In Celebration of
Robert "Bob" White
August 14, 2018
It is with great sadness that Vida said goodbye to Bob, her beloved husband of 35 years, who left peacefully on Tuesday August 14th. His last days were eased by the wonderful care of the staff at Campbell House, Hospice Georgian Triangle in Collingwood, after a short term of loving, supportive homecare.
Bob was the younger son of the late Ernest, and the late Mary White of Montreal. Besides his wife, Vida (nee Bumbulis), Bob leaves his brother John White ( Diane) of St. John’s, NL; nephew Steve and niece Sarah (Mike), and his great niece Samantha; his sister-in-law Rima Dornfeld (Mark), and their daughter Hannah; also, many cousins and extended family in Montreal and across Canada.
Bob was kind, honest, respectful, had a quick sense of humour, and loved puns. With his ready smile and a lighthearted outlook, he drew people to him throughout his life and he will be especially missed by relatives, friends, neighbours and colleagues in Toronto and Wasaga Beach, throughout Ontario and Quebec.
Bob grew up in Montreal’s Plateau Mont Royal and Park Extension districts, attending Our Lady of Mount Royal elementary school, later D’Arcy McGee High School; finally, attaining both B.Comm. and MBA degrees at Concordia University in Montreal.
When Expo ’67 came to Montreal, Bob wore out a season’s pass with daily visits to foreign countries’ pavilions, igniting a passion for travel. In 1969, Bob joined the Canadian Forces Reserves with the 3rd Field Engineer Regiment in Westmount, QC, leaving as Lieutenant 6 years later. While in the Reserves, summer employment involved travel to BC, Manitoba, the High Arctic, Ontario and Germany. Experiences with bridge construction and demolition resulted in a life-long fascination with bridge engineering and aesthetics. A favourite travel memory from 2003 was walking with his wife on a sunny day over the Brooklyn Bridge toward the Manhattan skyline.
Bob began work in 1974 at Bell Canada’s Montreal data centre, and after completing his MBA, transferred within Bell to Toronto in 1981. Over his long career, Bob moved seamlessly through positions from data centre management at Bell Canada to senior IT services and business accounts manager at Bell Sygma, CGI and finally, Hewlett Packard. Bob particularly enjoyed heading a team of IT consultants servicing Ameritech, IBM Global and Nortel in Chicago in the late 90s.
After Bob and Vida met in Toronto in 1981 they travelled extensively for 30 years, visiting most continents and much of North America. Bob liked to BBQ for friends, share stories over a glass of fine wine. He enjoyed his garden, reading about economics, history and science, researching foreign currency, and working on his PC. He loved being near water, and watching sunsets. He and Vida moved from Toronto to their home in Wasaga Beach in 2015, with plans to travel again. Sadly, in early 2016, Bob was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer, limiting his travels closer to home to receive treatment, and enjoying life and visiting with friends as his strength allowed.
Cremation has already taken place. In celebration of Bob’s life, his memory and the adventures that he enjoyed around the world, the family would like you to join them on Saturday, September 8th from 10:00am for visitation, to be followed at 11 am by a memorial mass and celebration at the Church of the Resurrection, 1 Resurrection Road, Etobicoke M9A 5G1
A Celebration for Bob’s family and friends in Montreal will take place in late September.
Bob supported his alma mater Concordia University for many years, and it was his sincere wish to support its undergraduate students. The Robert C. White Commerce Bursary has been created in accordance with his wishes. Memorial donations should be directed to www.Concordia.ca/givenow or by calling 514-848-2424 ext. 3884.
Cheques made payable to Concordia University may be sent to: Concordia University, 1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W., FB-520 Montreal, QC H3G 1M8. When making on line contributions, please select "Choose an area to support", select “other” and specify in the box directly below, to direct your gifts to The Robert C. White Commerce Bursary.
In lieu of flowers, donations may also be made to the Hospice Georgian Triangle in Collingwood,
www.hospicegeorgiantriangle.com/waystogive.
Also, Rainbow Riders Therapeutic Riding NL http://www.rainbowridersnl.com/donate , where his niece Sarah has been an instructor for many years.
