Dr. Rodney C. Conklin passed away peacefully in Invermere, British Columbia on June 17, 2019.
Rod was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, the son of Mary and George Conklin. He attended Central High School in Calgary and received his B.Ed., M.Ed. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Alberta, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma. From 1961 to 1992, Rod was married to Dorothy Hughes and had three children – Darrell, Todd and Tanya. Rod then met and married Dee Waldorf and helped raise Dee’s two sons, Matt and Drew.
Dr. Conklin was a psychologist and an educator. He taught at Crescent Heights High School in Calgary and then became a Professor Emeritus of Educational Psychology at the University of Calgary. In 1985, Rod and his friend Dr. Jack Collett founded Rundle College. Dr. Conklin was Rundle’s Superintendent from 1985 to 2007; and he faithfully served on the Board of Directors for 34 years.
After retiring from Rundle, Rod studied to become a wine expert. Rod and Dee owned and operated CasaVino, a wine and tapas bar in Radium Hot Springs that was frequented by their many friends and visitors to the Columbia Valley. Rod enjoyed gardening, golf, travelling with friends, reading and the pleasure of being with his family. He was an avid Canadian coin collector, a hobby from childhood when he delivered newspapers to further his numismatic interests. Rod was an active member of the Columbia Valley Men’s Book Club, and his taste in books ran to the historical and the philosophical.
Rod was humble, kind and generous. In addition to being a positive role model at Rundle, Rod was a mentor to many people who were searching for purpose, meaning and focus in their lives.
Rod is survived by his beloved wife Dee; his children Tanya Ormond (Wayne) and Darrell Conklin; his stepsons Matt Waldorf (Holly) and Drew Waldorf (Taryn); his grandchildren Evan, Cameron, Natasha, Rodney and Sydney; his sister Marianne Johnston (Gordon); his brother Howard Conklin (Anita); and many nieces, nephews, cousins and treasured friends. Rod was pre-deceased by his son Todd Conklin and his brother Terry Conklin.
A memorial service will be held on Friday July 5th from 4 – 6 pm at the Radium Hot Springs Centre – 4863 Stanley Street. Rundle College Society will be hosting a Celebration of Life in Calgary in the fall of 2019.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Dr. Conklin’s memory may be made to Prostate Cancer BC at www.prostatecancerbc.ca or Rundle College Education Foundation, 7379 17th Avenue, SW, Calgary, Alberta T3H 3W5.