'Bob' William Robert Nelson Doke

With great sadness we announce the passing of our father William Robert Nelson Doke in Montreal at the age of 85 years. To all who knew him he was Bob, the quiet and reserved fellow married to our Mom, Shirley, for 62 years. He was a true native of Notre-Dame-de-Grace; living all of his life there. His childhood on Melrose Avenue was typical. He had a great interest in aviation, was an air cadet and eventually a private pilot in his younger years. His was a Montreal childhood indeed, attending Willingdon School and Monkland (West Hill) high school. In these years he developed a huge appetite for donuts and the best hot dogs in town. He often recalled attending many Montreal Alouettes football games and most notably being present during the Maurice Richard Riot at the Montreal Forum in 1955; all the while trying to down the rest of his toastie as the tear gas took hold.

Dad married Mom in 1959, a few years after meeting her at a YMCA dance. Following their marriage his time became more occupied with being a husband and father leaving his adolescent interests behind. He received his BComm from Sir George Williams University and worked in the finance department of Imperial Tobacco. It took him a while to find his calling in life nonetheless he and our Mom gave us a very happy and comfortable childhood. Somewhat of a trickster and joker he was always trying to pull one over on us kids and most of our childhood friends on the street. They called him “Mr. Appreciation”. Being popular with kids was to foreshadow his eventual career path. As kids and early teens we spent many nice summers family camping in Ontario, upper New York State and New England.

He returned to McGill University to pursue his teaching certificate in 1971. While obtaining his teaching certificate he took on many odd jobs, such as a cashier at Steinberg’s. He spent the majority of his working life, 26 years as a school teacher, beloved by many of his students, at Wagar High School, Roslyn, Carlyle, Beechwood and Nesbitt Elementary Schools. Mild mannered and even tempered he stepped into the role of teacher very easily and thoroughly enjoyed it. He retired in 1997 from teaching to embark on the next phase of his life.

He was a very talented amateur artist throughout his life and even more so in his retirement. Whether pencil, acrylic, pastels or watercolours he amassed a large collection of paintings. He had numerous successful showings and genuine interest in his artwork by others. He and our mother travelled frequently to England and France during these years enjoying the fruits of their labours, visiting our mothers brother in England numerous times. But for my Dad it was all about the quiet times, the little things, a good dessert or jelly donut, a little Tim Hortons coffee and muffin, trips to Stewart Hall for a quiet afternoon by the water, a little square dancing here and there or a good hot dog and football game on a Sunday afternoon.

Bob is survived by his wife Shirley (nee Sinodhinos); three children Rob (Maria), Karyn (Michael) and Mike (Rosy), six grandchildren, Sara, Luca, Giulia, Connor, Morgan and Sean; a niece and three nephews, Lisa, Neil, Eric and Craig and their families, as well as his older brother Thomas (Joan) and younger sister Linda (Roy).

In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made in his memory to either the Montreal Chest Institute Foundation (http://mcifoundation.ca/support-the-mci/) or The Alzheimer’s Society of Montreal (https://alzheimermontreal.ca/en/make-a-donation/).

The family will celebrate his life in a private ceremony to take place at Cote-des-Neiges Funeral Home and Cemetery.

Our family and friends want to thank the management, doctors, nurses, orderlies, kitchen and cleaning staff of the CHSLD’s “Chateau sur le Lac” and “Nazaire Piche” for the dedication and commitment they have shown, in very trying and difficult circumstances, for my fathers care over the past two years.