A practical joker, honest and generous in all things – except maybe biltong

Howard and his wife. Catherine.

Our beloved Dad, Howard Charles Patterson-Roberts, was born on the 22nd of June 1951 in Durban to Andrew and Myrtle Patterson-Roberts. As the third born, Dad learnt to be independent from an early age and this showed throughout his whole life where he became a very capable and independent individual. Dad’s formative years were spent in a block of flats on the Durban Beachfront where he fondly referred to Durban Beach and the promenade as his “playground”. His mischievous nature could be seen in stories such as him and his friends dropping water balloons from the top of the building onto unsuspecting commuters below.

Dad spent his Primary Schooling in Durban, catching a couple of busses to reach school, and did well academically (when he tried!). His High School years took him to George Campbell where he learnt not only academic skills but vital practical skills which served him well. Dad matriculated from George Campbell in 1968 and carried out his two-year conscription in the South African Army, where he then continued with camps for 10 years, rising to Staff-Sergeant.

Dad’s career ironically (given the family history of shoemakers) did not start or end in the shoe industry, but the industry did in many ways play a huge role in his life. Starting off as a Rep in the tea industry and then leading into a very successful career as a rep for the likes of Dunhill Cigarettes, where rumour has it that he was the first South African rep (they were usually British) and drove a Rolls-Royce as a company car. He also repped for Chesterfield cigarettes before moving in a different direction and working for Paul Moeller, thus segueing into the footwear industry. In August 1981 Dad married our mom, Catherine Patterson-Roberts (nee High), in what we believe was a beautiful ceremony and reception at the then Rob Roy Hotel in Botha’s Hill. Dad and Mom enjoyed their freedom for a little while longer (they were both 30 when they got married!) and had their first child, Ian, in 1984 and their second child, Kim, in 1987.

The agent…

During these years Dad worked for Paul and in our understanding, did very well as a rep for Paul’s company. He eventually turned down a promotion within the company because the “Durban beach boy” didn’t want to become a city boy and move to Johannesburg or spend too much time travelling overseas and away from his family. He then worked for Contima which shut down a few years later.

By this stage, Dad’s brother, Douglas Patterson-Roberts, had carried on the shoe-making family business by opening up a shoe manufacturing factory. Dad saw an opportunity to work for himself and opened up Howard Roberts Agencies where he became an agent for different footwear manufacturers. After a while, Dad became an agent solely for Doug’s factories Verona Shoes and later ShoeBoyz. We have heard many an anecdote of dad’s mischievous nature and the many pranks he played on Doug, staff and other partners.

Dad was also honest to a fault – sometimes blatantly so – and had an integrity that could not be compromised. Amongst Dad’s biggest strengths was the ability to see through cons, schemes or dishonesty and his ability with numbers and spreadsheets was uncanny. Upon the closing of ShoeBoyz, Dad left the industry and worked in different avenues until he retired in 2023. Our family, however, never quite gave up on the footwear Industry as our mom, Catherine, owned a shoe shop for 15 years of which oue Dad played a massive role.

The family man...

Dad loved his family deeply and for anyone who knew him, was a loyal and honest man. He instilled this in our lives, and we will never forget the sacrifices he and Mom made for us to attend the best schools and live good lives. He was a very active father who took great joy in watching our school and sporting events and spending time with us. He was never great with sharing food, even with his toddler children. Being the last of 3 children and having to fight off his older brother and sister at the dinner table probably had something to do with it. We never for a second doubted however that after enough nagging and puppy dog eyes that he would eventually, very reluctantly, give us a piece of biltong or chocolate that he was eating. Those of you who knew him well, knew that he was an incredibly slow eater. Family lunches with his mom and his brother, could be painful on occasion as the rest of us had finished eating and the three of them would still be finishing their lunch half an hour later. These were his little quirks, and we loved him even more because of them.

The sportsman…

Dad loved animals and always had a pet, right from childhood. He deeply loved any pet we had (even our hamster Harry who used to sit on his shoulder and be fed little treats!). Brindle, their little Yorkshire terrier, was a great joy in his life – particularly after he retired – and we often joked that Brindle was the favourite child!

We are ever grateful that Dad had the opportunity to spend 43 years of marriage with Mom and was able to witness our marriages and the birth of his grandchildren, Matthew, Kelly and Lily. Like he did with us, he took great joy in spending time with his grandchildren and loved to watch their sports and events. He was sarcastic and teased a lot – something that they got used to from an early age (as did we)! He was, and is, deeply loved by his grandchildren who miss him tremendously.

Dad was also a prolific reader and loved to read a variety of books – from thrillers to wildlife to funny books – and enjoyed sudoku and crossword puzzles. His love of the outdoors – be it the beach, the berg or the bush – and the immense peace and quiet he found from these places was passed onto us. We have particularly wonderful memories of time spent at Marina Beach where we owned a Beach Cottage, to the Kruger Park. The Kruger Park has always been a special place for our family as a whole and will be our final hurrah in celebration of Dad’s life.

In closing, Dad was a wonderful, sarcastic, stubborn, caring, clever, honest man who often stayed behind the scenes but led with competency in any situation. With Dad, you always knew where you stood with him, he was always straight down the line and there was never any airs or graces. He treated everybody with the same respect. In many ways Dad did not realise just how many people’s lives he has impacted or how many people loved him. A friend even mentioned in a condolence message that he has fond childhood memories of him and that even later in life felt a kinship with him and had many good times with funny banter. He knew all the boys in Ian’s teams and would often quietly give them encouragement and tell them how well they were doing.

Dad passed away peacefully, with his family by his side on Saturday the 8th of March 2025. Dad became a Christian in 2006 and, as with all aspects of his life, took his commitment to God very seriously. For this reason, as much as we will continue to miss him, we take comfort in knowing that he is whole and happy and we will see him again one day - for he has fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4 vs 7.