November 10, 1956 – March 15, 2014
Rob Esmonde passed away at his home in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on March 15, 2014. The coroner's report ruled his death the result of natural causes, specifically, internal bleeding from an aneurism.
Before moving back to Toronto, his hometown, he lived in San Francisco for some 25 years, working mainly in the telecommunications and IT fields.
While in San Francisco, Rob was a member of both the Imperial and Ducal royal court systems. In 1993 he was titled "Prince Imperial IX" with a self-designation of "Black Leather Panther." In 2006, as Grand Duke XXXII Robert Charles Romanoff, he and Grand Duchess Collette LeGrande-Ashton reigned together for the 33rd Reign of the SF Ducal Council. Rob served as president of the Ducal board of directors in 2009 and 2010.
Rob was also an active member of San Francisco's leather family. He was a Mister Daddy's Leather (now the 440 Bar on Castro Street) for a year. He was also a contestant in the Mr. San Francisco Leather contest, and competed at International Mr. Leather in Chicago. He volunteered his talents and skills for many years helping to produce the annual LeatherWalk fundraiser. Rob was also an unwavering supporter of women's causes and was often the only male leatherman in attendance at various leather lesbian events.
Rob donated countless hours of time and energy for many charitable causes. His kindhearted nature was evident in the vast scope of the beneficiaries for whom he produced, attended, participated, and/or donated his energies and resources.
Rob is predeceased by both parents. He is survived by his family in Canada and many friends in North America. A funeral service was held in Toronto March 24 and he will be interred near his father, who instilled in Rob many of the wonderful life-affirming qualities that made us love him and will keep his memory close to our hearts in death.