This WebSite is a tribute to

Robert Lindley Strickland

9 May, 1952 - 3 Jan, 2012

One of his favorites, taken during one of his favorite times of the year, in Virginia (kindly provided by Mrs. Strickland).

Do, please, feel free to leave a message.

(Click on the "Feedback" tab on the left of the screen)

Some items may be copyright; if you own the copyright and wish me to remove anything, please send me a message and I shall do so a.s.a.p..

From The Culpeper Star-Exponent, January 5, 2012

Robert Lindley Strickland, age 59, of Culpeper, VA, passed away at UVA Hospital, Charlottesville, VA, Tuesday, January 3, 2012. Born May 9, 1952, in Namibia, South West Africa, to the late Jack Strickland and Mathilde Rowland Strickland, Robert worked with S.W.I.F.T in Culpeper, VA, as a software engineer.

Surviving Robert is his wife, Roseanna Strickland, originally from Pittsburgh, PA (where she met and married Robert), but now of Culpeper, VA, daughter, Molly Strickland of Roanoke, VA, mother, Mathilde Strickland of South Africa, siblings; John Strickland of South Africa, Rowland Strickland of Scotland and David Strickland of South Africa.

The family will receive friends Friday evening, January 6, 2012, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Clore-English Funeral Home, with interment at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Free Clinic of Culpeper, 610 Laurel Street, Suite 3, Culpeper, VA 22701. Online condolences may be offered by visiting clore-english.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Clore-English Funeral Home.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/starexponent/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=155336125#fbLoggedOut

Robert was also known as The Sheriff of the RGiE, see "Indaba Tributes" tab on the left of your screen.

Other facets of his life are slowly coming to light:-

--------------------------------------------

From: Pamela Lewin
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2012 11:59 PM

As to Robert's CV,,,,I recall him telling us at one time that he did a BA (Bachelor of Arts) at Wits University (the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa).

The picture of a colonnade building is the main Arts building at Wits University. (I spent most of my young adult years in Johannesburg and have walked those echoing hallways that Robert describes), see picture used as the heading for "Moon in a shoebox".

I have no knowledge of where he got his Computer training which I assume he had, to have such a good job at S.W.I.F.T. Culpepper, Virginia.

--------------------------------------------

From: Chris A. Tamm
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 12:23 AM

I also know that he attended high school at Capricorn, outside Pietersburg, and lived in Broken Hill.

Here is his name - class of 1969

http://capricornhigh.denismeyer.com/

Here he is - 5th row at the end in the "1969 Capricorn School Leavers" [picture in the Library, click on the tab on the left of your screen]

--------------------------------------------

From: Pamela Lewin
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 4:50 AM

CAPRICORN HIGH SCHOOL Old Scholars Network

I have noticed that there were two (2) STRICKLAND's who Matriculated in 1969. Robert STRICKLAND and J. STRICKLAND. Could this be John Strickland, Robert's brother listed in his death notice? Possibly they were twins or born very close to each other, so were in the same grade at school? and if you read the 1969 year book, John is mentioned is several places, but no mention of Robert.

I also notice from the student details page:

STRICKLAND J - P O BOX 20611 RICHARDSBAY 3900

The death notice details a brother John who lives in South Africa.

Pam Lewin
Victoria, BC

--------------------------------------------

From: Loopy di Loo
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 12:49 PM

I do know that Robert was already very computer savvy prior to going to America. South Africa was well ahead then with computers appearing in schools in the 'seventies well before the rest of the civilized world and much of America.

One of his first jobs and later, specialty, was gaol security software. I do not know if he did that in South Africa at one stage or not. He also wrote once that he had attended Plumtree High School. He wrote about how the boys snuck out of the dorm at night and did all sorts of crazy things. One of the boys died in bed during the night due to an unspecified reason and that was a horror story for him. It was something he never got over.

He later refused to admit that he ever went to Plumtree when I asked him l to write about it.

Robert did mention going to Capricorn, quite a good school in Petersburg, Transvaal. Robert did not get along there and was generally in trouble with the authorities. I never quite worked out the dates

Robert did not seek glory and presumably spent time in between being naughty, feasting on his dreams to get the hell out of Z.A. to a more civilized world. He had studied psychology as a major in his degree.

