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My intersections with Rod began in '69 while he was a prof of economics at UofT. To assuage my undergrad questions about what economists actually did in real life, he hired me as his RA, & tutored me in both optimal growth theory–his specialty, & in applied public policy with a major study for the Ontario gov't on the financing of post-secondary ed.(He also saved me from flunking out.) 

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My intersections with Rod began in '69 while he was a prof of economics at UofT. To assuage my undergrad questions about what economists actually did in real life, he hired me as his RA, & tutored me in both optimal growth theory–his specialty, & in applied public policy with a major study for the Ontario gov't on the financing of post-secondary ed.(He also saved me from flunking out.) 

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My experiences of Rod were of an extremely kind, thoughtful and inherently, thoroughly good man.

I am so sorry for his passing.

Rod was a truly remarkable man defined by his character and well as his curiosity and intelligence.

I am so sorry for your loss Marnie, Lauren, Darcy and Ken.

Catharine Read

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I met Rod on my first trip to Victoria in 1994, and since then have been struck by his curiosity and benevolence. His mind was remarkable for its range of interests and knowledge. His warmth was infectious.

As I have grown as a teacher and scholar, I have frequently thought of Rod's example. I have been lucky to be with Rod at many conferences, events, dinners, and talks. Inevitably, Rod could be found sitting with the most junior person in the room, asking that person about her work, interests, and ideas. I benefited from that interest for many years, and hope to give a small piece of that curiosity and kindness to the next generation.

I will miss the frequent emails with articles he thought I would like to read. And I will miss him very much.

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I met Rod in the mid-90s when he invited me to speak to one of his public policy seminars about my experiences in Fisheries and Ocean Canada during the lead up to and initial aftermath of the Atlantic cod collapse. We kept in touch for several years, but alas I had lost touch with him in recent years. I learned something new every time I had the good fortune to meet up with him, and was grateful for his generosity and policy insights. He was indeed a great man, who made a tremendous contribution not just to Victoria and the University but to public policy in Canada.

I would like to extend my condolences to his family and my thanks to them for sharing him with us.

Liseanne Forand

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I am very saddened with the loss of our dear colleague and friend. I will always keep the memory of Rod as being the most lovable and gentle person, contributing to the warmth and excitement that makes up the CFGS environment at UVic.                We will miss him dearly in our conversations, discussions, and interactions way beyond. His young spirit is unforgettable. Heartfelt hugs go to family, friends, and colleagues!     Jutta Gutberlet

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I am very saddened with the loss of our dear colleague and friend. I will always keep the memory of Rod as being the most lovable and gentle person, contributing to the warmth and excitement that makes up the CFGS environment at UVic.                We will miss him dearly in our conversations, discussions, and interactions way beyond. His young spirit is unforgettable. Heartfelt hugs go to family, friends, and colleagues!     Jutta Gutberlet

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It is hard to put into words how fortunate we have been to enjoy Rod’s presence at the CFGS over all these years. Rod combined a sharp intellect, encyclopaedic knowledge and gentle, caring soul in such a unique way. His wisdom and boundless generosity will be deeply missed. Oliver S

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It is hard to put into words how fortunate we have been to enjoy Rod’s presence at the CFGS over all these years. Rod combined a sharp intellect, encyclopaedic knowledge and gentle, caring soul in such a unique way. His wisdom and boundless generosity will be deeply missed. Oliver S

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It is truly sad to say good bye to Rod. He was an amazing intellectual reservoir. He gave time generously to his colleague and friends. His name will always be fondly associated with the CFGS. Hanny Hilmy

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It is truly sad to say good bye to Rod. He was an amazing intellectual reservoir. He gave time generously to his colleague and friends. His name will always be fondly associated with the CFGS. Hanny Hilmy

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Rod was a dear colleague and elder in our POLIS and CFGS communities. Over the course of his storied career he had a positive impact on so many people, including me. He was always kind and humble. Outside his office, he posted the quote from Martin Luther King Jr. “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” With his own generosity and intellect, Rod worked in many ways towards promoting justice, reducing inequality, and abolishing poverty.

