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ROBERT BROOKS Obituary
While his professional accomplishments were many, Bob's greatest joy was his family. Alongside Brenda (née Griffin), his confidante and touchstone for more than 55 years, Bob was a devoted father to three children, Deborah, Keith (Allison McColl), and Ian (Laura Boudreau), and father figure to Alison (Michael Turney). He took delight in his six grandchildren, Jonah, Callum, Fiona, Tobin, Miller, and Quin.
He leaves behind a large extended family, including many cousins in Winnipeg, Vancouver and elsewhere. The large (mostly eastern) clan, affectionately known as the "Griffraff," will not be the same without Bob's endearingly cantankerous presence. He reveled in family gatherings and camp-fire sing-alongs, particularly belting it out to Stan Rogers and to Harry McClintock's "Hallelujah! I'm a Bum." Some might say he had the voice of a songbook, more words than tune, but his deep love of music formed a vast, sentimental soundtrack to his life.
Bob was born in Saskatchewan in 1944 to an Irish Protestant mother and Ukrainian Jewish father, both immigrants who instilled in him the values of education, hard work and tolerance. His mother was a schoolteacher with a mind as sharp as a tack, and his father, who had fled from pogroms in Ukraine, was an activist who ran the local co-op store. Growing up in Winnipeg, Bob excelled both scholastically and at hockey, two paths he would eventually have to choose between. As a Junior A hockey goalie, Bob broke his nose three times, earning himself a reputation as "the guy who'd get the job done." But ultimately, it was his nose for business that he followed.
Bob earned a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Manitoba (1961 to 1965) followed by an MBA from Western University's Richard Ivey School of Business (1966 to 1968) before going on to have a 40-year career at Scotiabank, retiring in 2008 as Vice Chair. He viewed banking as a public service and approached it with an unwavering focus on the fundamentals. Bank colleagues have described him as an exceptional boss, colleague, mentor and friend.
In addition to his professional life, Bob devoted much time and energy to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Among many volunteer roles over the years, he served as Chair of the Board of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, and later, as Chair of the Board of Heart and Stroke Canada. For more than a decade, Bob was the top individual fundraiser for the annual Ride for Heart. Throughout his working life and after retirement, Bob maintained numerous corporate and volunteer board positions, including a 10-year appointment to the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, from 2009 to 2018.
Bob lived life on his own terms. At age 75, you could still find him skiing black diamond runs in Revelstoke more than 30 days each season. His dedication to an evening gin martini was unmatched (shaken, not stirred, with a twist of lemon). He loved hosting family gatherings at the cottage in Muskoka and family ski vacations at the family chalet in Fernie, then Revelstoke. He was a committed but rather terrible golfer, only ever owned a convertible car, always ate dill pickles with his steak, read all the news every day, and never shied away from a spirited debate on practically any subject.
This year, his kids threw him an 80th birthday bash, he spent time in Revelstoke and with family at the cottage, went on safari in Africa and made it to Thanksgiving dinner just days after back surgery. At the end of October he developed complications from severe pneumonia which led to respiratory failure. The family is grateful for the extraordinary care Bob received in the St. Michael's ICU.
Bob's contributions during his lifetime were profound. He is deeply missed by all of us, who were proud to know him, learn from him, ski with him and beat him on the golf course.
A memorial service will be held at 12 p.m. at The Carlu in Toronto on January 10, 2025. Donations in honour of Bob can be made to St. Michael's Hospital or the Heart and Stroke Foundation. R.S.V.P to [email protected]
Memories and Condolences
for ROBERT BROOKS
27 Entries
Ron Brandman
January 15, 2025
I knew Bob through work at Scotiabank .Although I was based in
London and Bob was in Toronto I had the opportunity see him on many occasions on the board of a subsidiary in Ireland and in London through the trustees of the UK pension fund . As important as his undoubted banking skills were his personal qualities . A banking executive with a true ethical compass. He was always available and supportive .A great, and honest man .
Peter Williams
January 12, 2025
Worked for Bob as General Manager of Capital Markets & Merchant Banking for 5 years. A kind, insightful, caring & supportive boss a pleasure to work with. So sorry to hear of his passing.
Robert Ulmer
January 10, 2025
Tough, but compassionate. "Authentic" in the true sense of the word. A mentor, a leader, and a caring person. He will be missed by many. Condolences to the family. May his memory be a blessing.
