted and bet on his one and only favourite women’s team before major tournaments with me, and Richard too, giving us all the other teams, despite the statistical probability, which he of course recognized, but still was unrelenting with a twinkle in his eye.
Yes, as mentioned in the memorial, Roger viewed himself proudly as a “simple country boy” in contrast with his label for me as a “city slicker” (after the movie). He, of course, was anything but simple, but perhaps liked being understated. It was a unique friendship that we had, one that we seemed to cherish as respecting , yet contrasting foils. Our relationship was built on a foundational quote that I employed in my own classes to emphasize the importance of thinking and problem solving that Roger liked: “When two people always agree, one of them isn’t thinking!” I was never in doubt that he was thinking!
There is so much more that could be said, but I will end here. Roger was a kind and generous friend who will be sorely missed and absolutely impossible to forget.
Again, my sympathy to his family.
Sheldon
markus dyck
I am so saddened by his passing…Roger has been a long time friend who i met in 1993, and we have been in contact here and there……i had so many friendly and exciting verbal exchanges with him…..the most annoying one though was when I slept in the dorm in the old CNSC and Roger was in a different room, several rooms away, and I could not sleep because of a snoring noise…I investigated where it caming from…a total 3 rooms away…..I poked him with a broom stick because it was like waking up a sleeping bear….
His words that will always be remembered by me are..everything will fall into place when the stars are lined up….he always believed in me, he was a great story teller, he will be missed by many but I know he is where he wants to be in peace- in the sky among the other stars…..wishing the family and relatives the best through this hardship…you are not alone, we all loved Roger!!!!
Don Freeese
I want to offer my deepest condolences to your family. Your father was a very special man, who will be truly missed by all the people who were in his life. It was a pleasure getting to know him over the years, after he joined our parliamentary procedure association more than a decade ago.
I will miss receiving the many emails from him, which were usually filled with big words that I did not totally understand, however, he would always included multiple synonyms of these same words to help out (however, it was usually more words to figure out :-).
Finally, his humorous notes usually ended with an informative signature block that showed how many roles he had (or thought he had 🙂 within his community at large. See below one example:
R, PRP
President, Keystone Parliamentary Study Group;
President, Manitoba Association of Parliamentarians;
Chairman (self-appointed), Ste. Rita Defence Committee;
Chairman (self-ordained), Ste. Rita Benevolent Society;
Chief Doryphore (self-anointed), Eastman Region;
Holder of the Sacred Chalice of Ste. Rita;
He will be missed!
Ian Swan
I am deeply saddened to hear of Rogers passing. While employed at the Planetarium and Science Center over a period of 18 + years I got to work closely with Roger at and outside of work. We lost touch for a few years but re-connected over both of our interests in motorcycles. After purchasing a motorcycle through Roger we spent a great deal of time evenings and weekends repairing and rebuilding bikes out at Oakbank. He had a large personality, always welcoming and a unique sense of humor. You knew the true value of friendship in spending time with Roger. He will be missed.
Rest in Peace Roger
Ian
Bob and Lorraine Taras
Very saddened to hear of your dads passing. He was a great friend and teacher in life.
Eric Smith and Louise Buelow-Smith
We learned of your father’s passing through CNSC Instagram. He was indeed a powerful figure and we enjoyed his course offered at CNSC several years ago. Churchill is well worth talking about and his passion for looking up was a gift we shall always treasure. Sincere condolences to you all.
Dale Ashton
Shane was one of my best and closest friends. I only met his Dad a few times, I was 12, and I am afraid to say it was 30 years ago now. Regardless, I remember a warm, friendly and larger than life personality in his Father. Reading some of the stories of his friends and family, it makes sense to me now that such a strong positive impression of someone I did not know could be so vivid after all of these years. I am also certain that I am not alone in feeling this way.
Some of the fondest memories I have of those years include both Shane and Jill. Although it has been many years since we have spoken, I wanted to say to both of you how sorry I am for your loss. You have my deepest condolences.
Claire Murray
I am sending my deepest condolences to all of your family and I have made a donation to the CNSC in his memory. This is such a lovely description of Roger, and I find myself recognizing him in other people’s memories too.
I feel so privileged to have known Roger, or starman as I always called him. I first met him in 2010 at the old CNSC on my first Winter Skies course. I went back twice more (never could pass that course!) and found in starman a friend for life. As others have said he had a brilliant mind, a wicked sense of humour and a great love of both teaching and learning. He really did treat friends as family (as someone so beautifully said in another message) and I feel so fortunate that we were friends, often exchanging emails and messages (he would ask me about Brexit and the Royal Family and how things were in Olde London Towne, and in turn tell me about the grosbeaks, the adventures of Blackie the bear, and goings on with the Ste.Rita Defence Committee).
Most of all I remember the messages telling me about family events and gatherings, about the prodigious amount of food he was preparing, and it was so plain how much love and pride he felt for his family. He was truly a generous man with his knowledge, with his time and with his food. A true host, I think is what he would have said. It is hard to take in that he has gone, but I like to think he has become one with the Force.
I will miss him terribly and will always think of him when I look up, as I do often, and find things of great beauty and wonder in the night sky. Be at peace, my friend.
John Williams
I found out today that one of my fondest inspirations had passed on.
This ‘Substitute Teacher’ had taught me to think positively about everything, in one week.
I remember feeling 10 feet tall, after his classes.
I will be eternally grateful & will never forget.
Rest In Teach, Mr. Woloshyn.
Suzanne Morier
So sorry for your loss. What a beautiful story. I got to know Roger when I was a teenager. He and Darlene (Weitzel) amazed us all with their acting and extroverted skills at Oakbank United Church. My BF Kelly (Dueck) introduced me to Roger’s family my best/favorite memory of him is when I asked him to kidnap and blindfold Kelly and bring her to my house for a small bridal shower. He showed up, on time, dressed as a cowboy and had Kelly in tow! HOOT! Yes, she certainly was surprised. Wishing all grieving his loss on earth, love and light. Hugs especially to Jill (family) and Shane. Take good care of yourselves okay, and know your Starman is watching over you. Love Suzanne Stewart (Morier). ALSO ON BEHALF OF MY DAD, DENYS STEWART (Barb). ♀️♀️
Shirley Bodnar
Since we moved to Winnipeg 3 years ago, I have been trying to track down people I worked with at the Planetarium and was so sad to hear that Roger had passed away! He truly was loved by the staff and he was the one I asked to give a toast to the bride at our wedding. Sending my most sincere condolences to all of Rogers family.
brian dentry
As I search some information in astronomy, I come across this about Roger’s passing. Met Roger in 1966 because of astronomy and the university planetarium. Those knowing Roger, know how there are so many wonderful events that Roger shared with all of us. Roger, thanks for introducing me to creating shows for the planetarium, sharing our passion for astronomy, the car ralleys, and so much more.
Brian
Pat Harman
I discovered Roger’s obituary while looking up another old friend, Sheldon Rosenstock. I was one of the orange-clad “usherettes” in the earliest days of the Planetarium. We were all pretty excited to be part of this experience, none more than Roger. He was a force, and his knowledge and enthusiasm underscored what a triumph this opening was for Winnipeg. Over 50 years later, I still hear his voice when I look at the night sky. “Follow the arc to Arcturus, and speed on to Spica.” I’m sorry to hear of his passing.