Obituary of Robert Blair

After a 25-year battle with Parkinson’s disease, Bob passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at the Osgoode Care Centre, on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at the age of 78 years.

Beloved husband of Jayne (née Martin). Loving father of Rob (Lauren) and Sarah (Kelly Doell). Cherished grandfather of Colin, Clara, Ian, and Ronan.

Predeceased by his parents Cyril and Aileen (née Wuario), sisters Shirley Mitchell, Betty Devolin, and brother Ed.

Robert Raymond Blair was born May 18, 1946, in the small town of Mattawa, Ontario. His family owned a farm in Cameron Township, a Finnish community about 8 miles outside of Mattawa. His father was third generation Canadian of Irish descent and his mother was from Finland.

He went to a one room public school followed by Mattawa High School. During the summers Bob went to Army cadet camps including camp Ipperwash, camp Borden, Wolseley barracks (London, ON), and to an award camp in Banff, AB.

In the fall of 1964 Bob commenced his university days in the first co-op program in mathematics and computer science at the University of Waterloo. Following graduation he was hired by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company as a computer programmer. Two years later he accepted an offer he couldn’t refuse: the opportunity to lead Xerox in the rebuilding of their computer systems in Canada.

Bob and Jayne married in Toronto May 24, 1974 (memorably celebrating 50 years of marriage in 2024!). Three years later Rob was born. 1980 was a busy year with the creation of his own consulting firm, FYI Consulting Ltd, the acceptance of a contract with the federal government, a move to Ottawa, and the birth of Sarah.

In Ottawa Bob loved going to the National Arts Centre with Jayne for plays and concerts, coaching Rob’s hockey, and supporting Sarah with her horseback riding.

After 27 years in Ottawa Bob and Jayne both retired and moved to Parry Sound and then north to Sudbury where Bob was able to fulfill his dream of designing his own home and physically building (most of) it with Jayne – a bold endeavour that was both arduous and memorable. Upon completion, Bob and Jayne were able to settle into a true retirement, in an idyllic setting, where he could immerse himself into a new hobby – genealogy – and Jayne could garden to her heart’s content.  The couple moved back to Ottawa at the end of 2023 to be closer to their children and grandchildren and for Bob to receive further support at the Osgoode Care Centre.

A Celebration of Bob’s life will be held Saturday June 14^th, 1-5 PM, at the Royal Canadian Legion (Branch 641), 3500 Fallowfield Rd, Nepean.

In Memoriam, donations can be made to Bob’s non-profit long-term care facility at:  www.osgoodecare.ca/give-here.  Ever the social butterfly who never wanted to miss anything, Bob would have appreciated the funds being directed to “Social/Recreation Programs” at the centre