Robert Cave

I was sorry to hear of Bob's passing. He and my father were close friends in their youth (my father was John "Scotty" Reid) in North Vancouver. I used to hear stories of their adventures in school and then at UBC. My condolences to the family.

As a former employee of Scott Paper and member of the Marketing Department I appreciated Bob's devotion to his career as he kept us all focused on budgets and profits. He truly was a fine human being and will be missed by all those whose lives he touched. Condolences to the family.

At Scott Paper Bob was highly regarded as a skilled accountant, and respected by his colleagues and staff. A fact that few people are aware, however, is that Bob was also a major Change Agent.

A little over 40 years ago, several people gathered at the home of one of the accounting supervisors for an impromptu after work party. Bob was there as was the VP Finance at the time. During the course of the evening the conversation turned to the lack of opportunities for women at Scott. At that time, women could aspire to become an executive secretary or achieve the level of supervisor in one of several departments. There were no women in any of the management positions. The argument was presented by the women that Scott hired the best and brightest so, after gaining valuable on the job experience together with their natural abilities they should be given the opportunity to move into lower level management training positions as they became available. The VP Finance replied that unless women were prepared to pursue more formal education that the doors would remain closed. In essence, they had to be prepared to "Pay their dues."

I sat and listened, and realized that this applied to me as well. During the six years that I had been employed at Scott I had progressed from an entry level job in the accounting department to the position of Senior Accounts Receivable Clerk. I knew what I had to do. I decided that I would enrol in the Certified General Accounting Program that fall to improve my opportunities for career advancement within Scott.

Not too many weeks after that evening, a junior accounting position in Bob's department opened up. The requirements were that you were either enrolled in the CGA program or prepared to. So, I applied for the job, and waited with baited breath. Bob, called me in for the interview, and after much discussion, including the fact that he was "taking a big risk" said that as far as he was concerned if I was willing to commit to the CGA program that the job was mine. As it turned out, there were a few "i's to dot and t's to cross." It was made clear to me that I was not a popular choice by senior management. Bob told me not to worry, it was his department, he wanted me in the job and he was prepared to take a stand. Together we overcame the obstacles, and I got the job.

What a bold move on his part. Bob was 44, a conservative accountant, with a 14 year career at Scott. He had a traditionally structured family - a stay at home Mom with 2 sons. Nothing about Bob's life suggested that he was the kind of person who would buck the status quo.

Bob dug in his heels, and changed not just my life but within the next year, the doors opened for women in several other departments. Women were hired in jobs that had formally only been held by men. Data processing, sales, marketing, plant accounting. In the mill, women who had worked on the conveyor belts were now being promoted to positions of greater authority.

I did go on to get my CGA degree, and was rewarded for my efforts in terms of promotions. I retired from Scott and over the years I was often credited with opening the doors for greater opportunity for women, but Bob was the one that unlocked those doors. I was just the first one in a long line to walk through them. Whether they realize it or not, there are a lot of women who have Bob to thank for their careers at Scott.

Despite Bob's efforts, the glass ceiling remained firmly intact at Scott Paper. There was no "Bob" at the senior levels who was willing to do as Bob did for women at the lower level of management. It was not until Kruger helmed the ship that the ceiling was finally cracked, ultimately removed and the company hired its first female vice president.

Oshelene, I just want you to know how sorry I was to hear of Bob's passing. He really was a great guy and over the years at Scott we had lots of great conversations.
My heartfelt condolences to you and the family.