Rev. Robert Bell "Robin" SMITH

SMITH, Rev. Robert 'Robin' Bell, B.A., M.Ed., Ed.D., D.D.
Peacefully on September 25, 2007. Predeceased by his beloved wife and best friend, Marie Smith, Robin was the cherished father of Janet and her husband Flemming Mathiasen; proud grandfather of Karen O'Meara and her husband Michael and of Lisa Mathiasen and her husband Michael Massa; and beloved great grandfather of Madeline O'Meara and Chloe Massa. Robin was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1924. In 1944 he began the process of offering for the Ministry for the Methodist Church of Ireland. In 1951 he and Marie McMichael were married and began more than 54 years of committed love. In 1953 he applied for admission to The United Church of Canada and was invited to be assistant to the minister at Eglinton United Church, Toronto. A year later, he became minister of Barton Stone United Church in Hamilton and went on to become one of the editors of the New Curriculum of The United Church in 1960. Robin was awarded the Canadian Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 in appreciation of his devoted service rendered at Rideau Hall. He earned two doctorates, 1976 from OISE (U of T) in Adult Education and 1980 from Queen's University at Kingston, recognizing his contributions to family life work for the United Church of Canada and the World Council of Churches in Geneva. After retiring in 1988, his ministry continued in his contributions to his community. He wrote a brief for the United Church of Canada to the Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies. He was awarded the McGeachy Senior Scholarship for a survey and analysis of the attitudes of men towards the United Church, and he channeled his passion for family into the construction of The Ewart Angus Home for patients with Alzheimers and Dementia. Robin and Marie enriched their lives with travel, time at the cottage and they relished the special moments they spent with family and friends. Robin will be dearly missed by many. A special thanks to Mountainview Residence and Georgetown Extended Care for making Robin feel comfortable and cared for, and to Dr. Sinukoff and Dr. Van Bendegem for their care and dedication. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Mission and Service Fund of the United Church. Visitation will be on Friday September 28 from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Morley Bedford Funeral Home, 159 Eglinton Avenue West (2 lights west of Yonge St.). A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday September 30th at Eglinton St. George's United Church, corner of Lytton Blvd. and Duplex Avenue; reception to follow.