1950–2016

Robert was raised in the village of Fachwen in Snowdonia, the son of a quarryman. He studied dentistry at the University of Liverpool, qualifying in 1973. He returned to North Wales, setting up practice in Bangor where he remained committed to providing the best care for his patients until retiring.

Almost immediately he began to make his mark on the local dental community. He was active within the BDA for many years, serving as chairman of the North Wales section and on various branch committees. He represented dentists on the GDSC, the WGDSC and on Gwynedd LDC. Robert acted as media spokesman for both the BDA and Y Gymdeithas Ddeintyddol (the Welsh Dental Society), of which he was an enthusiastic supporter – it was not at all unusual to find him being interviewed live on radio or TV before the first patient of the day!

Dentistry was but one facet of Robert's life. He was also a magician – a toy magic set given to his daughter triggered a passion which grew until 'Robert John' was a well-known magician, complete with equity card and TV series. Many a dry dental conference was livened up by an impromptu cabaret! He was a member of the Magic Circle and president of the North Wales Magic Circle.

Robert took great pride in raising funds for worthwhile causes, always being happy to help. He was the youngest ever member of Bangor Rotary Club, supporting them for over 35 years and his efforts lead him to being made a Paul Harris Fellow – twice.

Aviation was another passion; being scared of flying, Robert's family bought a 'trial flight' to see if it would cure his nerves – he was soon hooked, gaining his pilot's licence and flying extensively around the UK and Europe. He became a long standing member, chairman and trustee of Mona Flying Club, who honoured him with a fly-past at his funeral.

He loved sailing, cruising around North Wales and beyond with his family. He was a scuba diver, photographer, painter, rally navigator, classic car enthusiast and Sunday school teacher – the list goes on.

Robert pursued all his interests with passion, commitment and a desire to 'put something back'. He led by example, making time to help, taking responsibility and getting things done. Above all, he was deeply committed to his family – he met his wife, Eirian, while they were students working on the Holyhead to Dun Laoghire ferry in the summer holidays, proposing after just nine days. They were blessed with two daughters, Alison and Jennifer, and four grandchildren to whom he was devoted.

In honour of Robert's association with Y Gymdeithas Ddeintyddol (the Welsh Dental Society), his obituary has been written with a Welsh translation below.

Magwyd Robert yn fab i chwarelwr ym mhentref bach Fachwen yn Eryri. Astudiodd Ddeintyddiaeth ym Mhrifysgol Lerpwl a graddio ym 1973. Yn fuan iawn wedyn, dychwelodd i Ogledd Cymru, gan sefydlu practis ym Mangor, lle'r ymroes i ddarparu'r gofal gorau i'w gleifion nes iddo ymddeol.

Gwnaeth enw iddo'i hun o fewn y gymuned ddeintyddol leol yn syth fwy neu lai. Bu'n weithgar gyda'r BDA am flynyddoedd lawer, yn gadeirydd Adran Gogledd Cymru ac yn gwasanaethu ar amryfal bwyllgorau'r Canghennau. Cynrychiolodd ddeintyddion ar y GDSC, y WGDSC ac ar LDC Gwynedd. Bu Robert yn llefarydd y cyfryngau ar ran y BDA a'r Gymdeithas Ddeintyddol (y bu'n gefnogwr brwd iddi) ac nid anarferol fyddai ei glywed yn cael ei gyf-weld yn fyw ar radio neu ar deledu cyn iddo weld claf cyntaf y diwrnod!

Nid oedd Deintyddiaeth ond un wedd ar ei fywyd – mae'n anodd gwybod ble'n union i ddechrau sôn am ei ddiddordebau eraill.

Roedd yn gonsuriwr – set o offer consurio i blentyn a roddodd yn anrheg i'w ferch a sbardunodd ynddo'r diddordeb a dyfodd ac a ddatblygodd nes i 'Robert John' ddod yn gonsuriwr adnabyddus iawn, yn berchen cerdyn Equity a chael cyfres deledu. Bywiogwyd sawl cynhadledd ddeintyddol gan gabaret byrfyfyr gan Robert! Roedd yn aelod o'r Magic Circle ac yn llywydd y Cylch hwnnw yng Ngogledd Cymru.

Roedd yn hynod falch o allu codi arian at achosion da a phob amser yn barod i fod o gymorth – o gynnal cabaret i redeg ocsiwn. Fo oedd yr aelod ieuengaf erioed o Glwb Rotari Bangor, a gefnogodd am dros 35 mlynedd. Cydnabuwyd ei ymdrechion pan wnaed ef yn Gymrawd Paul Harris – ddwy waith.

Roedd hedfan yn un arall o'i hoffterau – ac yntau ofn hedfan, roedd ei rieni wedi prynu iddo 'hediad prawf' er mwyn gweld a fyddai hynny'n tawelu ei nerfau. Buan iawn y cafodd hedfan afael dynn ynddo – enillodd ei drwydded peilot a hedfanodd yn helaeth o gwmpas y Deyrnas Unedig ac yn Ewrop. Bu'n aelod am flynyddoedd o Glwb Hedfan Mona, yn llywydd y Clwb ac yn ymddiriedolwr, ac i'w anrhydeddu fe hedfanodd aelodau'r Clwb eu hawyrennau mewn trefn uwchben ei angladd.

Roedd wrth ei fodd yn hwylio, yn mordwyo'n braf o gylch Gogledd Cymru a'r tu hwnt gyda'i deulu. Roedd yn sgwba-blymiwr, yn ffotograffydd, yn arlunydd, yn gyfeiriwr ralïau, yn edmygydd brwd o geir clasurol, ac yn athro Ysgol Sul – ac mae'r rhestr yn parhau.

Dilynai Robert ei holl ddiddordebau gydag afiaith, ymroddiad, ac awydd i 'roi rhywbeth yn ôl. Arweiniai drwy esiampl, gan wneud amser i fod o gymorth, cymryd cyfrifoldeb, a gweithredu i gyflawni. Uwchlaw popeth, roedd ei ymroddiad i'w deulu yn ddi-ball. Cyfarfu ei wraig, Eirian, pan oeddynt yn fyfyrwyr yn gweithio ar y fferi rhwng Caergybi a Dun Laoghire yn ystod eu gwyliau haf, a gofyn iddi ei briodi ar ôl dim ond naw diwrnod. Cawsant eu bendithio â dwy ferch, Alison a Jennifer, a phedwar o wyrion yr oedd yn meddwl y byd ohonyn nhw.