CALGARY- Close family friends of Rod Love’s confirmed to Global News that he died late Sunday evening.
Love served for more than 30 years as a political consultant and was chief of staff in all three levels of government including as press secretary for former Premier Ralph Klein.
In September Love wrote on his blog about being diagnosed with a tumor during a routine physical. He had been receiving treatment for pancreatic cancer at the Foothills Medical Center and the Tom Baker Cancer Center.
Love’s family released the following statement Monday afternoon:
The family of Rod Love thanks the many well wishers who are offering condolences.
Wife Charlene, son James and daughters Katie and Haley are together reflecting on the loss of their devoted husband and father who, in his 61 years had a powerful impact at home and in his professional life.
Rod Love was a political science student when he met Ralph Klein in the 80s when he was running for the Mayor of Calgary. Love worked as the mayor’s representative on the Board of Commissioners which helped lead him on the path of a career in politics that spanned decades.
The two worked together for more than twenty years as Klein served as mayor, a cabinet minister and eventually Premier of Alberta.
In 1998 Love started a consulting company specializing in strategic planning, government relations and strategic communications.
Love was the recipient of the Canadian Governor General’s medal for Outstanding Community Service and the Alberta Centennial Medallion in recognition of his public service contributions to Albertans.
He worked as a political commentator for several television and radio stations as well as an occasional columnist for newspapers.
He was a father of three and lived in Calgary with his wife Charlene. Rod Love was 61 years old.
A memorial service will be held Saturday at the Calgary Golf and Country Club at 1:30 p.m.
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