Robert Levi Leroux
6 August, 1934 – 15 April, 2021
LEROUX, Robert (Bob) Levi – Our father lived such a full, remarkable life that it is difficult to compile it all into one account – something the ever-humble Bob would never have done. Born to Donalda MacMillan and Levi Leroux and raised in Cornwall, Bob met his beloved Kathleen Charbonneau in 1955. Smitten by her beauty and charm, he proposed two weeks later, and they married October 6, 1956. They were married 55 years, until her death November 2, 2011. Their strong partnership was the backbone and safe place for our entire family.
Bob is survived by three children, Brock, Kent (Debbie Bertrand), and Kristen (Steve Terriah), grandchildren Amber (Brandon Wainwright), Vanessa (Brock Marsolais), Alexandra, Amy, Thomas, and Grace, and great-grandchildren Lucy, twins Lewis and Ainslie, Miller, Myla, and Remi Rose.
Bob’s incredible work ethic was evident early on in his adulthood. As a newlywed, he worked full time at Chalet Glass while attending the University of Toronto by correspondence to become a Chartered Accountant, graduating with honours. In 1968, he brought his family to Pierrefonds to begin his career with Pfizer, then Bruck Mills, then Cadbury Schweppes as comptroller. Bob and Kathleen developed lasting friendships with our neighbours on King Street, with regular backyard get togethers with the adults (there may have been some shenanigans and a wheelbarrow incident with Helen Clark) while all the children played nearby on the green and in friends’ houses in what was the most idyllic neighbourhood and childhood experience for all of us.
In 1977, during the FLQ Crisis, Bob moved the family back to Cornwall and started as comptroller with SDS Kerr/Beavers Dental in Morrisburg. After the retirement of Vice President and good friend Wally Latchum, Bob took on the role of VP and GM until his retirement in 1999. He was so loved by the employees in the office and factory, and spent many lunch hours sitting in his three-piece suit playing cards in the factory cafeteria with the people he managed but saw as friends. He knew everyone by name, as well as the names of their family members. He’d eat lunch from his brown paper bag, then fold it up and reuse it the following day. With Beavers, he had the opportunity to travel the world, to beautiful countries like Austria (his favourite), Germany, Singapore, Japan, Fiji, and Italy, to name a few.
Throughout his life, he had a heart of service. This is what many will remember him for. He was treasurer for the North Shore soccer league, comprised of innumerable teams, and coached his boys’ teams. He never missed a soccer or hockey game for either son. He was fiercely protective and tremendously proud of his only daughter. In Cornwall, he was a member of the Board of Directors for the Family Counselling Centre, the Canadian Liver Foundation, then was very involved with the Cornwall hospitals. He was instrumental in helping to create the Nursing Advisory Committee with CEO Murray Halkett at the Cornwall General Hospital, and was on the Finance Committee. He was a member of the Joint Executive Committee which oversaw the amalgamation of the two hospitals, and was then a member of the Board of Directors of the newly formed Cornwall Community Hospital, and spent 5 years as the Chairman of that Board. He also served as a eucharistic minister at St. Peter’s Parish alongside his good friend Father George Maloney, and volunteered his services as bookkeeper. His many contributions to his community could go on and on.
After our mom’s death, our dapper father was aggressively sought after by the widows at his church. He connected with Sylvia Desjardins (Martin) for a cup of coffee that winter, and they became inseparable until the time of his death. The beauty in this story is that Sylvia was our mother’s Maid of Honour when she married our father. Sylvia adored our Dad, and we will be forever grateful for the comfort and companionship she provided to our father. We are certain he wouldn’t have thrived without her in his life.
Dad absolutely adored his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. There was nothing and no one more important to him, or that brought him more joy. He and Mom lived by the rule that you treat others with care and kindness, and treat them like family. Everyone they met felt important and good after an encounter with either one. This is a legacy they’ve left for the three of us, and we all try to emulate the same in our lives. They taught us to see the good in people. Mild-mannered but mischievous, Dad was the kindest, funniest, most loveable human. He knew the secret to the caramilk bar, sported fabulous sweat suits, gave scratchy moustache kisses, had a love for sweets, economics, crosswords, Carol Burnett, jazz, and he drove painfully slow. We will treasure every moment and memory. Dad’s last year was very difficult for him, particularly the last 4 months which were spent in hospital, mostly alone due to Covid. True to his good nature, he rarely complained. During his last 24 hours, he was surrounded by his children and some grandchildren, in a bubble of safety and extreme love, while we shared stories of his life. He is free now, no longer in pain, and reunited with our beautiful mother. Together forever in eternity, at last.
Cremation has already taken place. A Memorial Service will be scheduled for a later date in late summer. Details will follow. Arrangements under the care and trust of Lahaie & Sullivan Cornwall Funeral Homes West Branch, 20 Seventh Street West (613-932-8482).
