Robert Gene McDade, lifetime Mayor of Mayfair Place, husband to his best friend Andrea for 62 years, Dad to Dana (Jeff), Allison (Tim) and Lindsey (Mike), Grandpa Bob to Martha and Max, Papa to Jake, Sam, Will, Thomas and Joe, has taken flight. He is now the shooting star in our lives. His spirt is a spark in our hearts.
Sports was in his blood. Having initially learned from his big Brother, Tom, Bob naturally thrived on the court, on the diamond, in the field throughout his childhood and into his 70’s. He mastered how to run the bases effectively and efficiently. It became the metaphor that suited him for life. As a father of three daughters, he taught them how to hit those bases just right and touch down on home plate. A very good life lesson. Along the way, he coached many kids in the neighbourhood how to play baseball, football and dribble that basketball. The neighbourhood boys would knock on his front door on Sunday autumn afternoons to ask him to come out to play. He never let them down and always included his daughters.
But there was much more to him than athletics. His life journey propelled him from being a Hamiliton born East End child to a Businessman in tailored blue suits, running Sheafer-Townsend, his Electrical-Mechanical Construction company on Parkdale Ave. He started off as an apprentice electrician and ended up owning the place! He was actively involved in a variety of organizations including tenure as President of the Ontario Electrical Contractors Association, of the Cedar Springs community, and the Hamilton Dukes Hockey team. He brought his “A” game to being involved in planning community events and in municipal politics successfully managing the Mayoralty campaign for Burlington’s first elected Woman, Mary Munro.
Truth be told, he was the most comfortable in his favourite shorts and scuffed up work boots out in the garden with his shovel and wheelbarrow conjuring up a new landscape design while listening to the Jays game on the radio. Or behind the wheel driving his family to the ski hills in Ellicottville, to Florida for March Break, to the coast of Maine for a September adventure with Andrea. Their road trips were always filled with the delight of adventure and their love of taking the scenic route. Then of course there’s US College basketball when the whole world came to a halt. March Madness took over and he got everyone involved. No matter where Bob’s passions and interests took him, his family went along for the ride. Even if we didn’t want to!
The universe has a way of seeking a balance of structure in our life scripts that make you smile with wonder. For Bob, it was family. As a son of the late Thomas and Josephine McDade, he was one of 6 brothers, (Tom, John, Donald, Bill and David) and 1 favourite sister Cathy (who Bob claimed was the best athlete out of all of them!). Later on he became Grandpa Bob/Papa to 6 grandsons and 1 favourite granddaughter. In the middle of those important bookends were many nieces and nephews, lifelong friends and colleagues whom he cared about and looked out for. His presence was felt by many. His passion for politics, current events, movies, gardening, travel and a darn good yarn was shared expressively, along with his chosen soundtrack of cherished music playing in the background.
Over 35 years ago, halfway through their marriage, before the family of 5 expanded, Andrea wrote a snapshot poem that encapsulated her husband, Bob in a way that still resonates. They met in their teens, married young and grew up together as they created a family and a home that was welcoming to anyone who walked through the front door. No one knew what made Bob tick more than Andrea. Through thick and thin, their partnership thrived on the values and life lessons they shared and passed on.
Whatever this is…it’s for my husband
whom I know very well.
Much better than he knows me.
But, that’s probably not true.
This is for my husband
whose lack of spontaneity frustrated me.
Whose sense of humour and inventiveness
arouses me.
This is for the father of my children
Who loves them almost as much as he loves me.
When he’s in the mood, he ignores us all.
When he’s in the mood, he’s the best fun in the whole world.
Catching this right mood is a family occupation.
This is for a man who has helped raise three girls.
Never a complaint.
Except, aren’t you glad we didn’t have six!
This is for a man who wears blue suits.
Pressed for business.
White shirts.
Shoes, conscientiously pointed in the right direction.
He looks good.
This is for a man who prefers corduroy shorts,
wilted with wear.
Muddy work boots,
chronically coated.
He looks great!
This is for a boy I knew,
he had a lot of hair – dark, shiny, wavy hair.
But, so did I when I was a girl and knew this boy.
This is for a man who says he doesn’t understand women.
Never will.
But he does.
He just doesn’t know it.
This is for a husband and a father
Who brings coffee to the bedroom.
The chilly morning air drifts the aroma directly to his wife’s pillow.
He covers his girls,
snoozing on the sofa.
Even tucks their feet in.
Strokes their young hair.
Unfortunate fella.
Even his brown-eyed beagle is a girl.
He is nice to her too.
But he chose “her.”
Called her Maggie.
This is for a man who came home from work one day in January, long ago
and said, “we’re leaving for Florida.
New bathing suits for everyone.”
What a drive!!
Now we fly south.
Visit the Islands.
Talk about taking “the children” to Europe.
Every once in a while he says, “let’s drive to Florida, that was good.”
We all say, “no way”
But, we feel nice because he’d do it.
Now, we get postcards from Istanbul, Innsbruck and Paris.
He says, “when she gets home we should all drive to Florida.”
We smile.
I know what he means, when he says,
“it will be great to have grandchildren.”
It will.
It would be like starting all over again.
Not really.
We are different.
Or, are we?
I say, “raising kids is hit and miss.”
He says, “you’re wrong, takes hard work and a lot of thought.”
Maybe he was a parent in his former life.
I never was.
His name is Bob.
Spelled backwards it’s still Bob
He lives with Andrea, Dana, Allison and Lindsey.
His name is just Bob
Spelled backwards etc.
Robert, Bob, Bobbie, Dad, Grandpa, Papa?
“You take the high road, and I’ll take the low road and I’ll be in Scotland before you. Where me and my true love will never meet again, on the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.”
Number 5 in your program, Number 1 in your heart. That’s for sure!
Love Andy, Muskie, Buddy, and Chickadee.
As an expression of celebrating Bob’s life, we welcome you to help send a child to camp! Amici Camping Charity empowers young people in financial need to discover their full potential at overnight summer camps across Ontario. Donations can be made through amicicharity.org
Thank you!
Visitation will take place on Sunday, August 15 between 3-5p.m. Celebration of Life Service will take place on Monday August 16 at 1p.m. Both will take place at SMITH’S FUNERAL HOME, 1167 Guelph Line (one stoplight north of QEW), BURLINGTON (905-632-3333).
Our family asks that only people who are double vaccinated attend. It is important that we all remain vigilant during this time of living in a pandemic.
In accordance with provincial regulations, there is a limit to the number of visitors who may attend at one time. Please RSVP in advance at www.smithsfh.com. All visitors are asked to wear a face mask and should remain in their cars until their allotted time.
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Sunday August 8th 2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Robert Bob Gene McDade Sunday August 8th 2021..
Décès pour la Ville:, Province: Ontario