Bob Day

June 16, 1934 - August 28, 2022

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Robert (Bob) Day, beloved husband, father, uncle and grandfather. Those close to Bob, knew him as the one who couldn't help making light of a situation. In most photos of him, he always has a smile that looks like he's just cracked a joke. He was one to revel in a party, often convincing others to play a game or have one more glass of wine. He believed humour and common experience were the foundations of strong friendships.
In his career, Bob was particularly proud of working for the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) when it won the Nobel peace prize for its work in Iraq's monitoring program. Remarkably, that achievement came from humble beginnings as the son of a carpenter in Windsor, Ontario. With dreams for something bigger, Bob paid his way through university by working as a Navy cadet in the summers. He graduated as an officer about the same time he received his degree in business from the University of Windsor. With little future in the midst of a naval hiring freeze, he found a job in labour relations with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) where he worked in small company towns in Ontario, Manitoba and Nova Scotia. He could only tolerate the fist sized mosquitoes, shoulder deep snows and lacklustre nightlife for so long. He went looking for a change and soon applied for a job at the IAEA and was suddenly off to Vienna, Austria. Bob thrived, meeting people from all over the world through his job and through sport. He joined ski, bowling, poker and golf clubs.
It was during this time that he met a young secretary at the IAEA, Jackie, who would become his wife and the love of his life. Together they had a child, Graham.
Bob would retire in 1994 to Sidney, BC where he began growing a beautiful garden and travelling extensively both locally and abroad. He also spent time giving back to the community, serving on the board of the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation and that of Save the Children Canada. He devoted great time to his son, from playing catch in the yard, to attending rainy soccer games, to checking homework. In his later years, Bob and Jackie focused their social time on their beloved lawn bowling club - a community that goes far beyond its sport and has been a social bedrock for both of them.
After years of chronic fatigue, Bob was finally diagnosed with Parkinson's. As the disease progressed, he took solace in small comforts from his wife and from two grandchildren that would regularly buzz about his feet and play with the buttons on his reclining chair.
After a lifetime of love and generosity, Bob passed away on August 28, 2022 with his family by his side. He is survived by his wife Jackie, son Graham and daughter-in-law Tania and grandchildren Oliver and Sienna.