Obituary of J. Kirk Robertson

Peacefully, on January 7, J. Kirk Robertson passed away surrounded by his immediate family. Kirk was predeceased by his parents, Gerald and Monica (O’Connor) Robertson; his brothers, John and Kevin Robertson; and his sister, Justice Mary Heather Robertson.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Sheila; his daughters, Kirsten and Karen; and his cherished grandsons, Connor and Liam. He will also be fondly remembered by the many family members and friends whose lives he touched.

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Kirk grew up with a deep love of the sea. He spent his early years sailing at the Wagwaltic and later enjoyed coastal sailing adventures. After moving to Ottawa in 1974, Kirk joined the Britannia Yacht Club and became an avid sailor, competitive racer, and Race Officer for local, national, and international regattas. An adventurer at heart, in 2016 he sailed his 26-foot Tanzer down the Ottawa River to realize a dream of sailing back to his Nova Scotia homeland. The journey to reach Halifax took 45 days by way of the Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers and along the Gulf and Maritime shorelines.

Kirk was a devoted member of the Britannia Yacht Club, serving in many capacities on the Board over the years, including as Commodore from 1998 to 1999. He was also a founding member and past president of the BYC Foundation, which supports sailing and the vitality of the Britannia Yacht Club. He was a recipient of the Commodore’s Award in 2003 and was proud to receive an honorary life membership at BYC in 2025.

Kirk received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, followed by a Bachelor of Architecture from the then–Nova Scotia Technical College. He began his career in computer-aided design as part of a small pioneering team that introduced this technology within the federal government. He continued this work with a number of local technology companies, eventually focusing on defence electronic systems. His work on systems for ships, planes, and helicopters took him to many places around the world, including to Venezuela, New Mexico, the United Kingdom, and an unforeseen voyage to Gibraltar.

In the words of his friends, he was known in life as “a generous, kind, patient, and jovial man, recognized by his distinctive laugh. May he continue to be a compass for us all.”

“Twilight and evening bell, 

And after that the dark! 

And may there be no sadness of farewell, 

When I embark;” (Crossing the Bar, Alfred, Lord Tennyson)

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Britannia Yacht Club Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society.