I'm grateful that I got to do a short interview with him last May as part of the POLIS Water Sustainability Project's 20-year anniversary reflections. When I asked him if he had any favourite POLIS memories, he responded, "Any of several occasions of loud brainstorming sessions over odd food in University House 4! And the Watersheds 2014 gathering, which was held at the Quw’utsun Cultural and Conference Centre. I was invited to be a witness and offer a statement at this event, and I saw this gathering as a bit of a turning point in the working relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous neighbours around water challenges."

Rod and I also had a shared affinity with Pete Seeger. After I heard about Rod's death, I put on "Quite Early Morning," one of my favourite Pete Seeger songs. It seemed appropriate, especially given how many people have benefited from and thrived because of Rod's advice, wisdom, and intellect...

"And when these fingers can strum no longer, hand the old guitar to young ones stronger..."

In fact, the first interaction I can ever remember having with Rod was in 2011. He came down the stairs at University House 4 to find me (then the new, young POLIS hire) and ask if I could sing a protest song he'd written about Stephen Harper :)

~Laura Brandes

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I feel both lucky and honoured I had the chance to meet Rod. I was a graduate fellow at the Centre for Global Studies at Uvic, and I deeply enjoyed our conversations and the kindness with which he shared his ideas and insights.  We had many meaningful conversations and I will never forget his support in my academic journey, and his encouragement to expand my horizons and complete my graduate work. My condolences to his family, we will all miss you a lot, Rod! - Tamara Amoroso Gonsalves

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I feel both lucky and honoured I had the chance to meet Rod. I was a graduate fellow at the Centre for Global Studies at Uvic, and I deeply enjoyed our conversations and the kindness with which he shared his ideas and insights.  We had many meaningful conversations and I will never forget his support in my academic journey, and his encouragement to expand my horizons and complete my graduate work. My condolences to his family, we will all miss you a lot, Rod! - Tamara Amoroso Gonsalves

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I met Rod in 1984, at a time that I was supporting myself with academic odd jobs around U Vic, coming to realize that I was not going to make it as a musician, and quite at a loss what to do with my life.

I don’t fully remember how the introduction came about, except that Lauren Dobell and Mervyn Brockett were both involved. But I vividly remember my first conversation with Rod, in which the dreary old Public Admin lobby behind the library somehow started glowing with curiosity, warmth, and fun.

Based on that one conversation, and knowing virtually nothing about me, Rod hired me in his new capacity as President of IRPP down in University House 3. It was never entirely clear what the job was. Rod would sit around brainstorming with me about interesting ideas, then let me go mess with them for a few days. In subsequent conversations, he would point me toward what he thought were the most interesting and fruitful avenues to explore (which they always were), then help me sharpen them into whatever product seemed suitable – speeches for him to deliver, notes for IRPP newsletters, longer papers for Policy Forum, and such.

In those two years working for Rod, he helped me nurture an intellectual enthusiasm that I was at risk of losing, encouraged me to pursue exciting ideas, and helped me find my intellectual ambition. This experience brought me to the decision, with Rod’s counsel and support, to apply to doctoral programs in places I had never imagined I would set foot in. In a very concrete sense, I owe Rod for the wonderful and rewarding career I’ve had since then.

Over the intervening years I've learned much more from Rod, and as I moved further in academic and policy circles, got an increasingly clear view of just how remarkable he was. He didn’t just teach and mentor about the content of the work, but also about how to do it with integrity and grace – how to make a happy and productive team in which everyone’s contributions are valued; how to navigate fraught boundaries between disciplines and professional communities; how to handle difficult situations and difficult people with tact and kindness. He was always at the center of making interesting new things happen, always contributing a huge amount, and always more interested in learning something new and helping others succeed than in having it his way or – God forbid – in getting credit.

Moreover, over time I came to realize that my experience was not unique: I saw Rod do what he did for me for dozens of other people – and also, increasingly, came to realize that he’d been doing it for dozens more, long before I met him.

