Obituary of Robert Sidney Hall

Our beloved father, Robert (Bob) Sidney Hall, passed in his 88^th year on March 2^nd in Kingston, Ontario.  He was recently predeceased by his soulmate of 61 years, Katherine Margaret (nee Fowler). He is survived by his cherished sister Judy Beaton, half-brother Barry Fuller, daughter Karen Patricia (David Barber) & son Neal Patrick Maddison (Kathleen Goldhar). He was a devoted Papa to Claire, Simon, Henry, Kelvey & Nathan. 

Dad was born to Rupert Earl Irwin Hall & Leona Cynthia Simone Hagarty in Winnipeg MB, & spent his high school years in Raymore, SK.

Dad returned to Winnipeg & met Mom on a blind date; it was love at first sight.  He was an actor at the Manitoba Theatre Company performing in Tea & Sympathy & Diary of Anne Frank & worked with Gordon Pinsent. He attended university in Winnipeg & went on to become a chartered accountant & in retirement a certified financial planner. Dad was a highly respected Director of Compliance at Revenue Canada for 30 years & much of his career was spent working with other countries refining international tax regulations.

With Mom, Dad moved from Toronto to Ottawa in 1971 to devote his life to his cherished family. Our favourite memories include playing catch, skiing, snooker, sailing, taking us to epic movies, treasure hunts, building toboggan runs in the backyard & mowing baseball diamonds in the field. His grandchildren were the centre of his universe; he delighted in planning special trips & activities with them from making the perfect bowl of popcorn, anything pirate, their recitals, always reading of the Night Before Christmas, showing them the endless wonder in art & the world around us. 

Dad was a consummate family man. Kind, infinitely generous & gentle. His language of love was gift giving. He was voracious reader & cinephile. He loved a great car: Volvo 544, 1969 Jaguar, Pontiac Satellite, Mustang, two-tone green Parisienne & Solara. He earned an impressive collection of curling trophies. He enjoyed a good pipe or cigar on the patio & always had music playing - everywhere – in the kitchen, on the patio, wired into bathrooms, in the car & always on picnics or beach. Always tapping his fingers to the beat until the end. He was partial to Sergio Mendez, Bach, Brubek, & Gilberto. He had an amazing sense of humour; busting up watching Airplane, reading Herman & Far Side cartoon books & listening to Steve Martin albums. He was always puttering around the house (no finer lawn ever existed in Nepean!) & planning outings to museums, galleries, festivals, scenic drives & picnics. He loved to travel & expertly captured trips to across Canada & world that we enjoyed re-living with his carousel slideshows in the living room. 

We are indebted to the phenomenal care he received since March 2022 in Kingston at Providence Care Hospital, Kingston General Hospital & Providence Manor LTC. He died surrounded by kindness & with dignity; listening to his favourite music with his family. He is now at peace & most importantly, together with Mom again. We love you so much Dad. 

Please join us for a service at Pinecrest Cemetery, 2500 Baseline, Ottawa, on April 5^th , from 11am-1pm. Memorial donations in his name allocated to Providence Care through UHKF or the Ottawa Humane Society are appreciated.