6 August, 1934 – 15 April, 2021
LEROUX, Robert (Bob) Levi – Our father lived such a full, remarkable life that it is difficult to compile it all into one account – something the ever-humble Bob would never have done. Born to Donalda MacMillan and Levi Leroux and raised in Cornwall, Bob met his beloved Kathleen Charbonneau in 1955. Smitten by her beauty and charm, he proposed two weeks later, and they married October 6, 1956. They were married 55 years, until her death November 2, 2011. Their strong partnership was the backbone and safe place for our entire family.
Bob is survived by three children, Brock, Kent (Debbie Bertrand), and Kristen (Steve Terriah), grandchildren Amber (Brandon Wainwright), Vanessa (Brock Marsolais), Alexandra, Amy, Thomas, and Grace, and great-grandchildren Lucy, twins Lewis and Ainslie, Miller, Myla, and Remi Rose.
Bob’s incredible work ethic was evident early on in his adulthood. As a newlywed, he worked full time at Chalet Glass while attending the University of Toronto by correspondence to become a Chartered Accountant, graduating with honours. In 1968, he brought his family to Pierrefonds to begin his career with Pfizer, then Bruck Mills, then Cadbury Schweppes as comptroller. Bob and Kathleen developed lasting friendships with our neighbours on King Street, with regular backyard get togethers with the adults (there may have been some shenanigans and a wheelbarrow incident with Helen Clark) while all the children played nearby on the green and in friends’ houses in what was the most idyllic neighbourhood and childhood experience for all of us.
In 1977, during the FLQ Crisis, Bob moved the family back to Cornwall and started as comptroller with SDS Kerr/Beavers Dental in Morrisburg. After the retirement of Vice President and good friend Wally Latchum, Bob took on the role of VP and GM until his retirement in 1999. He was so loved by the employees in the office and factory, and spent many lunch hours sitting in his three-piece suit playing cards in the factory cafeteria with the people he managed but saw as friends. He knew everyone by name, as well as the names of their family members. He’d eat lunch from his brown paper bag, then fold it up and reuse it the following day. With Beavers, he had the opportunity to travel the world, to beautiful countries like Austria (his favourite), Germany, Singapore, Japan, Fiji, and Italy, to name a few.
Throughout his life, he had a heart of service. This is what many will remember him for. He was treasurer for the North Shore soccer league, comprised of innumerable teams, and coached his boys’ teams. He never missed a soccer or hockey game for either son. He was fiercely protective and tremendously proud of his only daughter. In Cornwall, he was a member of the Board of Directors for the Family Counselling Centre, the Canadian Liver Foundation, then was very involved with the Cornwall hospitals. He was instrumental in helping to create the Nursing Advisory Committee with CEO Murray Halkett at the Cornwall General Hospital, and was on the Finance Committee. He was a member of the Joint Executive Committee which oversaw the amalgamation of the two hospitals, and was then a member of the Board of Directors of the newly formed Cornwall Community Hospital, and spent 5 years as the Chairman of that Board. He also served as a eucharistic minister at St. Peter’s Parish alongside his good friend Father George Maloney, and volunteered his services as bookkeeper. His many contributions to his community could go on and on.
After our mom’s death, our dapper father was aggressively sought after by the widows at his church. He connected with Sylvia Desjardins (Martin) for a cup of coffee that winter, and they became inseparable until the time of his death. The beauty in this story is that Sylvia was our mother’s Maid of Honour when she married our father. Sylvia adored our Dad, and we will be forever grateful for the comfort and companionship she provided to our father. We are certain he wouldn’t have thrived without her in his life.
Dad absolutely adored his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. There was nothing and no one more important to him, or that brought him more joy. He and Mom lived by the rule that you treat others with care and kindness, and treat them like family. Everyone they met felt important and good after an encounter with either one. This is a legacy they’ve left for the three of us, and we all try to emulate the same in our lives. They taught us to see the good in people. Mild-mannered but mischievous, Dad was the kindest, funniest, most loveable human. He knew the secret to the caramilk bar, sported fabulous sweat suits, gave scratchy moustache kisses, had a love for sweets, economics, crosswords, Carol Burnett, jazz, and he drove painfully slow. We will treasure every moment and memory. Dad’s last year was very difficult for him, particularly the last 4 months which were spent in hospital, mostly alone due to Covid. True to his good nature, he rarely complained. During his last 24 hours, he was surrounded by his children and some grandchildren, in a bubble of safety and extreme love, while we shared stories of his life. He is free now, no longer in pain, and reunited with our beautiful mother. Together forever in eternity, at last.
Cremation has already taken place. A Memorial Service will be scheduled for a later date in late summer. Details will follow. Arrangements under the care and trust of Lahaie & Sullivan Cornwall Funeral Homes West Branch, 20 Seventh Street West (613-932-8482).