Heidi Nota-Reid
January 10, 2025
Very sad to hear of Mr. Brooks passing. Having worked on the 68th trade floor for many years, I saw him working in his office on a daily basis. I respected him greatly. My condolences to Mrs. Brooks and the family.
Heidi Nota-Reid
January 10, 2025
Very sad to hear of Mr. Brook's passing. Having worked for many years on the 68th trade floor, I saw him working hard in his office on a daily basis. I respected him very much. My sincere condolences to Mrs. Brooks and the family.
Carolann (Griffin) Reynolds
January 5, 2025
Brenda, so sorry to hear of your husband´s passing. I have often mentioned our family relationship to my children Johanna and Thomas Reynolds. I send love and prayers to all of you on behalf of our family in Toronto. Carolann (Griffin) Reynolds
Adil Chaudhry
December 30, 2024
Bob was a dear mentor and friend to me over my four decades with Scotiabank, and we maintained an ongoing friendship after both of us retired. Learning of his passing deeply saddened me. I am sending good thoughts to Brenda and the family.
Carolyn and Ken Brooks
November 30, 2024
Brenda and family. I was so sorry to find out that Bob had died. I enjoyed the time we served together on the Heart and Stroke Boards. Bob had a wonderful ability to cut to the center of an issue, and offer his insights and possible solutions. He´d sit quietly and listen and then add his voice to the mix. And everyone at the Board table would appreciate and accept his input.
We have thought of him often over the years, please accept our condolences.
Erick zakaria
November 26, 2024
Sending hugs and love to Brenda and the family , rest in peace beautiful soul Bob .
- Erick (Tour guide - Tanzania)
Helen Giffen
November 25, 2024
As the human resources executive at Heart and Stroke with Bob as Chair, I could always count on his astute observations, analytical mind and tremendous heart. He appreciated the importance of people to our business and to any business. His support was always aligned to "doing the right thing" and his values never wavered. When I moved to my next job, he willingly provided a generous reference that surely won me the job. That was the strength of who he was. I'm very glad to have known and worked with him. Helen (Bozinovski) Giffen
Dave Morley
November 25, 2024
A little while after joining the Bank, I met Bob Brooks, who several senior people told me was the smartest man in the Bank. In my admittedly limited and intermittent dealings with him over the years, I nonetheless gained a deep respect for him and the values he displayed. He became the man in the Bank whose values that I most wanted to emulate in my carreer. Even if I was ultimately far from successful in this pursuit, I still try in my own life to follow the values and principles that I saw him display over the years.
Marg and Jack Nixon
November 24, 2024
Dear Brenda and family, please accept our condolences on Bob's passing. We have so many happy remembrances of you and Bob in the early years, both socially and banking. Always interesting, always straightforward. God bless, Mugs and Jack Nixon
Bob Erickson
November 24, 2024
Bob Brooks had a sharp, analytical mind and amazing memory for facts and figures. He was very focused and a very professional banker. But more than that, he was a genuine person, approachable and a good listener. He was highly regarded by the many Scotiabankers encountered him in the course of his career.
Jacquie McNish
November 24, 2024
To Brooks family: I was so saddened to read Bob's obituary. He always seemed so indomitable. I first met Bob in the early 1980s as a very young business reporter assigned, improbably, to the banking beat, despite my utter lack of knowledge. At a time when bankers were not in the habit of speaking to reporters, Bob had the patience to help explain the basics to me. As the years passed and the financial and corporate crises grew more alarming, Bob would pick up the phone when I called and bark "it's not the end of the world." Nothing seemed to phase him, and he always had time to explain how things could be fixed. He was one of a kind and I miss his wise counsel.
Howard Jones
November 23, 2024
Remember Bob in the Comptrollers department at the Bank working with other wizzes like Walter Meinig, Nelson Scott and Jim Booth. He was then refining the funds cost/allowance system to allocation profits to each branch in a fairer way. I remember telling him that I thought he would go far, and he did, and more. Bob was always a guy who felt that the fairer outcome would benefit all parties in the long run. Seems he succeeded. Howard Jones
Tom Healy
November 23, 2024
a wise and generous colleague we were almost the same age and worked together for years
Tom Healy & Joan FloodT
Denis Vaz
November 22, 2024
Brenda and family. So sorry for your loss. Bob was a great boss and mentor but even more importantly he was a great human being! My deepest condolences - we will all miss him. RIP Bob and enjoy a cigar with your martini.
