CHERITON, G. Robert – P. Eng., MBA
G. Robert (Bob) Cheriton was born September 30th, 1948, and he died peacefully on June 30th, 2022, at St Catherine’s General Hospital. Son of Jack and Lorna Cheriton, Bob is survived by his devoted wife of 52 years, Rosalie Sandra Cheriton, his two children, Suzanne Elizabeth and her husband David, and Sean Christopher and his wife Deanna. He is survived as well by his four adoring and rambunctious grandchildren, Jackson Robert Weaver, Brecken Xavier Cheriton, Dylan James Weaver, and Pearson Morris Cheriton. Bob was predeceased by granddaughter Catalina Cheriton. Bob will also be missed by his brother Rick Cheriton, his wife Briget, and their children Bob and Jennifer. He is also survived by the Thomson family in Quebec, Anne, Rhonda, and Sarah.
Bob was born and grew up in the small northern Ontario town of Smooth Rock Falls. At the age of 15, Bob’s family moved for less than a year to the equally small town of Thurso, Quebec, when Bob’s father took a job there. While living in Thurso, Bob attended Buckingham High School, where he met Rosalie and they became high school sweethearts, eventually both attending Carleton University in Ottawa, where he studied engineering and she majored in biology. Shortly after graduation Bob and Rosalie were married in Ottawa and celebrated their 50-year wedding anniversary in May of 2020.
Soon after graduation, Bob began working for Bell Canada as an engineer. He spent his entire career with Bell, promoted to increasingly senior positions. Bob was an active and respected member of the global telecommunications sector and his role with Bell afforded him a great deal of professional satisfaction as well as many rewarding adventures.
In October of 1973, Bob accepted a transfer to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where they lived for six months before returning to Canada. Rosalie soon became pregnant, leading to the birth of their daughter Suzanne in 1975. Their son Sean soon followed in 1977. The family eventually settled in Markham, Ontario, where they remained for 15 years.
Toward the end of Bob’s career with Bell, he returned to school to complete an MBA with Western University’s prestigious Executive MBA program. A passionate oenophile, Bob and his working group focused their Master’s research project on the wine industries of South America, after having visited Argentina and Chile, where they visited local vineyards and tasted many glasses of wine – all in the name of higher education, of course. Soon after completing his MBA, Bob was able to take early retirement and begin a particularly happy and satisfying period of his life with Rosalie, living in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
It cannot be said that Bob slowed down much in retirement. Once settled in Niagara, Bob quickly became very involved in the community, joining the boards of the NOTL Hydro and the NOTL golf course, as well as volunteering for the steering committee of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Santa Claus parade for over twenty years, with his two close long-time friends Bruce Pospeich and John Fryer. An avid gardener, Bob worked at the Broadway Gardens for a time as a water features specialist, and he partook frequently of the incredible food and wine of the Niagara region. In his twenty-plus years in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Bob made many close friends and became a deeply respected and well-known member of the community.
Bob was known as a highly intelligent, practical, Jack-of-Many-Trades who could be counted on whenever he was needed. He had a notably goofy sense of humour, did an impeccable Donald Duck impression, could build a computer from the ground up, was an excellent cook, made exceptional wines, possessed a cunning business acumen, was a talented woodworker, a trained sailing captain and keen fisherman, a playful father and grandfather, and a reliable straight shooter.
In 2016, Bob was confronted with one of the scariest medical diagnosis a person can face – pancreatic cancer – and was told he likely had 6-8 months to live. Never satisfied to follow anyone else’s path but his own, Bob took to researching every new treatment for pancreatic around the world to determine his best course of action. Settling on a combination of experimental and first-line therapies, Bob extended the 6–8-month prognosis to almost six years, making the most of this time travelling with Rosalie, his children and grandchildren, continuing to golf, drinking great wine, and enjoying life to the fullest – making the most of every moment he had.
The bravery and determination he demonstrated in facing his cancer diagnosis were the final notes of a life lived on his own terms, with a great deal of love, passion, and humour. He will be deeply, deeply missed by all who knew him.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made in Bob’s name to Pancreatic Cancer Canada or the Niagara Health Foundation. The family would like to acknowledge the excellent and compassionate care he received at the Walker Cancer Centre, particularly from his oncologist Dr. Radhika Yelamanchili.
As per Bob’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will be planned for later this summer. Arrangements have been entrusted to MORGAN FUNERAL HOME, 415 Regent Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake. Memories, photos, and condolences may be shared at www.morganfuneral.com
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of G Robert Cheriton PEngMBA Thursday June 30th 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Province: Ontario