THE ADVOCATE 423
VOL. 79 PART 3 MAY 2021
NOS DISPARUS
By R.C. Tino Bella
Paul Geoffrey Jarman
“They lived and laughed and loved and left.”
—James Joyce
On the day of his choosing, October 26, 2020, Paul
Jarman died peacefully in Victoria, with Ruth Wittenberg,
his best friend, partner and wife of over 40
years, by his side. He was 73.
Paul graduated from the University of Alberta for both his undergraduate
degree and his law degree. He moved to Victoria from Edmonton in 1975,
where he articled (Achtem Alexander) and shortly thereafter joined the
Legal Services Branch of the Ministry of Attorney General after his call in
May 1976. Paul practised primarily environment and resource law for the
Ministry of Attorney General for 35 years, until his retirement in 2011.
Shortly after retirement in 2011, Paul was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic
Syndrome (“MDS”) bone marrow cancer but still enjoyed life with Ruth,
his friends and family. As MDS eroded his physical capacity, he still managed
to travel to Russia, South America, Asia and Europe.
In his efforts to keep up with Ruth, Paul was an early adopter of an electric
bike. That did not always go well, as Paul had a tendency to zig when
he should have zagged. There are stories.
He adapted and adjusted without complaint and remained focused on
quality of life. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late September
2020, but even then his spirit never wavered, and he made decisions about
the end of his life with courage and determination.
Douglas A. Lynass, Q.C., of Edmonton recalls their law school years
together: