With overwhelming sadness we announce the unexpected passing of Roy Henry Nosella from complications related to recently diagnosed cancer.

He was born in Vancouver to Rita and Costante Nosella and was the youngest of three brothers.

He was a naturally talented athlete, excelling at soccer, baseball, basketball, and boxing. While in high school he played youth soccer in Vancouver, winning Sun Tournaments in 1955 and 1957. At varsity level, he played for the UBC Thunderbirds and held the goal-scoring record.

Roy played in the Pacific Coast League for 16 seasons, mainly with Columbus and North Shore United, and was co-winner of the PCL top scorer award in 1968-69. He won a BC Province Cup and the Canadian National Club Championship with Columbus in 1964. Selected three times for All-Star teams, he played in 1959 for BC and in 1963 for the Vancouver All-Stars.

As a referee, he was especially active with the Metro Women's Soccer League, where he refereed and instituted their referee mentorship program. Roy's goal-scoring mastery was followed by soccer leadership. He was a director of Vancouver Metro Soccer League for seven years and served on the Vancouver Athletic Commission for 43 years including a stint as its chair. 

He was a director of BC Soccer for nine years and served as vice-president for three years, during which time he worked on the merger of BC Soccer and BC Youth.

BC Soccer recognized him with an Award of Merit in 1996, the AC Sanford Award in 2010, and Life Membership in 2011, and he was inducted into the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame in 2014 as a Builder.

The Vancouver Metro Soccer League honoured Roy and recognized his extraordinary contribution to local soccer by naming a 2020 Division 3 Cohort Cup after him.

Roy was an outstanding baseball player. He was one of the original members of the local Little League and was a powerhouse hitter and pitcher for Vancouver in the Canadian Pony League. He was nominated for Vancouver Athlete of the year as a pitcher in 1957 and was scouted in 1958 by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Roy signed with them in 1961 as an outfielder and last took the field in 1962, his career cut short by a broken wrist.

He was gifted at basketball, playing for Van Tech and UBC, and he was inducted into the Delta Hall of Fame for boxing.

Roy shone in academics. He skipped a grade at Seymour Elementary School, and when it was suggested he skip another, his mother refused, saying he would be without his friends. After completing high school he went to UBC, earning a Master of Education and Master of Counselling. He had a rich and varied career in education. He taught in Vancouver and Burnaby, eventually moving into administration with principalships in Delta and Ladner. He was instrumental in building the district's participation in the Vancouver Sun Run. Roy finished his career as director of Continuing Education, retiring in 1996.

Roy loved his family and was a devoted Nonno. Nothing made him happier than spending time with everyone at his cottage in Pt Roberts. Predeceased by his brothers Serg and Joe, he is survived by Joanne, daughter Karin (Marc), son Graham (Kathy), grandsons Anthony and Aidan, nieces Diane (Don) and Teresa (Kenley), nephew David (Vicki), and cousin Benjamin (Annie) in France.

He is singularly honoured for stellar achievements of a lifetime. Favourite Dad. Favourite Nonno. You are a million.