Bob is in golf heaven, having left the world on his own terms, peacefully and surrounded by love one day after his 75th birthday.
Bob is survived by the love of his life, his wife Kath, daughter Erin (Stephen), son Richard (Crystal), stepson Jeremy (Lynne), stepdaughter Christina (Mark), brother Bill (Jill), sister Janice (Jim), his beloved grandchildren Chloe, Oliver, Vance, Kirstin, Charlotte and Sasha, four nephews and Kath’s family.Bob grew up in Vancouver. He played baseball and golf, attended Sir Winston Churchill High School and UBC, where he majored in fraternity and bridge with a minor in economics.
The lure of the deal and a love of talking to people drew him to northern BC, and the car business gave him both in spades. In Prince George he financed and repossessed Chevrolets and in Terrace he sold logging trucks, curled and golfed.In 1975, Bob and his childhood friend Bob Scott purchased the GM dealership in Powell River. Bob and his first wife Patricia started a family in Powell River and he stayed after the 1981/82 recession led to him closing the dealership. He returned to work for the new GM franchise owner and was a devoted single dad to Erin and Rich.
In spite of a lifetime selling “Generous Motors” vehicles, Bob never wanted a fancy car. He drove the same heavy-doored brown sedans for years and took pride in selling affordable cars to single moms who needed a break.Bob was a strong community member. He volunteered with golf and curling, and later with Rich’s hockey and baseball. He devoured anything chocolate, loved a (very) rare rib-eye, and was the life of any party. He supported the Academy of Music, although he never gave up hope they would include some doo-wop on the program.
In 2016, Bob and Kath moved to Parksville, where he promptly made Pheasant Glen his second home. He and Kath travelled extensively and he was known to frequently admire the straight lines in his perfectly cut, very green lawn.A long-suffering Canucks fan, his only regret was that he didn’t get to see his team hoist the Stanley Cup. In addition to watching the Leafs lose, he loved golf with his buddies, telling (inappropriate) jokes and making friendly wagers. “Seel” always wanted to shoot his age in golf and it’s too bad he didn’t live another 30 years to make that happen.Knowing and loving his family and friends was perhaps his greatest success. A celebration to raise a glass to Bob will be held July 28 from 2 pm to 4 pm at Pheasant Glen Golf Resort in Qualicum.Donations in Bob’s memory can be made to the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation.