Another thing I recall about Robert is that he had a Cisco Certificate. I do not know whether he studied for that in America or South Africa. That enabled him to become a software engineer. He would have had to update regularly over the years to keep in good nick with his profession. His daughter, Molly, is about 27, and was going to do the same thing. Robert's wife was a teacher at Culpepper High School, who retired in 2010.

I think he did find that in America for a while though he wrote a piece or two
describing how awful, fat and gruesome American women could be. It was hilarious but unfortunately I do not have it.

We all have our regrets sadly but that is the way it is. Gems fall by the wayside because we take them for granted. I always had the feeling that if I really wanted to read some of Robert's stuff again, I could ask him for it.

His cousin, Ashley Strickland, is distantly related to me and we had a short correspondence re family genealogy. I have tried to track him down via the genealogy site he used but though his brief notes are there, the email is out of operation. He is not in the phone book.

I had had a private correspondence with him too for quite some time about his genealogy because he had written interesting pioneering stuff. In time I put him in contact with someone who was writing a book on military history or whatever.

Sorry I could not be of more help.

Gasbag.

--------------------------------------------

From: Loopy di Loo
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 2:03 PM

These are some notes found on Rootsweb, genealogy site, which give you something of Robert Strickland's genealogy.

The secret he never told us is that he is a descendant of a Greek who I read on another site became an interpreter in the court of Port Elizabeth some hundreds of years ago. You will notice that there definitely was some initiative shown in the ancestry which is shown in this snapshot. Understandably, Ashley's email address is old and is not longer functional.
Gasbag

From: "Ashley Strickland"
Subject: [STRICKLAND-L] Another non-US Strickland (and coats of arms)
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 23:23:51 +0200

I'm here too and keeping a watch for anything that might help me trace my roots which go back to Yorkshire, England.

I have so far got to great-great grandparents (paternal line) John Strickland / Elizabeth Rollier who must have married about 1846 in Yorkshire. My grandfather Herbert Clifford S. was born in Brandsby, Yorkshire and came to South Africa in the early years of this century, married the daughter of a earlier Greek immigrant from Athens and settled down as the manager of a pharmaceutical company.

The current end of the line is our son Cai Strickland (20 months old today). Our only link with the US is cousin Robert who was "imported" into America as part of the S.A. brain-drain, married a Philadelphian and now lives in Virginia.

Regards,

Ashley & Karen Strickland,
Simon's Town,
Western Cape
South Africa

--------------------------------------------

From: Loopy di Loo
Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2012 7:57 AM

Here is a little more detail from one of Ashley Strickland's other posts re: the great grandfather from Athens, Greece, whom he shared with Robert Strickland.

It might add a little more interest in the Strickland story because Robert's daughter may not know anything about her South African genealogy.

Ashley Strickland wrote:

MAURIOS (MORIOS?) otherwise known as MOORE, Port Elizabeth area

One of my great grandfathers, from Greece, "stowed away on one of his father's ships" and eventually fetched up in Port Elizabeth. Married an English woman, name unknown. Adopted the name MOORE for convenience. Worked as court interpreter in Port Elizabeth.

--------------------------------------------

On Tuesday, 28 August 2012, Chris A. Tamm wrote to say that Robert died very suddenly, during an endoscopy procedure. His heart gave up during the anesthetic. No other illnesses. He had not even started any blood pressure medication yet. Instant!!

Robert's wife Roseanna was obviously aware of Robert's wrting skills (she majored in English, and taught at Culpeper High School until 2010), but she had no idea of his writings posted on Copper Road until quite recently. She has kindly agreed to share with us any other pieces that she may come across.

--------------------------------------------

From: John Winter
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 11:08 PM

Isn't it amazing how we have a mental image of someone we have never met in person. Robert's pic. is nothing like what I imagined him to look like.

--------------------------------------------

From: LIAM HIILMAN
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2012 8:25 PM
Subject: Re: End of 2012

.....

Also mindful of the fact that this is the first year that we are without Robert and Des. May God bless their souls. If they aren't there when I go to Valhalla, I will be bitterly disappointed, and probably volunteer for the other place!

Minister of Fisheries

RGiE

--------------------------------------------

More to come ? Post yours now.

Click on the FEEDBACK Tab on the left of your screen.

--------------------------------------------

WARNING !

Please be aware

that any "buttons" on the screen

either below here or in the Right hand panel

-------------------->

on this or any other Page

will take you to an advertiser's WebSite.