Robert McDevitt

McDEVITT, ROBERT (BOB)

September 6, 1931-September 8, 2016

After several months of declining health, Bob McDevitt died September 8, 2016, at the Jewish General Hospital with his wife Pat at his side.

Starting as a 16-year-old sailor in the Merchant Navy, Bob lived life to the fullest. He had an illustrious 34-year career in broadcasting, beginning as Ol' Saddlesores, a country & western DJ in Sudbury, Ontario. Bob eventually moved to the CBC in Montreal where he spent 27 years as a sports journalist, interviewing everyone from Muhammad Ali to Lester B. Pearson. After taking early retirement from the CBC, Bob embarked on another adventure, teaching Broadcast Journalism for 12 years at Concordia University and helping shape a new generation of journalists. This fact was endlessly amusing to Bob, a kid from Park Ex with only a grade 8 education.

Professional life aside, Bob was perpetually curious about the world, and people were his oxygen. He loved few things more than hoisting a jar with friends and was actively involved in a variety of clubs, including the Montreal Irish Rugby Football Club, the Montreal West Curling Club, the NDG YMCA, the Cavendish Club, the Fossils and the St. Patrick's Society of Montreal.

Above all, Bob was a devoted family man, supportive, generous and loving, who taught his children invaluable lessons in the way he embraced honesty and integrity in his daily life, sometimes to the detriment of his professional life.

Bob went out true to himself: not quietly. His last few days were eased by the expert and humane care of the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Jewish General Hospital, for which the family will be forever grateful.

Bob embodied these lines from Invictus, his favourite poem: "I am the master of my fate / I am the captain of my soul."

Well done, dear husband. Well done, dear dad.

Bob leaves behind Patricia, his wife of 56 years, his children, Katy, Neale and Craig, and their respective partners and children.

At Bob's request, there will be no funeral service. There will be a visitation on Thursday, September 15, 2016 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Collins Clarke MacGillivray White Funeral Home, 5610 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal. Cards of condolence may be sent to the funeral home.

A celebration of Bob's life (a party) will be held at a future date. Details to be announced later.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Bob McDevitt Award Endowment at Concordia University: online at concordia.ca/givenow; by telephone at 514-848-2424, ext. 3884; by sending a cheque payable to Concordia University to: Concordia University, 1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W., FB-520, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8. Donors should specify their gift is for the Bob McDevitt Award Endowment.