Robert Norman Gilmore

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Robert (Bob) Gilmore on October 22, 2022 at the age of 82. Bob leaves behind his loving wife Shawna and sons Bobby (Laura) and Peter (Natalie) and his grandson Jordan.

Bob was born on March 22, 1940 in Sault Ste. Marie, ON, the first of four children of Norman Wells Gilmore and Aili Maria Gilmore (Harju). Bob was predeceased by his younger brothers Bill and David Gilmore. He is survived by his sister Joanne Gilmore.

The family made their home on Pine Street and had a cottage on Batchawana Bay where Bob made some of his most cherished memories water skiing, fishing and having a good time with friends and family. Bob fondly recalled many summer days where he would finish his shift at Algoma Steel and would hitchhike to his cottage with his closest friends.

Growing up in Sault Ste. Marie, Bob was a star athlete in both basketball and football, and was frequently mentioned in the local paper as “one of the best” The Sault had to offer in both sports. Upon graduating high school, Bob took his football talents to the University of New Brunswick where he was touted as one of the best to wear the school’s “Big Red” uniform.

Bob helped UNB win their first ever Maritime Intercollegiate Football League Championship in 1958. Although briefly entertaining the idea of playing professional football following his graduation from UNB, Bob thought better of it and decided to head to Dalhousie Law School where he graduated with an LL.B. in 1967.

Following law school, Bob acted as in-house Labour Relations Counsel to Noranda Mines where Bob travelled throughout North America, helping the company manage employee relations. In 1973, Bob joined the law firm McMillan Binch in Toronto where he was a partner until 2003 when he relocated his practice to Newmarket.

Throughout his career, Bob provided labour relations and employment advice to a number of companies. He particularly loved negotiating collective agreements and he did so on behalf of employers across Canada and North America including in New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Florida, Ohio and Missouri. Bob was still working when the sudden need for cardiac surgery forced him to retire in 2015 at the age of 75. In total, Bob practiced law for an astounding 46 years and always said he loved every minute.

Bob’s personal life focused on his wife and two sons including numerous fishing trips across Northern Ontario, the southern United States and across the Caribbean. Bob had an unshakable character and formidable constitution that allowed him to press onwards no matter what challenges life brought his way. Bob was all that could be asked for in a father and husband and had an indelible impact on the lives and character of his children that will endure into the future.

His presence will be missed every day

Visitation/Celebration of Life will be held at the COURTICE FUNERAL CHAPEL, 1587 Highway #2, Courtice (905-432-8484) on Sunday, October 30th, from 1 to 4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, (Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal).