Lyell was born in Quill Lake, Sask. to Bertha and Harry Rodger. In 1937, Lyell, his 3 brothers, and his parents packed up all their belongings and moved to “the land of milk and honey” aka the Cowichan Valley. His lifelong obsession with learning had its roots in Duncan Elementary, Bench Elementary, Cobble Hill High School before moving to Victoria College (at Craigdarroch Castle in 1945/46), Victoria Normal School in 1953/54 (now Camosun College), and eventually U.B.C. where he graduated with a BA in Education in 1960. His first teaching position was at Fairbridge Elementary where his young family was housed in the former dormitories of the Prince of Wales Fairbridge Farm School. Lyell’s career spanned 33 years and took him from teaching positions at George E. Bonner Secondary and Cowichan High School to administrative positions at Central Elementary and Bert Bowes Secondary in Ft. St. John and ultimately to Prince George where he was Principal at Duchess Park Secondary for 9 years before retiring after 16 years as Principal of Prince George Senior Secondary in 1987. Aside from learning, Lyell’s other passion was sports. He played semi pro baseball in the early 50’s, raised and showed quarter horses in Prince George, and avidly played golf his entire life. Retirement brought Lyell and his second wife, Hope Campbell Robinson back to Vancouver Island in 1993 settling in Parksville’s Morningstar Golf development. Until the end of his life Lyell lived each moment to its fullest and although his body failed him his mind was ever curious. Lyell was predeceased by his first wife Margaret in 2012 and his second wife Hope in 2013. Carrying his memory forward are his daughter Patricia Hill (Byron), son Laurie (Barb), son Kevin (Kim), step-son Ian Robinson (Margie), step-son Glen, 6 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, sisters-in-law Alice Rodger and Joyce Rodger, numerous friends, and legions of students he helped guide through their educational lives.
Online condolences may be made at www.hwwallacecbc.com