Robert Tate

Robert (Bob) Somers Tate (91) died peacefully at the Camp Hill Veterans’ Memorial Building, Halifax, November 24th, 2011 with his daughter Deborah by his side. Born in Montreal, August 7th, 1920, he grew up in Toronto and married Mary Elizabeth (Liz) Tate, his loving wife for 62 years, a fact that he never failed to share with anyone whom he met. Bob was father to Deborah (Murray) and Michael (Mari-Anne), “Opa” to Georgia (Aaron), Ryrie, Branden, and Braeden, and great grandfather to Griffin and Emery. Bob was brother to Jeanne”Taffy” (Manchee) and Uncle Bobby Socks to Michael, Philip, Susan, Steven, and Jane.

Bob’s formative years included Upper Canada College at the age of 16 and the University of Toronto School a year later. At the outbreak of the Second World War he joined the Canadian Officers Training Corp and subsequently enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1940. During his service he joined the 23rd Field Company of the Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE) where among other duties, he was charged with the construction of Bailey Bridges, repair of roads and removal of debris that was blocking the Allied advance.

One of the accomplishments of which he was most proud was the significant role he played in the rescue of British airmen who had parachuted in behind enemy lines at Arnhem, Netherlands. When he returned to Holland for a reunion, he became ill with a chest infection and was treated by a doctor in the area. When he asked what he owed the doctor, the answer given to Bob was, “Nothing, as it is us who owe you.” Dad always held that exchange close to his heart.

Following the war, Bob concluded his electrical engineering degree at the University of Toronto after which he began a successful career in Montreal with Canadian General Electric. Throughout his career and several promotions, Bob was transferred across Canada, challenging Deborah and Mike with getting settled in a variety of new schools. Upon retirement from CGE in 1983, Bob joined Harris & Roome until 1985. From 1985-1990 he was asked to be a Case Counsellor for the Federal Business Development Bank (FBDB). Bob and Liz settled very comfortably in Bedford, Nova Scotia, where they welcomed family and friends to their home on the shore, gazing out through a stand of beautiful mature evergreens to a view of the water in Bedford Basin that they both loved so much. At “Seawood” they enjoyed a life of sailing with their boat peacefully moored at the foot of their property. Summers were spent at the cottage he and Liz built in the Quebec Laurentians. He truly loved his time there, a place he attended to with duct tape, a prayer and a little scotch.

Bob always held a firm belief that one should give back to the community. To this end he spent countless hours volunteering with the CNIB in Nova Scotia. Bob was the Past President of the Atlantic CNIB and a member of the CNIB National Council. His efforts were recognized with several awards including the Golden Jubilee Anniversary Medal in 2002 and the Arthur Napier Magill Award in 2007. He was also a dedicated church volunteer at Bedford All Saints Anglican Church as an usher, reader and “finance consultant”.

In his final months of life, Bob received compassionate and always respectful care from the staff of V5West, Camp Hill, for which his family will always be most grateful.

A memorial service will be held December 08, 2011 at 1030 A.M. at All Saints Church, Bedford, N.S. The family will also have a private service of remembrance for Bob in the future at the family cottage. Donations in his memory may be made to the Nova Scotia CNIB, Canadian Diabetes Association, Feed Nova Scotia, or to a charity of choice.