Ted Taylor
November 22, 2024
Brenda & family,
So sorry to learn of Bob´s passing. Bob was undoubtedly an outstanding banker who always went out of his way to help others do their jobs better. I was fortunate enough to work with him from the beginning of his career at Scotiabank. Many years later, I worked directly with him when he was Chief Accountant. Later we worked together on many senior committees in the bank and the CBA. He was generally the committee chair and always achieved good results. His contributions outside the bank for Heart & Stroke and other corporate and volunteer positions were incredible. Betty and I and our children thoroughly enjoyed all the wonderful times together with your family as the families grew up. We would have liked to meet your grandchildren. Recently Betty passed away (September 7th). Like you and Bob, we were always together until the very end. We cherish wonderful memories of being together over the years. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Bill & Dorine Gibson
November 21, 2024
Dorine and I are devastated that Bob has left this earth forever. He was one of my best friends and I had known him since 1966 when we met at UWO for the MBA course. We lived in the same complex and argued, yelled, debated and studied together daily.
Our families grew up together, swimming in their pool as our dogs fought over territory. In those days, Bob served white wine from a box in the fridge and we ate in!
We started travelling as couples several years later and visited many places in North and South America, Asia and Africa, including some pretty off the beaten path destinations such as Malta, the Galapagos and Easter Island.
Golf together occasionally took over an afternoon for us, particularly when we were in exotic and wonderful places such as La Paz, Bolivia or Polynesia, as well as more familiar courses such as Tremblant, & Whistler.
Irrespective of our locale, we always had our before dinner Martini and, if the bartender was stumped on how to do it to our liking, Bob was both willing and able to demonstrate the proper technique and taste.
Over the years our dining preferences migrated to finer establishments and wine from real glass bottles, but our time together was always fun even though Bob never accepted that I had my after-dinner Scotch on the rocks, since he was a dedicated "straight up" kind of guy.
On a cruise together we took bridge lessons that ultimately led to a partnership for a weekly on-line game even though we were some 3,000 miles apart. In addition to a fun time, it gave us a chance to get caught up virtually every week.
And now I have lost a pretty good bridge partner, a wonderful travel companion and a very dear friend. Sleep well old buddy, I will miss you forever.
Andy Sittambalam
November 21, 2024
To the Brooks family, I am truly sorry for your loss. Bob was a great boss, mentor and friend. I had the privilege of working in his group over my own long career at Scotiabank. Bob was always approachable and we could depend on his guidance and advice. Bob will be missed by all those who knew him personally.
Julie Spira
November 21, 2024
Bob was one of the best fund raisers for Heart and Strike Foundation. The last 5 years of my employment with Scotiabank we were invited to the Executive Dining by Bob to celebrate the bank's fiscal New Year on November 1st saying: bring your appetite and your wallet for donation to the Hearth and Stroke. What a brilliant idea of his it was. We all have very found memories of him.
May his memory be for a blessing.
Gord Howell
November 21, 2024
I always respected him.
Gord Howell
November 21, 2024
I
Quentin Broad
November 21, 2024
Brenda and the rest of the Brooks´ family, I am so sorry for your loss. Bob was an incredible individual, with a sharp mind and at times an even sharper wit. I worked for him as his HR lead in the early 90´s. He had the intellectual capacity to understand the complex businesses he managed and the human insight to effectively manage all of the type A personalities in his group. It made me chuckle to go into his office in Scotia Plaza and see him chomping on his unlit cigar as he dealt with business decisions. Highly respected and very engaged, I greatly appreciated learning from Bob during my time at Scotia.
Henny DeLange
November 21, 2024
We were so sorry to hear of Bob´s passing. We know how much he will be missed by his family and all who knew him.
Jerry and Henny (Quin´s oma and opa)
Lorne Babcock
November 21, 2024
I worked with Bob when he joined the bank at Sparks Street branch Ottawa. He followed Peter Godsoe who had been a at Sparks Street just a short time before. We knew they were both on fast tracks to a senior position. Bob was a joy to work with.
Oscar Zimmerman
November 21, 2024
Brenda and family
So sorry for your loss.I reported to Bob the last 5 years before he retired.He was a great boss wish a keen business mind .He will be missed .May his memory be for a blessing .
Oscar Zimmerman
Showing 1 - 27 of 27 results
Memorial Events
for ROBERT BROOKS
Jan
10
Memorial service
12:00 p.m.
The Carlu in Toronto
ON