Rod was a brilliant, rigorous, and original thinker. He was interested in everything and saw connections everywhere. He was enthusiastically interested in other people’s ideas, especially those of the most junior and likely to be overlooked people, always interested in learning something new or seeing a new perspective on something familiar. And he always found, and focused on, the positive. He had a knack for recognizing the most fruitful and elegant ideas in a big sprawl, the little kernel of insight or originality in an otherwise unpromising project – and helping the author see it and develop it.

Rod kept his childlike openness, his curiosity and enthusiasm, and his sparkle, into very advanced age, including bearing years of physical limitation and what I can only guess must have been severe pain with an astonishing grace. I never heard him complain about anything, and I never heard him speak an unkind word about anyone.

He was an extraordinary man – a radiant mind and a radiant heart – who I realize I’m remarkably fortunate to have known. My condolences to Rod’s family, friends, students, and colleagues, as we all grieve his loss.

Ted Parson

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I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to work with and learn from Rod. He was such a big part of my experience at CFGS and he will be missed dearly! My condolences to Marnie and the rest of the Dobell family.

Rowan Salverda

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Rod was a wonderful mentor, teacher and most importantly a supporter to me and many of us at POLIS. His insights and thoughtfulness were such foundational pillars and in his kind way he always supported and encouraged us to think just a little bit deeper. He embodied class and kindness. I can say with certainty without Rod POLIS and certainly I would not be where we are today. He was always the smartest person in the room but yet never made anyone feel less than that. He remains a role model where I often might think or ask myself what would Rod suggest ? We often jokingly called him the "Rod-father" and I know this, people like Rod are so very rare and we all have lost something significant. He elevated us all - he will be missed but he will remain in our thoughts and in our hearts ...

Oliver B

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It was an inspiration to interact with and learn from Rod Dobell - it gave a foundation and roots to the wonderful CFGS community. His dedication and generosity to continue to contribute to knowledge and kindly support others in their academic journeys was an inspiration to me. We were lucky to have him. My deepest condolences to the Dobell family, his friends and the CFGS community.   - Maeva Gauthier

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It was an inspiration to interact with and learn from Rod Dobell - it gave a foundation and roots to the wonderful CFGS community. His dedication and generosity to continue to contribute to knowledge and kindly support others in their academic journeys was an inspiration to me. We were lucky to have him. My deepest condolences to the Dobell family, his friends and the CFGS community.   - Maeva Gauthier

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Rod had the widest range of knowledge and intellectual skills of anyone I have met. His prodigious intellect was only exceeded by his support of others, his passion for a more just world and a humble spirit. A huge loss. How wonderful to have known him.

Budd Hall

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A true gentleman and a scholar. A man with an outstanding academic and public service pedigree, leaving a treasure-trove of highly regarded positions and accomplishments in his wake. Thank you Global Studies for bringing some of Rod's remarkable history to the fore; a testament to Rod's own humble nature. We were indeed blessed to know a man with generous intellect, social skills and an unquenchable appetite to contribute to our universal library of knowledge and effective engagement.

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A true gentleman and a scholar. A man with an outstanding academic and public service pedigree, leaving a treasure-trove of highly regarded positions and accomplishments in his wake. Thank you Global Studies for bringing some of Rod's remarkable history to the fore; a testament to Rod's own humble nature. We were indeed blessed to know a man with generous intellect, social skills and an unquenchable appetite to contribute to our universal library of knowledge and effective engagement.

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What a wonderful tribute from Global Studies. Rod's generosity will live on in the people who have come into his sphere of influence. I imagine there are many who would echo Jodie Walsh's moving expression of gratitude. I remember talking to him about books on various occasions. He was always so keenly interested in the writers and their areas of interest. Those of us still here in the world have much to learn from Rod's spirit of public generosity.

Lucy Bashford

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I am saddened to hear of Rod's passing. I met Rod some years ago through his sister, Carol, as I had an interest in pursuing green criminology and environmental enforcement. I remember him as being a very kind and gracious person, and indeed with a generous and thoughtful intellect. I appreciated his reflections very much. My heart goes out to his family and close friends.

