Went to be with the Lord peacefully in his sleep on November 30, 2021 at 91 years of age. He was surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren singing his favourite hymns.
He is survived by his “most beautiful and beloved wife” of 63 years, Donalda, with whom he had a lunch date every Friday, his children Donalda (David), Evelyn, Patricia, Susan (David), Victoria (Rick), Richard (Julia) and Sarah (Trey), 14 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, who called him “Daddy Pappa”.
Born in 1930 in Walkerville, Ontario, Richard, was a graduate of Trinity College School (TCS) in Port Hope, and earned a B.A. in Economics from Assumption College, University of Western Ontario. After working in New York for Marsh & McLennan and The General Reinsurance Corporation, he returned to Windsor in 1959 to join his father’s real estate and insurance brokerage, Paul Robarts & Company Ltd (founded in 1922). He focused on industrial brokerage serving Fortune 500 companies throughout southwestern Ontario, often flying his clients to tour factories in his Cessna 210 airplane. He was awarded the largest International Transaction of the Year by the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR), where he also served as a Director and Chair of the Prayer Breakfast Committee. Later in his career, he focused on real estate development in the Bahamas and Whistler, BC.
He would point to his Prodigal Son story as the most important decision in his life resulting in a faith in Christ that impacted many lives. He led many Bible studies including with teenagers at home for 11 years and a Business Men’s Bible Study at the Renaissance Club in Detroit for 31 years. Richard became a Director & Chairman of Youth for Christ, a Director of Leighton Ford Ministries and Chair of the City of Windsor Prayer breakfast. He was a speaker and organizer for Executive Ministries in Gross Pointe, MI. After going on several mission trips to the High Arctic and Jamaica, he made documentaries which he presented at church and civic groups (featured on CBC). He lived by the motto of his coat of arms “Honora Dominum” (Proverbs 3:9-10) and Proverbs 3:6.
Never short of energy or hobbies, Richard was a keen sailboat racer and bareboat Caribbean cruiser, survived a helicopter crash skiing in the Bugaboos to become a certified ski instructor and Nastar Masters Gold ski racer, became an avid shortboard windsurfer, took up snowboarding as a senior citizen and loved Rollerblading and ice skating. His family begged him to finally take up golf, shooting his age at 80 in 2010 and breaking his age at 74 in 2011 at the Sunset Golf Club in Goderich. Scuba diver, movie and music producer, Dale Carnegie Instructor, Yo-Yo Champion…the list goes on. He loved doing “Joe jobs” at the family cottage, Cherry Gate, in Goderich, Ontario, where he swam laps every day, rain or shine.
He took up politics later in life, becoming elected to the National Council of the Reform Party of Canada under Preston Manning, assisting with the creation of the Canadian Alliance which merged to form the Conservative Party of Canada.
Richard was a lifelong member of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club (RCYC) in Toronto, The Renaissance Club in Detroit, The Circumnavigator Club, The Monarchist League of Canada and was awarded Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee Medal by the Lt. Governor of Ontario.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to
Samaritans Purse International Relief – Canada at:
Samaritans Purse Canada, 20 Hopewell Way NE, Calgary, Alberta, T3J 5H5 or
Click here to donate on the Samaritans Purse International Relief – Canada website
Samaritans Purse International Relief – United States at :
Samaritans Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607, USA or
Click here to donate on the Samaritans Purse International Relief – USA website
Reservations and personal face coverings are required to attend visitation on Sunday, December 5, 2021 from 4-6 p.m. and again on Monday, December 6, 2021 from 10-10:45 a.m. with separate reservations required to attend a Celebration of Richard’s Life beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 6, 2021 at Families First, 3260 Dougall Ave., South Windsor. Interment St. John’s Anglican Cemetery. You can reserve your time for visitation or seat for the service using the RSVP buttons below.
Click here to view the service for Richard Robarts, live from home.
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2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Richard Dick Robarts 2021..
Décès pour la Ville:Windsor, Province: Ontario