Obituary of Bert Wyman

July 25, 1929 - Hantsport, Nova Scotia

December 23, 2022 - Calgary, Alberta

Herbert (Bert) Wyman passed away on Friday, December 23, 2022, following a lengthy battle with dementia. Bert was a fabulous husband, father, brother, son, uncle, colleague, and mentor to his family, extended family and with his professional colleagues.

Bert was the youngest member of his family, born in Hantsport, NS, to Clifford and Violet (nee Briggs) Wyman on July 25, 1929. His formative years were significantly influenced by the Great Depression and the Second World War, which taught him to be generous to less fortunate and to serve of his community. These early life influences also help explain why Bert loved a bologna sandwich, sardines with vinegar, and molasses on white bread for dessert well into his adult life. A typical lunch on a Saturday served up by Bert would be fried bologna and mustard on white bread.

Bert was a devoted family man. He provided support and guidance to his family, but is particularly remembered for the care he gave to his wife Rita who suffered for many decades with MS.

Growing up in Hantsport, Bert played hockey and rugby at school and was a Cadet officer in his teenage years while at Kings College in nearby Windsor, NS. After high school, Bert went to Queen’s University in Kingston where he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1950. He then went on to study law at Dalhousie University in Halifax and graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree in 1953. During his university years, Bert was in the COTC Royal Canadian Artillery and spent his summers in Ontario and Manitoba. After university, he continued to serve in the militia with the Southern Alberta Light Horse, a reserve armoured unit based in Calgary. He achieved the rank of Major when he resigned to focus on his growing family and his legal career.

Shortly after graduating from Dalhousie University, Bert started as an articling student in Calgary with the law firm Nolan, Chambers, Might, Saucier, Peacock and Jones. This firm has grown to become Bennett Jones LLP and Bert was a significant contributor to the firm’s success and expansion during his more than 50 years working there. He was a successful corporate lawyer, a great mentor to younger lawyers and found ways to take the edge off the stress of work with his legendary sense of humour.

As part of his commitment to his profession, he served as President of the Alberta Chapter of the Canadian Bar Association and participated in many of its events. Besides his legal career, Bert was very generous with his time serving his community. He was a leader with the 62nd Cub and Scout Pack at Riverview United Church for many years and then served on the Board of the Chinook Scout Foundation. He provided pro bono legal counsel to the Chinook Scouts for many years as well. Other community involvement included his participation on the Unified Board of Riverview United Church and the board of the Nat Christie Foundation that offered scholarships to Canadian university students. In recognition of his volunteer contributions, Bert was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002.

Bert also loved to travel. He spent hours planning trips across Canada and to Europe, Africa, Asia, the USA, the Caribbean region, Australia, and New Zealand. He took his young family across Canada as a Centennial celebration in 1967 to visit all the provincial capitals. Later, he took the family to Europe on two occasions.

Bert’s final years were very challenging as the ravages of dementia sapped his mental capacity and strength. The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at United Active Living Garrison Green for the thoughtful, gentle and patient care given to Bert while he resided there.

He is lovingly remembered by his children, Richard (Theresa), Michael (Tana), and Ann; grandchildren, Aveleigh (Ian), Carla (Adam), Brynna (Robert), Sean, Daniel, and Blake; step-grandchildren, Cayleigh, and Lliam; great-grandson, Moss. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Alma MacLennan; as well as his numerous nephews and nieces across Canada and abroad. Bert was predeceased by his parents, Cliff, and Vi, brother Cliff Jr., sisters, Shirley Murray and Alice Love, and his wife of almost 57 years, Rita (nee MacLennan).

Funeral Services will be held at Hillhurst United Church (1227 Kensington Close NW, Calgary, AB) on Monday, July 17, 2023 at 1:30 PM. A Celebration of Life will follow the service at the Alberta Room, Palliser Hotel (133-9^th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB). Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed here.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made to any of the following Charities: Scouts Canada in favour of the Chinook Council, https://www.scouts.ca/, or to the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, www.hbi.ucalgary.ca/contact/giving-to-HBI, or to Alzheimer Society of Canada, https://alzheimer.ca/en, or the MS Society of Canada, https://mssociety.ca./.

In living memory of Bert Wyman, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cros­s Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.