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Rod was one of the rare kind of academics who excel at both research and at managing research in the sense of inspiring people and giving constructive feedback. He set us all an example, and we will miss him. My condolences to Marnie, Darcy, Ken, Lauren and the entire Dobell family. Peter

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Rod was one of the rare kind of academics who excel at both research and at managing research in the sense of inspiring people and giving constructive feedback. He set us all an example, and we will miss him. My condolences to Marnie, Darcy, Ken, Lauren and the entire Dobell family. Peter

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As a Visiting Fellow at CFGS, I had the pleasure of meeting Rod when I gave a talk. I worked in an area that at the surface would have seemed distant from Rod's. He asked a question; I gave an answer. But when I got back to my office the next day, there was a long email from Rod, pushing the boundaries of my thought, exploring other possibilities, sending me links to other examples and titles to read! Thus began an ongoing conversation. He was generous like this for many. Rod inspires others to be like him: patient, thoughtful, giving and present. - Cynthia Milton

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My paths crossed with Rod very early in my career and I have reflected often on that gift. His generosity with his time, curiosity and intellectual depth are markers of true leadership. The world needs more not less of the uniqueness of Rod Dobell and I hope we all take what we learned from him and carry it forward. He deserves that legacy. Much love and peace to Darcy and the whole Dobell family. Best, Liz Hendriks

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A true scholar with exceptional focuses on societal relevance.  He is already missed. I wish to extend my sincere condolences to Darcy and the entire Dobell family.  I hope that the time between when you think of Rod and tears emerge to when you think of him and a smile emerges is quite short. Kate Moran

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A true scholar with exceptional focuses on societal relevance.  He is already missed. I wish to extend my sincere condolences to Darcy and the entire Dobell family.  I hope that the time between when you think of Rod and tears emerge to when you think of him and a smile emerges is quite short. Kate Moran

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Rod shared his intellect, knowledge and wisdom in the most supportive and friendly manner whenever I had the pleasure of meeting him over the years. For me, he represents brilliant mentorship as it should it be - encouraging and kind. My heartfelt condolences go to Rod's family and close friends. Thank you, Rod! 

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Rod shared his intellect, knowledge and wisdom in the most supportive and friendly manner whenever I had the pleasure of meeting him over the years. For me, he represents brilliant mentorship as it should it be - encouraging and kind. My heartfelt condolences go to Rod's family and close friends. Thank you, Rod! 

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Miriam Müller-Rensch

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My dearest friend and partner at the CCCBE. We will miss you. I fondly recall your childlike curiosity, the sparkle in your eyes, and the joyous laughter that would escape you whenever a new, thrilling idea was brewing. We all benefitted from your passion for learning, your generosity in sharing your encyclopedic knowledge and your wisdom. Your commitment to fostering positive change for the common good  was inspiring

Humbly and profoundly, you united people.  At our “Friday  Munch”, you listened and connected with people coming from diverse ways of life. You transcended the confines of disciplines and university boundaries with grace and ease.

It is hard to imagine the UVIC campus without  Rod Dobell.  You were a model academic, and I hope in some ways we carry the legacy of joyful curiosity, kindness, compassion, and generosity.

Ana Maria Peredo

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This photo captures Rod exactly as I remember him: warmly smiling, perhaps laughing, while listening generously and sharing his wisdom. Rod was a model scholar -- interested in everything and everyone; generously supportive of everyone's work (every so often he sent me an article or link, out of the blue); and willing to question and criticize when it was needed. Thank you, Rod. Liz Vibert

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This photo captures Rod exactly as I remember him: warmly smiling, perhaps laughing, while listening generously and sharing his wisdom. Rod was a model scholar -- interested in everything and everyone; generously supportive of everyone's work (every so often he sent me an article or link, out of the blue); and willing to question and criticize when it was needed. Thank you, Rod. Liz Vibert