Robert "Bob" McDonald

“Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone

Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,

Silence the pianos and with muffled drum

Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.”

W.H. Auden

It is with great sadness that the family of Robert “Bob” McDonald announce his sudden passing on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at the age of 90. Bob will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 65 years, Joan: children Christopher (Theresa Shanahan), Timothy (Shelagh Sweeney), Karen, and Paula (Jerry Hildebrand); grandchildren Ruth, Kate and Imogen, Eric and Matthew Hildebrand; sister Mary Colopy, and many cherished nieces and nephews in Canada and the United States, as well as countless friends.

Bob was predeceased by his parents George and Ruth; siblings Louise, Gerald, George, Alfred “Alf”, John, Leo, Peter, Josephine “Joey” and Patrick.

Bob grew up in a family of 11 children on a farm outside of Cookstown Ont., replete with milk cows, hens and a swimming hole. His Mother died when he was 9 yrs old and his Father died when he was 14 yrs old. After the death of his parents he lived in Barrie, and then Toronto became his home.

Bob trained as an air traffic controller. At the age of 23, he was the controller in the tower for the early Avro Arrow test flights. He followed this up with a long and fulfilling career in Air Traffic Control (ATC) that took his young family from Toronto to Ottawa and then back to Toronto.

Bob loved golf and tennis and bridge. He was a long-time member of the Nobelton Lakes Golf and Country Club and past president of the York Weston Tennis Club where he spent many hours playing the game he loved and made lifetime friendships with the people who loved the game.

Bob’s commitment and love of family was shaped in the large, complex and generous relationships of his birth family. His sense of care and concern for Joan in her declining health has served as an exemplary model of love, constancy and optimism for all of us.

A visitation will be held, Wednesday November 26 from 6:00 until 8:00 pm at the Ward Funeral Home 2035 Weston Rd., Toronto.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday November 27, 11am, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church 49 George St., Toronto.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada or Tennis Canada.