March 6, 1953–August 9, 2025

With broken hearts we announce that Roberto passed away peacefully at the Red Deer Hospital on August 9, 2025, after losing his final sparring match with gastric cancer.

Roberto was born in Napoli, Italy, where he spent his youth. He was an accomplished swimmer, participating in national and international events. At the swimming pool, he met his future wife, Loretta Fiorillo. Together they decided to pursue further studies abroad, and God led Roberto to Canada. He completed a Master’s degree and a Ph.D. in pure mathematics in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Then he was accepted at UBC for a postdoctoral fellowship, and Loretta joined him there. They spent 5 years in Vancouver, where both daughters, Iris and Alma, were born. Roberto obtained one more Master’s degree in statistics and one more postdoctoral fellowship.

In 1988 the family moved to Red Deer, where his son Dante was subsequently born. Roberto taught at the Red Deer College until 2021. He taught with enthusiasm and passion and inspired a generation of engineers and nurses. When he was in the Red Deer Hospital, most nurses fondly remembered him as their statistics instructor.

Roberto’s primary focuses were faith, family, music, and sports:

He had an unshakeable faith in God and was a loyal supporter of the Catholic Church. He was involved in various Catholic organizations and in parish work.

Roberto dedicated his life to his family. He was his wife’s stronghold, enabling her to flourish and pursue her goals, while supporting and protecting her in the background. He looked after his three children Iris, Alma, and Dante with fatherly love and motherly attention. He supported all his children completely, in whatever they needed, well into adulthood. He delighted in his grand children:  Alejandra, Elizabeth, and newborn Vincenzo; moreover he was eagerly awaiting the arrival of two more this winter. He will cheer them on from above.

He liked opera and classical music; he played guitar and sang. He transmitted his love of music to both Alma and Dante. When Dante was in marching band, Roberto was so proud that he embroidered “Dante’s Dad” on his jacket.

Roberto was a gifted athlete. In youth and young adult life it was swimming, for which he still holds Alberta records for medley and backstroke in his age category. In more mature years, he learned Karate alongside Alma and Iris and progressed to second-degree black belt, participating in many tournaments.

He has now returned to the House of the Father, where he rejoins his parents Renato and Ida, as well as aunts and uncles.

In lieu of flowers, it was his will to make donations to St. Joseph Seminary, which can be done online at https://stjoseph-seminary.com/vocations/support-vocations/.

 

• Date : 2025-08-09
• Location : Eventide Funeral Home