Robert “Bob” Troy Blair was born on March 11, 1930 in Brandon, Manitoba. His first six years were spent in Alexander, Manitoba, where his father and uncle operated a grocery store. In 1936 his family moved to Souris where his father ran a grocery store. Bob received his primary and high school education, with the exception of Grade 12, in Souris.
Bob remembers his school years in Souris as mainly happy years. He was involved with both piano and organ music lessons. He was never interested in physical sports with the exception of golf. World War II broke out in September of 1939. Souris became the site of #17 SFTS and home base for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Many of the service men came from England, Australia and New Zealand. Bob’s mother always entertained at least two for dinner every Sunday. Rationing of sugar, tea and coffee, butter and meat became a way of life. Bob had the job every Saturday of pasting the ration coupons into booklets. It was also, when he was in Grade 6 that Bob realized he was more attracted to boys than to girls. Perhaps it was because so many attractive airmen surrounded him!
In November of 1947 the Blair’s relocated to Alexander where Bob finished his Grade XI. This was not a good year due to bullying. In September of 1948 Bob moved to Winnipeg to attend United College for his Grade XII. Upon completion of Grade XII Bob remained in Winnipeg until June 1950. He worked at a number of businesses – Gestetner, Eaton’s Mail Order shoe department, Maple Leaf Milling, and the drug store in the Medical Arts Building. In September 1950 he entered Brandon College. Bob was very active in extra-curricular affairs while at Brandon College; particularly drama. Following his B.A. he enrolled in the Education Faculty, having decided to become a teacher.
Bob’s teaching career spanned 34 years. All but one year was spent in the Brandon School Division. On his first day of teaching in the Division he met the man with whom he would spend the next 46 years. He was primarily a teacher of English and Music. A highlight of his career was exchange teaching in Sacramento, California in 1961. Orientation for exchange took place in August in Washington, D.C., where Bob had the opportunity to meet President J. F. Kennedy. He vividly recalls the morning that JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963. In September 1965 Bob assumed the principalship of Park School and in September of 1969 the same position at George Fitton School where he remained until his retirement in 1989. He was a member of the Brandon Principals’ Association, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and served as President of the Brandon Teachers’ Association. Among his major accomplishments during his time as principal were the introduction of a centralized school library in both Park and George Fitton Schools and the integration of special needs students into regular classroom situations wherever possible. He was made a Life Member of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society (Brandon) in June 1990. Following his retirement Bob worked as a Library Automation Consultant (1989 - 1993).
He also had numerous community involvements during his time in Brandon. He was active in the Brandon Little Theatre (Best Actor Award, Manitoba Drama Festival for One Act Plays in 1963), the Brandon Festival of the Arts, The Eckhardt-Gramatte National Music Competition, and Arm Industries to name a few.
Following the death of his partner in 2005, Bob moved to Saskatoon. He has been active in volunteerism: as an Ambassador for the Saskatoon Airport Authority, assistant with the Saskatoon Health Region’s Immunization Clinics, information clerk for the Festival of Trees, data entry clerk for the Saskatoon Music Festival, on the Board of the Saskatoon Jazz Society, and hospitality coordinator for the Saskatoon Jazz Festival.
Burial will take place in Brandon, Manitoba. Memorials will be held at a later date, both in Brandon and Saskatoon.
Arrangements entrusted to Aimé Laventure
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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