Wednesday, September 5, 2018
I was very saddened yesterday when I learned of Ron's passing. While we haven't seen one another for a number of years, I consider Ron one of my good friends.
We worked together at Ontario Hydro and spent many a noon-hour running the streets north of the U of T campus - sometimes hashing over office woes but mostly enjoying the companionship of our group. We ran our first marathon together - well not really together - because Ron was a gifted runner and my little legs could not keep pace with him for 26 miles. We played golf and again Ron was the talented one while I had a sort of rag-tag game.
Later on, Ron joined joined the long-standing Friday Nite hockey group that played at Flemington Park arena, with whom I'd played for several years, and again we got to spend time together. Silly as it may seem, my memory of Ron as a hockey player is not of his skill, but a moment when my errant stick chipped out his front tooth. I went to the dressing room with him really very upset with myself. As I sat beside him, he kept repeating that I not worry and that everything was okay (Ron was a Senior Executive at Hydro at the time, and I couldn't visualize him at the office with a missing tooth the following Monday).
For a reason that I cannot recall, Ron's name popped into my mind this past weekend. The thought was that he was a real nice guy, a fine and classy man and his friendship was special. And, then I learned yesterday of his passing.
In closing, I'd like to pass on my regrets to Pat and the family. He always spoke of his girls with warmth and pride. And while I did not see him during grandfatherhood, he would have been one of the great ones. I'm thinking of you all and Ron at this sad time and I hope that you will be comforted by the memories that I'm sure you have of a fine "Friend and Husband, Dad and Grandpa".
Sadly, Bob
