Robin Norman Pryor

Robin Norman Pryor, born on July 22, 1931 in Perth, Australia passed away peacefully at his home in Salmon Arm on July 16, 2025 - just 6 days shy of celebrating his 94th birthday.
Robin spent his childhood growing up in Oxford, England and in his early 20’s, he emigrated via boat with his brother to Canada. In Toronto, he met his wife, Nancy and together they moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1970.

Robin lived a creative life filled with many passionate endeavors. While living in California, he started a business in downtown San Francisco called The Color Machine where he incorporated his artist friends’ artwork and used the first heat transfer silk screen to produce pillows and t-shirts sold at Fisherman’s Wharf. In a zany style all his own, he would throw parties which often required people to dress up, wear a hat or mask from his extensive collection or play along with a theme of his choosing. On one occasion, he spoke to experts on the subject, learned how to make an adobe pizza oven and then hosted a huge pizza party using the oven.

His love of language and the written word was evident in his letters, famous among his friends - full of his unique wit and self-effacing humor. Robin worked as a copywriter for an advertising agency, and later as an entrepreneur who generated names for companies, products & services. Always revelling in a good name, tag line or jingle, he named the family acreage - Rancho Psycho - with the tagline said in his infinite jest - ‘Non-members will be dismembered’. He was an animated and vibrant conversationalist who would engage anyone with his perpetual curiosity and quick wit.

He loved jazz music and he loved to read - biographies and poetry and in the past decade, he memorized numerous poems in order to ‘keep his mind sharp’. On his 10 acre property, Robin planted Hawthorne, Horse Chestnut and Oak trees from their seed pods knowing they would outlive him. He tended a huge vegetable garden, starting everything by seed, and was known for his prize-winning hardneck garlic, and for growing too many tomato plants. He was also a foodie - creating his signature spaghetti sauces and curries, finding new and interesting ways to use his homegrown vegetables and herbs (have you tried garlic fudge?), and always slowly, savoring his meals. One of the first people in line to buy the world’s very first Macintosh Apple computer, Robin loved technology and was always staying up to date on the latest trends in tech.

Robin was a gentle man, who cared deeply for his family, his friends, his dogs and the land he lived on. Engaged and insightful with the people and the world around him til his final day on this earthly plane, Robin’s wise, generous heart and youthful spirit will continue to be deeply missed and mourned by his family.

Robin is survived by his wife of 56 years, Nancy AKA Mouse Pryor (Mathews), his daughter, Jessica AKA Pussycat (Landau) of Salmon Arm and son, Richard of St. Petersburg, Florida, his granddaughters, Sabine and Devon and his great grandchildren, Killian and Scottie.

A Celebration of Life will be held on October 25th, 2025 from 2-4:30 p.m. at the First United Church in Salmon Arm, BC. Please RSVP to insight4@telusnet.