Rob passed away peacefully on August 27, 2021, after a brief battle with cancer. He is survived by his devoted family - wife Susan and daughters Rachel (Yang) and Devon. He will be missed by so many and remembered for his generous and open nature, his sharp and unique wit, his wisdom, his true friendship and his genuine goodness.
Rob was the only child of Earl and Wilma Robertson of Gananoque, Ontario. As a boy, he liked to play all sports and enjoyed summers at his grandparents' cottage on Charleston Lake. After graduating from McGill University and Western law school, he moved to Ottawa and worked for 31 years at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), principally as General Counsel.
Rob believed in service and tried to honour that belief. He served as the president of Amnesty International Canada, the chairman of the HealthBridge Foundation of Canada, and the chairman of the South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre. While attending St. Timothy's Presbyterian Church, he was an elder, the chairman of the Board of Managers, and the chairman of the Refugee Sponsorship Committee. At St. Andrew's Church, he was an elder, the administrative clerk of session, the chairman of the Mission and Outreach Committee and of the Communications Committee, and the congregation's liaison with the Centretown Emergency Food Centre. For four years, he was the national convenor of Presbyterian World Service & Development. He was made an honorary life member of the Marco Depestre Foundation (Ottawa). He was also the chairman of the IDRC Alumni Association.
Rob was very grateful for the love and attention of his church family, the doctors and nurses of the Ottawa General Hospital and the Élisabeth Bruyère Hospital's palliative care unit, his many friends and, most of all, his family.
A funeral will be held at St. Andrew's Church, at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to St. Andrew's Church or the Marco Depestre Foundation (Ottawa).
Livre de visiteurs
Tara Swift
Peter Medcalf
God Bless.
Jacqueline Niyonzima
Dear Susan, Rachel(Yang) and Devon,
My deepest condoleances. Rob was not only a friend, he was like a father, a mentor , a generous person who always open his arms and heart to people in need. My family and myself will be always grateful for his caring heart. When he saw me for the first time twenty three years ago, he welcomed me in your home and we became family. I will always cherish the best moments we share at your house or my house, the jokes especially the prayers we shared whenever there was a sad situation in our both families.
I will be always thankful to God who put him on the path of my life to add you as my family.
May God continue to keep him happy in his eternal rest where he will continue watching us from there.
May his soul rest in peace.
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Laura McGregor
Rob is a devoted and loving presence in all our lives. He will be greatly missed and I know that his thoughtful comments, his generosity of spirit and his devotion to God and his family will continue to resonate with us. Susan, Devon and Rachel, we weep with you at this moment but will smile with you when we think of Rob in brighter future days. His family at St. Andrew's will keep him in our hearts and our minds.
Karinny Cezar
My deepest sentiments to the family. Rob was an inspiration of faithful service to the Church and will never be forgotten.
Peter Zanette
It was so wonderful to work with Rob over the years with great fun and Pride
John Sproat and Janet Pounder
Susan, Rachel, Yang and Devon.
We met Rob at Western in 1973 and have enjoyed and benefitted from his friendship and wisdom ever since.
His obituary captures perfectly the life he led - one of service, devotion to family - always with a healthy dose of humour.
We are deeply sorry for your loss and very grateful for all that Rob meant, and continues to mean, in our lives.
Love
John and Janet
william Burnside
Rob has been my elder from St Andrews for the past 5 or 6 years and both myself and my late wife ,Joan came to know Rob as a kind, concerned and caring, gentle, man.I will miss him greatly. My thoughts at this time are with his family for their loss.
Janet and John Banigan
We send our prayers and condolences to Rob’s loved ones. His wise counsel and Christian example added greatly to the Christian worship and outreach of St.Andrews Church.
John Banigan
Dear Susan, Rachel and Devon
I have worked with Rob for many years at the Church, latterly on The Glebe Trustees. He was a very genuine and intelligent person and cared deeply for others.
May God be with your family to comfort you with your loss.
John
Susan, Rachel and Devon,
I am so sorry for your loss. Rob’s love touched so many of us. You are in my thoughts.
Love Tara