For Brenda and family;

I was very sorry to hear of Bob’s untimely passing.

I knew Bob slightly while at RMC as he was a few years ahead of me but came to know him better when I joined 439 Sqn in the summer of 1974. I have a particularly fond memory of a flight around Christmas that year; Bob led four of us on a plain and simple tail chase through the hills of the Black Forest. There had been a recent snowfall and the lighting and scenery were somehow especially beautiful. The flying was probably not exactly what Air Force training policy expected but, as Bob said when we were back, “It was Christmas and we deserved a nice flight”. That memory I think sums up nicely Bob’s approach to life and flying.

I knew that Bob had moved on to the airlines but we did bump into each other on occasion and discovered we had a mutual interest in homebuilt aircraft. I’m glad to learn that he had completed and flown his own project.

With regards, Jim Oke

Brenda and family,

I am sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. It was a pleasure to fly with Bob, he always had a story that would put on a smile or laugh. From his considerable time on 104s to his flying the homebuilt to Gimli and his AC time he had quite a distinguished career. He was a great guy. Sincere condolences to you and your family.

Bob was my f/o a number of years back, always knew he would make a great captain. Very unfortunate his retirement was cut short. My sincere condolences to the family.

Brenda

I had the pleasure of flying with Bob at Air Canada. He was a true gentleman and we are all saddened by his loss. My thoughts are with you.

Brenda and family,

I had the pleasure of flying with Bob on the 320 at AC. I remember picking his brains about flying aerobatics in his homebuilt and him showing me pictures of his new hangar. He was a great person, always willing to lend a hand or insight. He will be greatly missed. My thoughts are with all of you,

Kelly Fawcett

I was so sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. Although we were not close friends I have known him all his years at Air Canada. My family’s thoughts are with you and I am so very sorry he didn’t get to enjoy his well deserved retirement.

Brenda and family,

I met Bob when he was instructing on 417 squadron in Cold Lake. He was one of the few on the squadron who was a free thinker, always looking at the options.

We crossed paths many times in the military and at Air Canada. He always enjoyed life, and passed that on to the people around him. He was a great guy.

Brenda:

We had several wonderful chats with Bob over Christmas cheer at the annual JR Christmas parties. His favorite topic? Flying, of course! To hear his rendition of life from the pilot’s seat was both facinating and hilarious.

He will be missed by his flying colleagues and by his community here in Bighorn.

Our heartfelt condolences, Brenda.

Maria Dunki

To Brenda and Gerry, please accept our deepest condolences on the loss of Bob.

We met on the train on the way to Royal Roads in August of 1965. For the two years at Roads we were in the same Flight, and were involved in many of the same midnight pranks. We stayed close for our next two years at RMC, then enjoyed an idyllic summer at Camp Borden, with no other job in life than to fly Chipmunks and watch our colleagues ground-loop them. We went on together to Gimli for Primary and Advanced Flying Training; the two of us convinced a number of our classmates that they should apply to do their Tutor training at Moose Jaw, giving us better odds of going to Gimli, as both of us had families in Winnipeg. We went on to Moose Jaw for five months while we waited for postings to an operational squadron. During that time, we shared a flameout at low altitude in cloud, and managed to get the engine going again. We went on to Cold Lake together in the winter of 1970, flying the CF-5, then the Starfighter. The two of us spent a good number of weekends camping and fishing. Then off we went to Germany for the flying experience of our lifetimes. There, of course, both of us found a schoolie who would take care of us for the rest of our lives. We both ended up back at Cold Lake in 1975 to teach people to fly the CF-104, and then Bob decided that the call of Air Canada was too strong. Since then, incredibly, we ran into each other only once, in Toronto airport.

So, my memories of Bob are full of happy times. We really hope that your happy memories can shine through in this sad time.

Best wishes,

Tom and Laurie

To Brenda and Family,

I had the pleasure of knowing Bob at Cold Lake while he was on the CF104 course. I managed to get a few flights with Bob in his C172 during that time and always enjoyed his professionalism and mild and happy manner. It was a true pleasure knowing Bob during this brief time.

Chris Mclean

Dear Brenda

I knew Bob in Germany at 439 when I was flight surgeon there. I enjoyed being his friend and his flying and know he lived life well. He loved flying and his friends enjoyed him.

Paul

I am very saddened by the passing of Bob recently, particularly when I learned that he lived in Calgary all these years since leaving the Air Force. We were at RCAF Station Centralia together in 1966 after we first joined the Air Force, he from RMC and I from UVic. We next met during the following three or four years in Cold Lake, Alberta when he was on his CF-104 OTU and I was a staff engineering officer and we both lived in quarters.

He loved to fly, for sure. My most vivid memory was a short winter trip with him in his 172 over a frozen Cold Lake when we tried to catch up to an unmarked aircraft that was being used illegally to hunt and shoot wolves on the ice. I have recalled those “good ol’ days” frequently in the intervening years. Please accept sincere condolences from my family to yours.

To Brenda and the Mazur family: May I offer my personal and heart felt condolences on the loss of such a great guy like Bob.

I flew with Bob on many happy occasions back in our B727 days at AC’s YWG base, in the early 80’s.

Bob was a real gentleman and true professional and it was always enjoyable to share humor and many great stories while working together.

He will be greatly missed by the many who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Being from Calgary myself and having camped in the beautiful Big Hill Springs area, Bob shall always be in thought when ever there.

Respectfully,

My deepest sympathies to Bob’s family.

Having known him for only a few short years in Winnipeg, Bob left a lasting impression on me. He was a great guy and a great pilot. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him. “Per Ardua Ad Astra”..

Brenda and family, I am so sadden by your loss. It was my privilege to often fly with Bob on the A320. He was a true gentleman, who always treated everyone he met with respect and good humour. Like so many he met at Air Canada, I am so fortunate for having known him and proud to call him my friend. John

Dear Brenda,

It was a priviledge to fly with Bob a few years back on the 320. Every trip was filled with his passion for flying, and interjected frequently with laughs.

I remember when I suggested he allow me to take some mature trees from your property for my house, and he explained the territorial love of his Artist/Wife for each of those trees, and had me laughing at the planning required just to get a tree each year for Christmas.

He was missed by all when he retired, and we will miss him still.

Dear Brenda, We just learned of Bob’s passing and wanted to send our condolences. Bob was always a pleasure to see and we enjoyed our visits with both of you over the years. You’re in our thoughts. Klaus and Gerri Then