TOBE, Arthur – Born on December 29, 1924, Sam and Sara Tobe’s son, Arthur joined their four children Bernice (Al Robins), Reta (Frank Gold), Bella (Jack Green) and David (Terry Elkind) at their home on Crawford Street in Toronto. Sisters, Rose (Harold Gotfrid then Carl Mendelsohn who survives) and Esther (Jay Fine) followed shortly thereafter. When Sam’s furrier business could no longer sustain the family, they crossed Lake Ontario to live on their 42-acre fruit farm that had been their lakefront cottage in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Two more sisters followed, Merralin (Harry Brown) and Gwen (Mort Ison). The family of 11 grew up close, exceedingly close, in a 3-bedroom house with outdoor plumbing.
Being Jewish in a largely Mennonite community, Arthur earned the respect and fear of his classmates, particularly the bullies, with his two fists. This informed his approach to the world for the rest of his life. At 14, a talented student, he left school to help work the farm. A second farm was acquired, with Sam and a teenaged Art, as he had become known, running both farms and growing cherries, pears, peaches, plums, and grapes. Arthur always maintained that he was paid with food, shelter, use of a car and $2 per week (claiming that he often did not receive the $2).
In 1951, he met Blossom Fine and they married on January 20, 1954. Over the next nine years they were blessed with three sons, Neil (Marilyn), Graham (Catherine) and Shale (Sara). When his father passed away in 1959, Arthur and his mother sold the farms, with plans to move back to Toronto. His uncle Al Tobe owned a scrap metal enterprise called, North York Iron, and needed someone to run the business. Al sold half of the business to his nephew and new partner, with the remainder sold upon his retirement.
In 1966, the family moved to North York. In 1968, Melissa (Stephen Lidsky), the daughter that her parents had always wanted, joined the family. Always troubled by the fact he was denied a formal education, Arthur returned to night school to obtain his hikegh school diploma. He craved further education, however with a growing business and family, this ambition was never fulfilled. He became a voracious reader and he challenged his children to pursue higher education. Arthur, the “Man of Steel”, with the addition of Neil and then Shale, grew North York Iron into a prosperous and enduring steel distribution company. Many of his grandchildren experienced a rite of passage by working at North York Iron with two having made careers there.
The family of six grew to 46, including 18 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Neil and Marilyn had Sarah (Idan) and three children Yael, Lior and Ella; Ilana (Dmitry); Adam (Amanda) and three daughters Addison, Avery and Aria; Josh (Marita); Arielle and her daughter, Melody; and Jordana (Alex). Graham’s marriage to Catherine brought their daughter, Shibayle (Chris) and three sons Colt, Jax and Cash; and their sons Griffin; Quentin and Levi. Shale and his first wife Pamela brought Zach (Ariel) with daughter Ivy; Austin; Chase; Sammi and Chloe. Finally, Melissa’s marriage to Stephen added daughter Hannah; and sons Ethan and Charles to the clan.
Arthur and Blossom wintered in Palm Beach, Florida. Arthur drove down every year until he was 88, usually over just one night. He was prudently, albeit sometimes excessively, thrifty but also exceedingly generous, to a fault. After two successful careers, 76 years of hard work and having built two thriving businesses, Arthur reluctantly retired at the age of 90. With Blossom at his side, they had made life easy for the family of 44 that followed. They settled into a comfortable life of companionship, to his very last day, with Blossom holding his hand as he passed.
Much to his continuing sorrow, Arthur was predeceased by four younger sisters with his last surviving sibling passing more than eight years ago. In addition to his entire immediate family, he is survived by Blossom’s sister Natalie Norris (Sid) and brother Gerry and sister-in-law, Bonnie Fine along with, numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and even several great-great nieces and nephews. We wish to acknowledge Arthur and Blossom’s caregiver Honeylet, who they grew to love, while she considered them as her own parents.
The legacy of Arthur Tobe will be his intellect, physical fitness, generosity, love of family and his industriousness. He judged himself and others by their productivity and, as such, he was as comfortable in the company of truck drivers as with a prominent businessmen. He lived 97 years by that ethos and, in the end he died by it. Rest in peace. You will never be forgotten.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Arthur Tobe Friday January 28 2022..
benjamins park memorial chapel
Death notice for the town of: Toronto, Province: Ontario