The arms of Lord Alfgeirr skytja- Image Courtesy of the SCA Memorial Shield Project

Calontir grieves with HL Ki no Kotori, who created this memorial. May peace and light be with her and with all of those mourn the loss of Lord Alfgeirr skytja. 

Last Friday, September 5th, Lord Alfgeirr skytja Robert Gilson Jr. died in the KU Olathe emergency room. He had been battling throat cancer for the past two and a half years.

Alfgeirr was involved with SCA for nearly 40 years, residing in Asteorra, Drachenwald, Midrealm, and Calontir. He sometimes took hiatus because of his work schedule, but enjoyed SCA when he could. During his early years, he mostly just went by his mundane name Robert. He took on the persona of Alfgeirr in the early 2000’s, when he and his wife (now know as HL Ki no Kotori) helped start the Incipient Shire of Riverwatch (Dubuque, IA). When that group folded, he sometimes played in Deodar.
In Calontir, he lived in Coeur d’Ennui (Des Moines, IA) from 1998-2001, Riverwatch (Dubuque, IA) from 2001-2012, and Cum an Iolair (South Johnson County, KS–southern KC suburbs) from 2013 to the present.

He received his AOA from King Valens and Queen Susannah for his service as an Archery Marshal on 5/24/2003 .

Alfgeirr’s passions included archery, brewing, leatherwork, and being a model for his wife while she experimented with his garb. (Seriously, he did enjoy dressing up.) He often volunteered for Gate. His work schedule prevented him from being as active as he would have liked, but he really enjoyed being in the SCA and had a great time meeting interesting people and trying various arts. His most active years were here in Calontir from 1998 to 2016.

His arms were Or, an owl-headed bear rampant guardant between three decrescents purpure. He was proud of the fact that he was the first person in the SCA to get an owlbear passed through the college of Heralds. (Many thanks to Mistress Dorcas Whitecap for her enthusiastic support in this endeavor. He had a lot of fun with it.)

Arrangements for his Memorial Service are still being made and will probably be shared in the Shire of Cum an Iolair group once a time is set. The service will take place in Olathe, KS.

From me (HL Ki no Kotori): thank you, SCA and most especially, the Kingdom of Calontir, for being a wonderful and welcoming group.

Lord Alfgeirr skytja

Sing Non-Nobis