The Rev. Robert James Wrigley

The Rev. Robert James Wrigley, 75, died April 25, 2011 by his own act, after years of chronic pain. He acted in fear of increased pain and diminished personal autonomy. Bob described himself as a peace monger, social activist, trade unionist, and —he imagined—a stone mason. Born in Albany, NY, he gained a reputation for being very outspoken, losing his post as junior minister in Providence, RI, when he was reported to have compared Castro to Christ. He left the US and went on to serve First Unitarian in Toronto, ON and then First Unitarian in Edmonton, AB. He next worked as subsistence farmer on his quarter-section in Peers, AB. He is survived by his wife, Naomi Rankin, and their daughters Katherine Malka Wrigley and Elsa Magdalena Wrigley, and his two daughters from his first marriage, Elizabeth “Lise” Anne Wrigley and Jessica Susan Machado (Celso), two grandchildren, and his “twin” sister Susan Jane Pearson. He was predeceased by his grandchildren, Maya Tello-Wrigley and Flora Machado. He was a member of the Edmonton Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. He leaves us with these remarks: “The highest form of bliss comes from living with a certain degree of folly” – Erasmus. And finally, “That’s all she wrote.”