Howard Robert George HARVEY

1938 - 2021

HOWARD ROBERT GEORGE (BOB) HARVEY July 21, 1938 - December 23, 2021 Passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, December 23, 2021. Born in Sudbury, and raised in South Porcupine, Ontario to parents, Delbert and Gwendolyn Harvey. The middle of three children, he was brother to older sister, June (Billinghurst, Ken) and younger sister, Marilyn (Russiani, Jules). The "hangdog" Bob Harvey was a character beyond characters who charmed many and was beloved by many more. He loved playing sports growing up and was especially fond of baseball and hockey, eventually playing right-wing for the Dixie Beehives of the MJBHL in the mid-1950s. Bob decided not to follow his father & other family members into the mining business and set out on his own path as an entrepreneur that ultimately reaped great success both personally and professionally. Always fond of regaling friends and family with his time delivering goods up and down Yonge Street in his teens and 20s, Bob quickly become a huge success in the transportation business owning Firestone stores across the GTA. In 1984, Bob established Cooksville Tire, successfully focusing on the commercial, passenger and agricultural tire market in southern Ontario. His success with Cooksville allowed Bob to pursue his true sporting love, thoroughbred horse racing. He became the owner of many horses that raced and won at tracks around North America, with his home base at Woodbine with trainer Sid Attard. Bob campaigned many stakes winning thoroughbreds over the years and was one of very few Canadians to win two Sovereign Awards. His greatest memory was leading an ownership group of great friends who won a three-way photo finish win at the prestigious Grade 1 Woodbine (Atto) Mile in 2001 where his horse Numerous Times set a course record with a nose victory to qualify for the Breeders Cup. Bob went on to have great success as a breeder with numerous winners including his homebred 2009 Sovereign Winning 2 year old, Hollinger, and stakes winner Calling Rhy Rhy, named after his granddaughter, Rhyan Mitchell. Bob loved to watch sports and along with horse racing he loved to watch his Maple Leafs, Raptors, Tiger Cats and Blue Jays. Although not many people know he was a devout Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions fan growing up. In fact, his mother and sisters would say it was best not to be around young Robert after he had listened to a Tiger loss over the radio. Bob also thoroughly enjoyed a good round of golf with friends and was last a member at Mississaugua Golf Club. However, Bob's biggest love and what he was most proud of was his family. He was predeceased by his beloved Phronie and Ria Harvey and leaves behind loving daughters, Annette Mitchell (husband Scott, grandchildren Jake, Rhyan, Bo), Roberta Harvey-Robillos (husband Joel, grandchildren Cole, Noah), Wendy Melnik (grandson Luke) and sons, Alan Harvey (grandchildren Alyssia, Michael).and Brent Harvey (grandsons Brett, Jeremy and granddaughter Nicole). Bob will be missed but never forgotten. A legend to his family and too many friends, Bob lived a life worth living and we will continue to raise a glass of wine in his honour forever. We will be hosting the funeral at Woodbine Racetrack January 14 from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Please join us live stream by logging into: https://bit.ly/bobharvey to be apart of this special day as we spread his ashes at the finish line where Numerous Times won the Atto Mile. In Bob's memory, please send donations to LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society https://longrunretirement.com 416-675-3993 ext. 3440.