ROY HALL VINCENT

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

ROY HALL VINCENT

April 3, 1933 - October 31, 2024

Roy Hall Vincent made his final argument on October 31, 2024, at 91 years of age. He was born on April 3, 1933, the only child of parents, Ilba and Carl Vincent.

He leaves behind his treasured wife, Nancy Vincent, sons, Steve (Linda) and Matt (Kim), and daughter Norah (Michael), as well as six grandchildren, Nikki, Melanie, Tyler, Jacob, Ella, and Joshua. He was predeceased by his parents, Carl and Ilba Vincent. Roy was born and raised in River Heights, Winnipeg, where he excelled in academics and sports. He had an outstanding memory for some of these earlier achievements, particularly those involving a Queenston relay speed-skating race where he came from behind as an anchor skater to win the city championship. Roy had an affinity for re-producing these stories, often to much laughter from family members.

After high school, Roy entered the Faculty of Arts at the University of Manitoba, where he met Nancy Fisher through a shared group of friends in University College. They had many happy times with friends at university, and Roy completed a BA at the University of Manitoba. He was awarded the Gold Medal in Arts and offered the prestigious Rhodes and Woodrow Wilson Scholarships. He ultimately chose Boston over Oxford for his graduate studies, and despite living apart from his beloved Nancy for some time, he completed his graduate studies at Harvard in the area of analytic philosophy. Roy was also one of two students under consideration for the Gold Medal award at Harvard for the highest academic standing. Upon returning to Winnipeg, he was hired in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Manitoba. He had a lengthy career spanning 35 years, at least one-half of which was spent serving as Department Head.

Roy was a much-appreciated mentor to many staff members in philosophy. He was admired for his ability to mediate sometimes-heated academic disputes judiciously and fairly. He advocated skillfully for the department, and under his leadership, it expanded rapidly with many bright young and older scholars. He was reportedly dazzling with his rapid-fire lecturing style and his ability to lecture rigorously and fluently on complicated philosophical topics without notes. He was described as fearlessly defending the importance of freedom of expression and was unafraid to stand on principle with great courage.

Roy was a steadfast father to his three young children and a model of hard work. He was usually home working on his academic papers or practicing his tennis forehand in the living room. Roy coached his son's hockey teams and was known for his high-speed driving en route to games, once tailgating so severely that another driver approached Roy's car with a baseball bat, to which he replied with his typical calmness, "Better lock the doors, boys." Fortunately, the group escaped with only a few exterior dents and suitable life lessons about driving.

Roy loved winning a good argument more than most. He was serious, competitive, and didn't suffer fools easily. At the same time, he greatly admired handiness in others, skills often not informed by much formal education. However, his interest in academic writing and handiness was nearly eclipsed by his love of a cottage property he and Nancy purchased in Poplar Bay, Lake of the Woods, in 1970. With his young family in tow, Roy nearly singlehandedly built a family cottage, boathouse, screened-in porch, and bunkhouse. Being a quick study, he insulated, wired, and made the cottage very comfortable while holding to his view that septic fields were for the weak of character. Forever the professor, Roy was prone to manualizing all instructions in multiple documents about cottage opening and closing, and various other matters. These documents outlive him and testify to his eye for detail.

Roy is remembered for his apt intellect, loyalty, and steadfastness. He loved working the stock market and playing golf and tennis until he could no longer participate in these activities. His biggest accomplishment was his family, with his cottage a close second. There wasn't a sweet wine he didn't like, and he wasn't seen in anything but black sweats for the last decade. Rest in peace, Dad, you won't be forgotten. You were one of a kind. A private service will be held with family and close friends.

ROY HALL VINCENT

April 3, 1933 – October 31, 2024

Surrounded by many of his family, Roy Hall Vincent of Winnipeg, Manitoba, passed away on October 31, 2024, at the age of 91 years.

Cremation has taken place. A more complete obituary to follow.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 02, 2024, Nov 02, 2024, Nov 16, 2024