Robert Vincent Walker Fair

Robert (Bob) Fair passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early morning of 9 April 2020 after a brief illness. Son of William Walker Fair and Josephine Fair (née Glionna), Bob was raised in Scarborough, ON. He is survived, mourned and celebrated by his loving wife and life partner Sylvia D. Fair (née Shapiro), his sons Robert W. (Barbie), Michael F. (Nanci), and David H. (Susan) Fair, his daughter Mary K. (Dennis) Des Chene, and his step-sons Jordan B. (Meg), Peter R. (Terrie), and Jeremy M. (Sheila) Grant. He is also survived by his ex-wife Diane (née Hunter) Baldwin. Beloved for his unique sense of humour and quiet conveyance of enduring life lessons, he will live long in the memories of his grandchildren Hilary, Stephanie, Nicole, and Patrick Fair, Gabriel, Alicia, Ellie, and Isaac Grant. Bob is also survived in the great circle of life by his first great-grandchild, Julian Fair Wang, born 18 March 2020.

Bob was well known in the Victoria business and golfing communities. After his long career as a Coca Cola bottler and small business consultant in Ontario, Bob and Sylvia relocated to Victoria in 1982 where he began a new venture. He began by selling golf clubs from the trunk of his car, and soon founded Tiger Golf which became the Canadian distributor for Callaway Golf. Together Bob and Sylvia built Tiger Golf into a flourishing business which provided a livelihood for over 40 people in its heyday.

With typical humility and honesty, qualities that guided him through many a storm in the business world, he said he’d been at the right place at the right time. Those involved saw him take the necessary risks to grasp opportunities, and with great skill turn them into success. He always placed a fulfilling work life for his employees before maximization of profit. Another secret to his success was his lifelong study of business psychology and ethical management, which he applied to daily business with great skill. Taking courses at night he earned a B.A. from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1976, and subsequently completed a MSc. Business Management from the California American University in Escondido, CA.

A member of the Scarboro Golf & Country Club, in 1947 at 17 years of age Bob earned the first of four berths into the Canadian Open. He was the Ontario Junior Golf Champion in the same year. An up-and-coming young star in Canada, he gained notice on the US amateur circuit as well, including an impressive showing at the 1949 US Amateur. With marriage and twins he set aside professional ambitions, but remained an avid golfer and dedicated student of the game throughout his life. At his peak, he played at scratch. He was a popular and valued member of the Victoria Golf Club for over three decades.

A relative spoke for many when he described Bob as “a role model of integrity and kindness, but not a push-over; non-judgmental and upbeat” with a “wonderful sense of humour and zest for life”. “Uncle Bob” as he was fondly known among the younger generations, was a great jokester, and famous for his impromptu party hats. He knew just when and how to bring levity to a situation, and was always ready with a choice remark. But he was first and foremost a serious thinker, and a constant reader, exploring big questions about the cosmos, the nature of life, and human morality. “What causes that?” was his perennial question. He became wise in pursuit of answers over a long lifetime, and many whose lives he touched became wiser too. His advocacy of education, formal and informal, will enrich the lives of his family for generations to come. He was also a painter, a gardener, and a lover of nature and all creatures great and small.

Bob and Sylvia worked together, travelled the world together, revelled in life together, and knit their far-flung family together through their generous welcome in Victoria, and sometimes points south in the winter. We are all immensely grateful to have gathered last December for a 90th birthday celebration organized by Sylvia.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Sunrise of Victoria for kind and expert care during the last few months of Bob’s life. We also extend our deep gratitude to Coral Gomez for her unwavering support, friendship and caregiving.

Bob was a great lover of dogs. The dog of his teen years, named after the renowned golfer Byron Nelson, remains a figure in family lore to this day. His much loved last dog, Elizabeth, was rescued from the pound in Woodstock, ON, and ended her long and happy life in Victoria. In lieu of flowers, at a time when shelters are struggling to care for our four-footed friends, please consider fostering, adopting, or donating to your favourite no-kill shelter.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held at a later date in Victoria, BC. Condolences can be offered to the family at http://www.mccallgardens.com

McCall Gardens

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