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Our dearly beloved Robert passed away on Monday, August 27, 2007 at the age of 35. Robert, with his great passion for life, accomplished many dreams. With a Bachelor in Architecture degree from Rhode Island School of Design and a Master of Architecture degree in Urban Design from Harvard University, he led a successful career including work with world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. He was a remarkable man who battled Ewings Sarcoma Cancer for over five years with strength, spirit, and determination. After being diagnosed, Robert and his wife founded Robert's Snow: for Cancer's Cure, which to date has raised more than $200,000 for cancer research.
Robert was blessed with wonderful parents, Anna Valente and Edward Mercer, a loving wife and soulmate Grace Lin, his sister Alison (husband Garry Butler), his brothers Tam and Greg, and an adoring grandmother Angela Rossi Valente. Robert will be lovingly remembered by his aunt Vicki and uncle Tony Valente, his cousins Michael (wife Lori Martins) and Lisa, the Lin family, as well as his many relatives and friends. We wish to celebrate Robert’s life; we welcome all those friends and loved ones who want to celebrate with us.
Visitation at:
Centre funéraire Côte-des-Neiges
4525 Côte-des-Neiges road, Montréal
(514) 342-8000
on Thursday, September 6, 2007 from 4 to 9 p.m. and on Friday, September 7, 2007 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. followed by a religious ceremony in the chapel of the funeral home at 10:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, we would ask that you make a donation, in Robert’s name, towards Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund
Attn: Lauren Nash, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226. Please make checks out to "Robert's Snow." If you make an online donation, mark it in memory of Robert Mercer and note "Robert's Snow" in the note section.
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I was roommates with Grace when she and Robert started dating. He hung out at our apartment a lot, making fun of how much candy we all ate. He never tired of laughing at my I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray butter that I would squirt onto my popcorn; I liked to make fun of his love for his car. He loved hearing the juicy details of my dating life. I liked asking him for music recommendations. We saw a few movies together, especially since Grace wasn't a huge movie fan. I remember all of us going to concerts together, going dancing, fruit picking, and lots of lots of eating out, especially Ethiopian food at Addis Red Sea. Grace and Robert's rainy wedding day, their last day in Boston, having them over at my parent's house in CA for Thanksgiving during their brief stint in LA, when my mother made me sing "This Land is Your Land" in front of all of their guests.
The other day I was sorting through old cards and letters and came across a card Grace and Robert had given to me on my 25th birthday. I thought Robert's note perfectly captured his personality:
"You're old now, but at least you're still good looking."
That was Robert to a T. We will all miss him dearly.
5 comments:
That's so sad.
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Alvina: I'm so sorry for this loss of your dear friend. Thank you for sharing those great memories.
I can't begin to express how sad I am about Robert, whom I didn't know well but his warmth always touched me as truly sincere and genuine.
But I have to ask . . . your mom made you sing This Land is Your Land in front of her friends!? That is so hilariously wonderful!
That is so Robert. What a lovely thing to have found.
That's a really great post, Alvina.
We bloggers in kidlitosphere land really, reeeeeeally want to help the fundraising efforts for Robert's Snow, and I'm talking to Elaine (who's been asking Grace for us) about coordinating something. We hope to announce something soon, once we get a list of the illustrators involved in this upcoming Fall auction.
I'm sorry for Grace, and I'm sorry for your loss, too. Robert sounds like a great guy and friend.
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