Obituary of Robert Hart Anderson

Robert (Bob) Hart Anderson of Beamsville, Ontario

August 20, 1930 – May 13, 2024

Memorial Service will be held Sunday, June 16, 2024 at 2pm

at Trinity United Church, 4287 William Street, Beamsville, Ontario

“A giant pine, magnificent, and old stood staunch against the sky and all around…

it left its mark on me. Its work stands fast…” Georgina Harkness

Born in the northern town of Cochrane to Lorne Russell Anderson and Rebecca (Edith) Hart, Bob joined an older sister Margueritte (Gitte).  His father was the Manager of the local Imperial Bank (now CIBC) and the family moved to the High Park area in Toronto, where he completed high school at Humberside Collegiate. Without the prospects of his Cochrane classmate Tim Horton, Bob set his sights on university.

He was educated at the University of Toronto’s Victoria College, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1953. Numbers came easy to Bob, leading to a Certified Public Accountant designation (later re-named Chartered Accountant). After a short stint with Simpson Sears, he joined Kodak Canada and moved through various roles in accounting and finance in his 13 years there. At the same time, he earned his MBA from McMaster University in 1966 and started teaching Finance part-time at U of T.

He was active with the Boy Scouts, leading several troops and moving up through the leadership to district scoutmaster. He earned his Canadian Army Certificate of Military Qualification with the rank of 2^nd Lieutenant, Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps (Reserve Force). It was his involvement with the High Park Church youth group that made a lifelong impact, with friendships that survived into present day. Another life-long connection was made with the Church Minister’s (Clayton Searle) oldest daughter, Thelma (Katharine) Searle. Accompanying Katharine with his friend Lloyd, to a local cinema, led to tutoring Latin and time together. Soon a relationship blossomed. After Katharine finished her fall term physiotherapy exams, Bob and Katharine married in December 1956 with Katharine graduating in 1957.

The marriage led to continuous years of summers spent at the Searle family cottage on Lake Muskoka’s Acton Island. Bob and Katharine loved the cottage and the entire family built many happy memories around friends, campfires, card games, swimming and boating.  Muskoka also offered outlets for Bob’s other passions – birdwatching and sailing. Bob was always ready to take someone water skiing, but one would really catch his attention if one crewed on the sailboat.

The married couple moved to Cooksville as the family was expanding. Son Bruce was followed quickly by sons Scott and Gord. A fourth son Ian came later.

The corporate world was lost its allure and Bob was drawn towards academia and teaching. After the Maple Leafs (last) won the last Stanley Cup in 1967, the family moved cross-country to Regina, Saskatchewan. Coincidentally, both of Bob’s parents and Katharine’s dad had spent a lot of time in the west. Bob was recruited as an Accounting Professor at the Regina campus of the University of Saskatchewan, which became the University of Regina. Meanwhile, Katharine practiced as a physiotherapist at the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre.

Fourth son, Ian was born in Regina just before the family’s move to the New York City area, where Bob pursued a PhD at Columbia University. He returned to U of R and took on many roles such as Associate Dean and even Acting Dean. He was instrumental in starting and building the co-operative education program in the Faculty of Administration. He also served on the Cooperative Education national executive moving through all executive roles and was invited to join the US Cooperative Education group. He travelled to world Cooperative Education meetings, presenting papers in numerous countries. Colleagues in Australia and New Zealand invited Bob to join them during his one-year sabbatical to work on his specialty of corporate social responsibility. Both Katharine and Ian joined Bob for his year split between AU and NZ.

Bob was quite involved with the United Church, moving through Saskatchewan conference to leading the national division of finance, as the first volunteer from outside of Toronto. He worked with seven United Church moderators in his time in the division of finance and later on General Council

To be closer to aging parents (and the cottage and family), Bob, Katharine, and Ian moved east to the Ottawa where he taught for several years at the University of Ottawa, before joining Brock University in St. Catharines. Retirement was spent in Beamsville or cottage, visiting family, volunteering, and travelling.

Bob is survived by Katharine, his beloved wife of 67 years, and sons Bruce (Lucie), Scott (Erica), Gord (Kim) and Ian. His nine grandchildren, Rob (Kristen), Amber (Jacob) Bayda, Dani, Justin, Matt (Julie), Shaun (Sara), Josh, Eric, and Isaac remember him fondly for his warmth, big hugs, humour, and his booming voice. Bob loved time with his grandkids and five great grandchildren - Cole, Izzy, Ryann, Gavin, and Jack. Bob is also survived by his adored sister-in-law Bev Panikkar and her family – John (Elaine) Panikkar and children Brendan (Sarah), Evan, and Kenna, and a new grandchild Declan); Kait Parkinson (David Bunting); Raj Panikkar (Glynis Ratcliffe) and children Ellya, Anjali and Cashel; and Europe-based nieces Karen MacKay and Marina MacKay. Bob is predeceased by his parents - Lorne and Edith Anderson and Katharine’s parents - Clayton and Thelma Searle, sister Marguerite (Gitte) MacKay, and brother-in-law Jayan Panikkar.

Memorial gifts may be made to: Trinity United Church, 4287 William Street, Beamsville, ON LOR 1B0 or Nature Canada, 300 – 240 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON K2P 1X4.