Dr. R. N. Shervill

January 21, 1920 – September 29, 2015

 Dad will always be remembered by his loving family, friends and an untold number of students inspired and nurtured by his passion for teaching during almost 40 years as an educator. Born in London, Ontario, “Bob” graduated from Sir Adam Beck Collegiate in 1938 and went on to earn an Honours B.A. in French and German from The University of Western Ontario (1942), and both his M.A. in Spanish and his Ph.D. in Spanish and Romance Linguistics from The University of North Carolina (1948, 1958). Between 1942 and 1946: he served overseas as an intelligence officer with the Canadian Army, was named Knight Officer, Order of Orange Nassau by the Netherlands government in 1945, received the Canada Decoration in 1948, and in 2014, was named a Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour by France. Upon returning from overseas he served as Commanding Officer of the Canadian Officers Training Corps. He began teaching at The University of Western Ontario in 1946 and went on to become chairman of the Department of Spanish and Italian, Dean of Middlesex College, and Executive Assistant to the President from 1968 to 1975. He retired January 1, 1984 as Professor Emeritus and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University in 1985. At the time he was described by then president D. Carlton Williams as a “devoted servant of Western” and “the first among equals of those who have served the University out of love, loyalty and duty”. He was the author of several articles and books dealing with Old Spanish, compiled and edited They Passed This Way – a collection of citations for honorary degrees – for the University’s centennial in 1978, and was awarded the Alumni Award of Merit in 1982. Dr. Shervill is survived by sons Lynn (Sheila), Paul (Linda) and Rob (Marlyn); grandchildren Daniel, Michael, Chris, Jessica and Tammie (Ken); and great-grandchildren Shaelene and Casey. He was predeceased by his wife of 67 years Ethel Irene (2010) and daughter Linda Lee (2011). A memorial service for friends and family will be conducted at WESTVIEW FUNERAL CHAPEL, 709 Wonderland Road North, London, on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at 1:00 p.m., with visitation one hour prior. Private interment of ashes at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Bob are asked to consider the Parkwood Institute c/o St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation or the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.