With his family at his side, Bob passed away peacefully while in care at St. John Hospice in Vancouver. Bob is survived is by his beautiful wife of 63 years, Helen, four daughters, Carolyn (Michael), Diana (Bob), Rita (Ed) and Linda (Graham); four grandsons, Taz (Kylee), Ryden, Jackson (Emily) and Rhys, and many nephews and nieces.
Bob, the second son of Joe and Delia, was born in Liverpool. He attended De La Salle Grammar School on scholarship and endured the Liverpool Blitz during WW2. He was conscripted into the Royal Navy but left the navy to look after his mother when his father passed away. While working full time, Bob attended the Liverpool Technical College at night and became a design draughtsman. Then at age 23, with two good friends and a few pounds in his pocket, he immigrated to Canada, first living in Hamilton then Kemano to work on the generating station. He later sponsored his mother’s, brother’s and sister’s-in-law immigration to Canada.
While continuing to work for BC Engineering, Bob attended night school for two years and completed his diploma in Executive Training at UBC, launching a new career as a fundraiser. He was Assistant Director at the Cancer Society for seven years, then was appointed to the role of Executive Director of the BC Heart and Stroke Foundation for 23 years, helping to raise many millions of dollars for heart and stroke research. During his tenure with the Heart and Stroke Foundation, he served as the national president of the Canadian Association of Executives. Upon retirement, Bob continued to fundraise for other causes, and was a devoted lector at Immaculate Conception Church for 50 years.
Bob was a competitive athlete. Like his father, he was a formidable cricket player, then later became a top ranked badminton player. Bob loved golf and was a member of the Marine Drive Golf Club where he was president. Bob was also an avid gardener, grew prize-winning flowers, a lover of jazz and classical music, and the arts, and was a talented sketcher. Bob never missed the opportunity to take a turn on the dance floor with Helen or one of his daughters. He built strong relationships with each of his grandsons who were like the sons he never had. Bob and Helen travelled the world for work and pleasure. Bob was a great orator, a storyteller at heart, and loved to speak at family gatherings.
Bob lived his 92 years to the fullest. He was loving, caring, strong, and charming, and had a wonderful sense of humour. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Thank you to all the medical staff at VGH, St. Paul’s, UBC Hospital, and St. John Hospice. In lieu of flowers, a donation to a charity of your choice would be much appreciated.
The funeral mass was held at Immaculate Conception Church and the burial at Gardens of Gethsemani on January 28th.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Robert Bob Davies January 13th 1929 January 18 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Vancouver, Province: Colombie britanique