It is with heavy hearts that the family of Roberto Roman Guerrero announce his peaceful passing on August 25, 2023 at the age of 77 years.

Roberto’s life is a fascinating story that is too long to capture in a few words. He was born in Santiago, Chile on July 19, 1946. He played basketball in high school and professional basketball in Chile for a brief period as a young adult. He was a hobby photographer with incredible creative talent. He lived in Moscow, Russia for five years while attending the Patrice Lumumba University, alongside many Chilean peers, to achieve a degree in Agricultural Engineering. He then worked as an Agricultural Engineer within the Chilean government.

During this time he met his wife, Ingri, who he married in the St. Vincent de Paul church in Chile in January, 1973. He later became a father to Alexis (October 1973) and Jacqueline (December 1974).

On September 11, 1973 Chile’s history changed forever when a democratically elected government was overthrown by a dictatorship that lasted until 1990. During the time of the dictatorship, Roberto was wrongfully targeted and imprisoned twice, until eventually escaping the country as a refugee.

He sought refuge in Canada where he arrived on March 28, 1976. Followed shortly after by Ingri and their children. He settled in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, where he lived out the rest of his life and grew their first generation Canadian family including David, Victor, and his grandchildren.

He started work in Weyburn as a farm hand in the Griffin area, then worked various jobs until becoming a Nurse’s Aid alongside Ingri at Souris Valley. He eventually studied to become and retire as a Third Class Power Engineer at Tatagwa View until 2011.

Roberto was able to visit Chile several times in the 1990s and 2000’s. However, it wasn’t until 2015, nearly 40 years after fleeing Chile, when Roberto was reconnected with his cousins, nephews and niece in Chile, creating loving relationships with a family he lost long ago. It was during these visits that his own Chilean family learned what he went through during the dictatorship and about his life in Canada. Being able to finally rekindle these relationships brought Roberto a sense of joy, comfort and fulfillment that is impossible to capture in words.

Roberto and Ingri were always involved in the Weyburn community together. He became a Spanish teacher, volunteered with the Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Amnesty International, Meals on Wheels, and helped other refugee and immigrant families settle in the community. He and Ingri also (unofficially) adopted several youth and families in need of support to help take care and them and give them a supportive family during times of need.

Roberto spoke three languages; Spanish, Russian and English. He lived on three continents. He faced more adversity than most people in his life, yet he approached every day with peace, calmness, and genuine happiness and appreciation for those around him. He taught his loved ones the values of patience, gratitude, and unconditional love. There really was no one else like him in the world.

Roberto’s family has created the Roberto Roman Memorial Fund, held at the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation, to honour his life and his commitment to supporting his community. This legacy fund will grow and give back to charitable causes in his community, forever. This means his name, and his impact on those in need, will live on in perpetuity.