Robert Atkinson
Ajijic resident and Halifax, Nova Scotia native Bob Atkinson died peacefully February 24 at the age of 66.
Atkinson attended Columbia University in New York City before retuning to Nova Scotia to take up a postion as a professor of Journalism and Business Marketing at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax.
He later decided to switch careers and became the CEO of marketing for a large advertising agency in Halifax. He then went out on his own and worked as a digital consultant for several major newspapers in Canada and the United States.
Atkinson travelled to many areas of the world during his career. His hobbies and talents included being a musician in several bands in his younger days, a certified master sommelier, and an accomplished digital media artist.
Although he never married, Atkinson met his soulmate, Sue Garnhum, about a decade ago. They decided to move to Ajijic in 2014, planning to spend the rest of their lives in a beautiful town with a great climate. The couple made many friends and Atkinson was also an active member of the Chapala Sunrise Rotary Club.
Left to mourn his loss, along with his partner, are his sister Carol Atkinson from Nova Scotia, his fellow Rotarians, and many other close friends.
Stella Ann Mellor
Stella Ann Mellor died January 1, with her husband David by her side – exactly 11 days short of their 60th wedding anniversary.
Born in Bexhill, Sussex, England, Mellor was raised in Bexhill and trained as a nurse at the Bexhill Hospital. She worked for a few years at the Royal East Sussex Hospital in Hastings, where she met the man she fell in love with.
They married in 1957, had their first daughter (Penelope Ann) and emigrated to Calgary, Canada. After having a second daughter (Karen Ruth), they moved Edmonton, where their third daughter (Christine Abigail) was born.
In Canada, Mellor continued her work as a nurse at the Calgary General, later as a driving instructor with the Alberta Motor Association (AMA), and then in administrative support with the University of Alberta in Edmonton.
After David retired, the couple moved to the Lake Chapala area and lived there for the next 20 years. They returned to Canada two months prior to Mellor’s passing.
Mellor volunteered with the Lake Chapala Society in Ajijic, and sewed prosthetic bras for poor Mexican ladies. There was hardly a person she met who wasn’t touched by her generosity and willingness to go the extra mile to help.
She will be fondly remembered for her outstanding baking, cooking, sewing, knitting (many sweaters and quilts for her grandchildren). She was resourceful and a strong, faithful supporter both in words and actions for her husband, daughters and grandchildren. Mellor loved to travel, read historical fiction, play card games and jointly complete crossword puzzles with her husband.
Mellor will be lovingly remembered by her six grandchildren, Michael, Deirdre, Matthew, Alexis, Joshua and Sarah; two sons-in-law, Peter and Edward; brothers Martin and Paul; and sisters-in-law Jean and Jenny.
The family thanks the home care nurses in Cochrane, Alberta, and the tremendous caring staff of the Dulcina Hospice at St. Marguerite Manor.