Robert COOK Obituary
COOK, Mr. Robert Harold William
After a long and brave battle against cancer, Robert Harold William Cook died surrounded and comforted by the love of his family on Saturday morning, July 22, 2000. He will be sadly missed, but remembered with great joy by his wife Carole, daughter Jodi, and sons Rob Jr. and Brennan. He will also be missed by his cousins Deirdre, Bobby and Richard Malone, Jim, Billie, Rob and John Dalglish, Mary-Lou Moores and parents-in-law Ken and Dorothy Dinner of Bracebridge. Rob lived a full life in his 58 years. Rob was an Upper Canada College 'old boy', a graduate of Huron College at the University of Western Ontario and University of Toronto Law School. He is a proud member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity society, and many of his dearest friends are from school days. His professional passion was for commercial real estate development, and after serving as the President of York Hanover, Rob ventured out on his own to establish Robert H. Cook & Associates. His most recent professional developments were the Living Arts Center in Mississauga and the new Rogers headquarters in the historic Confederation Life building site on Bloor Street East. Rob was joined by his wife Carole on the Rogers project, and the opportunity to work together brought them both a lot of professional and personal happiness and satisfaction. Rob played as hard as he worked. He was an effortless athlete and natural leader, these attributes coming together as Rob shared his love of a wide variety of sports, including mountain biking, downhill and crosscountry skiing, tennis, squash, sailing, water-skiing and boating with others both at home and during a long sojourn in Australia. His love and respect for outdoor sports and nature is inherent in his sons, Rob Jr. and Brennan. Rob also shared a taste for the finer things. He enjoyed theatre on occasion-more so if his daughter, Jodi, was on the stage. He loved reading, music and funny movies, interests he enjoyed with his wife and family. He was a wonderful story-teller, and would entertain friends and family with stories by the fireplace at the family farm. A special thank you to Dr. Bob Bell and Dr. Bernie Gosevitz for their excellent care for Rob and his family. Also to be thanked, the nursing staff at Hillcrest Rehabilitation Center, and the nursing staff on the 11th floor south unit at Mount Sinai Hospital for their wonderful care and support. The family will receive friends for visitation on Thursday, July 27th from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at Morley Bedford Funeral Home, 159 Eglinton Avenue West. A funeral celebrating Rob's life will be held on Friday, July 28 at noon at Grace Church on the Hill, 300 Lonsdale Avenue. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society, the Kolapore Uplands Trails (through the University of Toronto's Outdoors Club), or the charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.
Published by The Globe and Mail from Jul. 25 to Jul. 28, 2000.