Bob was the younger son of the late Ernest, and the late Mary White of Montreal. Besides his wife, Vida (nee Bumbulis), Bob leaves his brother John White ( Diane) of St. John’s, NL; nephew Steve and niece Sarah (Mike), and his great niece Samantha; his sister-in-law Rima Dornfeld (Mark), and their daughter Hannah; also, many cousins and extended family in Montreal and across Canada.
Bob was kind, honest, respectful, had a quick sense of humour, and loved puns. With his ready smile and a lighthearted outlook, he drew people to him throughout his life and he will be especially missed by relatives, friends, neighbours and colleagues in Toronto and Wasaga Beach, throughout Ontario and Quebec.
Bob grew up in Montreal’s Plateau Mont Royal and Park Extension districts, attending Our Lady of Mount Royal elementary school, later D’Arcy McGee High School; finally, attaining both B.Comm. and MBA degrees at Concordia University in Montreal.
When Expo ’67 came to Montreal, Bob wore out a season’s pass with daily visits to foreign countries’ pavilions, igniting a passion for travel. In 1969, Bob joined the Canadian Forces Reserves with the 3rd Field Engineer Regiment in Westmount, QC, leaving as Lieutenant 6 years later. While in the Reserves, summer employment involved travel to BC, Manitoba, the High Arctic, Ontario and Germany. Experiences with bridge construction and demolition resulted in a life-long fascination with bridge engineering and aesthetics. A favourite travel memory from 2003 was walking with his wife on a sunny day over the Brooklyn Bridge toward the Manhattan skyline.
Bob began work in 1974 at Bell Canada’s Montreal data centre, and after completing his MBA, transferred within Bell to Toronto in 1981. Over his long career, Bob moved seamlessly through positions from data centre management at Bell Canada to senior IT services and business accounts manager at Bell Sygma, CGI and finally, Hewlett Packard. Bob particularly enjoyed heading a team of IT consultants servicing Ameritech, IBM Global and Nortel in Chicago in the late 90s.
After Bob and Vida met in Toronto in 1981 they travelled extensively for 30 years, visiting most continents and much of North America. Bob liked to BBQ for friends, share stories over a glass of fine wine. He enjoyed his garden, reading about economics, history and science, researching foreign currency, and working on his PC. He loved being near water, and watching sunsets. He and Vida moved from Toronto to their home in Wasaga Beach in 2015, with plans to travel again. Sadly, in early 2016, Bob was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer, limiting his travels closer to home to receive treatment, and enjoying life and visiting with friends as his strength allowed.
Cremation has already taken place. In celebration of Bob’s life, his memory and the adventures that he enjoyed around the world, the family would like you to join them on Saturday, September 8th from 10:00am for visitation, to be followed at 11 am by a memorial mass and celebration at the Church of the Resurrection, 1 Resurrection Road, Etobicoke M9A 5G1
A Celebration for Bob’s family and friends in Montreal will take place in late September.
Bob supported his alma mater Concordia University for many years, and it was his sincere wish to support its undergraduate students. The Robert C. White Commerce Bursary has been created in accordance with his wishes. Memorial donations should be directed to www.Concordia.ca/givenow or by calling 514-848-2424 ext. 3884.
Cheques made payable to Concordia University may be sent to: Concordia University, 1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W., FB-520 Montreal, QC H3G 1M8. When making on line contributions, please select "Choose an area to support", select “other” and specify in the box directly below, to direct your gifts to The Robert C. White Commerce Bursary.
In lieu of flowers, donations may also be made to the Hospice Georgian Triangle in Collingwood,
www.hospicegeorgiantriangle.com/waystogive.
Also, Rainbow Riders Therapeutic Riding NL http://www.rainbowridersnl.com/donate , where his niece Sarah has been an instructor for many years.
Funeral Details
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Visitation
Lithuanian Church of the Resurrection
1 Resurrection Rd., Toronto, ON, M9A 5G1
Get Directions
Saturday, 8 Sep 2018 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Funeral
Lithuanian Church of the Resurrection
1 Resurrection Rd., Toronto, ON, M9A 5G1
Get Directions
Saturday, 8 Sep 2018 11:00 AM