Yellowknife (Apr 13/05) - Remember Bob Spence as he would want to be remembered, said his son Matthew.

"Dad would like to be remembered as a hardworking, caring guy.

"I think his legacy is his children. For him, the most important thing was his kids and his wife," Matthew said.

Bob Spence, 81, died April 8 after a brief battle with cancer.

He is survived by his wife Ruth, with whom he eloped nearly 55 years ago, five children and also grandchildren.

A former advisor to the minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, Spence arrived in the North in 1964 to work for Giant Mine, Matthew said.

A long-time supporter of the Yellowknife Liberal Party, Spence was a founding member of the NWT Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists and the NWT Chamber of Mines.

He was a member of the NWT Science Institute and board member of the Workers Compensation Board complaints tribunal.

A private, understated person, Matthew said his father also was active behind the scenes for many organizations.

"He is a very good example of what a community-minded person can do. And he's instilled that in his children," Matthew said.

"He didn't look for the limelight."

Spence developed a special affinity for the North and became an avid outdoorsperson and a very shy, yet talented piano player.

One important memory of his father was formed last summer, Matthew recalled.

"He found an interesting prospect outside Lupin Mine, so all the siblings invested in a syndicate and last year we prospected it and staked a claim," Matthew said.

"Dad was very excited about that. It was very close to his heart," he said.

"We'll call it the Bob Mine."

Matthew, who moved back to Yellowknife three years ago from Iqaluit, said he and his children were beginning to form a close bond with his father.

"They just moved into a new apartment and he bought a great big dining room table for us all to have dinners at and three months later, he was diagnosed with cancer.

"Within four weeks, he died.

"I think he would have liked to have had the opportunity to say goodbye to people."

A memorial service will be held today at 2 p.m. at Holy Trinity Anglican Church.