Robert Alliston McMichael

Robert Alliston McMichael C.M., O.Ont., D.Litt., LL.D July 27, 1921 - November 18, 2003 Bob passed away at Headwaters Health Care Centre, Orangeville on Tuesday, November 18, 2003, with Signe, his friend, partner and wife of 54 years, at his side. Even in his teens while at Humberside Collegiate, Bob was an entrepreneur, for he founded and edited Canadian High News, which was widely read by students in the high schools in the Toronto area. After serving in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II, Bob opened a studio on Avenue Road in Toronto, specializing in wedding photographs. In 1949 he met and married his beloved Signe and shortly thereafter they became interested in the work of The Group of Seven. Bob was commuting between Toronto and New York while running a successful business called Travelpak, but nonetheless found time together with Signe to begin building their log home at Kleinburg which they named Tapawingo, meaning House of Joy in the language of the Woodland Indians. As their early interest in The Group of Seven expanded into an increasingly sizeable collection of their works, their home was expanded to add additional galleries and the public was invited to share with them the treasure trove they had created. Ultimately, they gave their home and their collection, which by then included Canadian Indian and Inuit art, to the people of Ontario. Bob died full of honours, shared in part with Signe and bestowed on them in recognition of their contribution to the cultural life of Ontario and Canada. He was a member of the Orders of Canada and Ontario, a Fellow of the Ontario College of Art, a Doctor of Letters of Glendon College, York University and a Doctor of Laws of the University of Waterloo. He now goes to join his friends from The Group of Seven who chose as their final resting place the grounds of Tapawingo. Bob lived the tenets expressed in this quotation attributed to an 18th century quaker: 'I shall pass through this world but once. Any good thing therefor that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being let me do it now, let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.' The family will receive friends at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Islington Avenue, Kleinburg on Saturday afternoon between 2 o'clock and 4 o'clock and Sunday afternoon between 2 o'clock and 5 o'clock. A service in celebration of Bob's life will be held at the gallery on Monday morning, November 24 at 11 o'clock. Following the service, interment will take place on the gallery grounds among his friends from The Group of Seven. In addition to his wife Signe, he leaves his brother Don and his wife Sophie. In lieu of flowers, Bob would have appreciated donations to either the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation, 555 University Avenue, Toronto M5G 1X8 or the McMichael Art Collection, Islington Avenue, Kleinburg L0J 1C0. Arrangements by Egan Funeral Home, Bolton (905-857-2213). Condolences for the family may be offered at www.eganfuneralhome.com