Dear Cynthia,

I hope this message finds you well after saying farewell to your beloved Bob and our cherished colleague and friend. Sam and I have been reflecting on the unexpected news of his passing; reading the touching remembrances from across the world; and reflecting with deep gratitude for the Bob's life and the privilege of knowing him. With apologies for the delay we send you greetings of support, heartfelt condolences and very warm hugs.

Birthing the International Association of Facilitators was the most unforgettable partnership venture with you and Bob. He was an instrumental leader in the handful of years leading up to the official formation of the association. It was a gigantic team effort with Bob playing a unique role as a steady and effective spokesperson for the underlying intents of the organization. After Jim Troxel called interested ICA colleagues to Dallas to explore the idea of promoting the role of facilitation, Bob served as articulator-in-chief for the emerging consensus with his compelling logic and personable messaging: The organized entity would not be an ICA alumni group but a resource for practitioners from all backgrounds and walks of life that believed in the values of participatory engagement and adhered to a related code of ethics. As the first Chair, he led the board (then called the ACT, the Association Coordinating Team) in collaboratively launching a dynamic, self-sustaining professional network worldwide.

Bob was also an exemplar as a Renaissance Man in league with a Renaissance Woman. Thank you for inspiring us with your diverse interests, infectious joy, priceless humor, enduring activism on behalf of the planet and appreciation for the arts and the natural world.

Cynthia, may showers of blessings propel and support you in the days, months and years ahead. We look forward to connecting virtually and perhaps even in person too!

Take care,

Mirja and Sam

Task Force Meeting - Chicago 1999

Minneapolis Meeting at Wilder Forest
(Bob in the corner)

-----Original Message-----
From: Cynthia Vance via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net>
To: dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net>
Cc: Cynthia Vance <facilitationfla@aol.com>
Sent: Wed, Aug 15, 2018 4:30 am
Subject: [Dialogue] from Cynthia Vance

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

My dear Bob passed away today, Monday, August 13.

On July 11 I enrolled him in Hospice at Home, due to his increasing symptoms from (possibly) Lewy Body dementia and I cared for him since then. Last Sunday morning he awoke with extreme difficulties. The Hospice nurse came and felt he probably had a 'neurological event' the Saturday evening before, perhaps while sleeping. She took him to the Venice Hospice House at 6pm that night.

I visited him 90 minutes later. He was very calm but not very responsive. I shared my reflections as I showed him 4 photos -- his parents, his brothers Neil and Denny, our doxies Star and Matilda and finally Bob and me. I also read two poems I had written (about the dogs!) and a love letter highlighting and thanking him for the special times we shared as a team in our community service/civil rights efforts, followed by our strategic planning consulting, and finally in our various nature adventures. We had had these discussions before and had agreed that history had given us a fine ride! – and that hopefully we made the world a little better. He died peacefully 5 hours later, 1:30 am, early Monday morning.

I’m grateful for the wonderful life and marriage we had. I could ask for no more. Our home was one of peace, love, respect, creative planning and always in anticipation of our next birding or butterflying adventure. He was always kind to others and was a terrific partner in our life work together!

Many of you, our colleagues over the years, wrote letters to him or telephoned him in the past 10 days. He was so pleased to hear from you and I’m grateful that you reached out to us. You shared your appreciation of his life and brought us great joy.

My sister, Cecily, has been with me for 2 days and as an R.N. has given me guidance during this journey. Other friends locally have compassionately reached out to me.

Bob has donated his brain to the University of Miami Brain Endowment Bank to both confirm (or not) the diagnosis and to contribute to their research. We will be spreading his ashes in our Butterfly Garden and the Gulf of Mexico where he proudly completed 990 SCUBA dives to collect hundreds of vertebrate fossils.

Grace and Peace,

Cynthia

facilitationfla@aol.com

941-483-9165

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