Robert Claire McGillen

Suddenly at his condo in Sunrise, Florida on Friday, February 10, 2023 at the age of 75. Beloved husband of Karen McGillen (nee Eller). Loving father of Mark McGillen and his wife Michelle Anderson of Peterborough, David McGillen and his wife Andrea of Belleville, Katy McGillen and her husband Troy LeGresley of Peterborough and Daniel McGillen and his wife Danielle of San Antonio, Texas. Proud grandfather of Macy, Maggie, Maddie, Leah, Quinn, Colm, Erin, Skyler, Maya, Evelyn and Claire. Brother of Raymond McGillen and his wife Rhonda as well as brother of Anne Morrison and her late husband Michael. Uncle Bob will be missed by his many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents Agnes Scollard and Claire McGillen and infant brother Daniel McGillen.

Robert McGillen founded the Brock Street law firm now known as the MKC Law Office in 1974. He retired in July 2017, passing the firm on to partner Ian Keay. After graduating high school from Kenner Collegiate in Peterborough, McGillen graduated from Trent University in 1969 and then graduated from The University of Western Ontario Faculty of Law in 1972. He was called to the Bar in 1974 and then practised his entire law career in Peterborough, focusing on commercial and residential real estate transactions as well as estate administration and planning, corporate and business law and civil litigation.

In 1983 he was instrumental in the creation of The Arborough Games. This was an Olympics-like competition held between young people representing the cities of Ann Arbor, Michigan and Peterborough, Ontario. At its height in the early 1990’s, the Arborough Games brought numerous busloads of middle school students to Ontario to compete in multiple sports and academics, followed by a return delegation to Michigan the following year.

He launched the Three Loonies fundraiser in 2000, with Peter Blodgett of Darling Insurance and former local lawyer Bruce Fitzpatrick. It featured a live radio broadcast and on-street donation collection on George Street. Bruce later became a judge in Thunder Bay and was replaced in the trio by Robb Bennett of The Liftlock Group. It quickly turned into the largest annual fundraiser for Kawartha Food Share, the central food warehouse for food programs and food banks in Peterborough city and county.

Bob was a Catholic School Board Trustee from 1975 to 1977, a member of the local Big Brothers Association from 1977 to 1984, a member and past president (1989) of the Peterborough Sales and Advertising Association and a member and past president (2003) of the then Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce. He also served on the boards of multiple local charities and non-profit organizations, including the Canadian Mental Health Association’s local branch. Over the years, he provided counsel to the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame, the Kids in Need organization along with Kawartha Food Share.

Bob and Karen lived on Chemong Lake for 32 years before moving back into Peterborough for the summer months and Sunrise Florida for the winter. Bob and Karen spent their retirement travelling the world and most recently was a surprise trip to Newfoundland for his 75th birthday and a few months later a cruise on the Adriatic sea to Venice.

Bob was a member at Peterborough Golf and Country Club and will be sadly missed by his community of friends there. He was a regular in many annual golf tournaments including the Sports Hall of Fame Golf Tournament and the GSF. He was a long-standing member of the YMCA and would often start his day there before heading off to the golf course for the afternoon. Bob was a lifelong Habs fan and will forever be remembered as a great storyteller with a small repertoire of often repeated jokes. He loved life, his family and friends and lived life each day to the fullest. His smile, kindness and generosity will live on in all those who knew him.

A Celebration of Bob’s Life will be held on Sunday April 16, 2023 from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club, 1030 Armour Road.

If desired, in memory of Bob, donations may be made to Kawartha Food Share or the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.comstockkaye.com for the McGillen family.