O'MEARA o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-09-27 published
SMITH, Rev. Robert "Robin" Bell, B.A., M.Ed., Ed.D., D.D.
Peacefully on September 25, 2007. Predeceased by his beloved
wife and best friend, Marie
SMITH,
Robin was the cherished father
of Janet and her husband Flemming
MATHIASEN; proud grandfather
of Karen O'MEARA and her husband Michael and of Lisa
MATHIASEN
and her husband Michael
MASSA; and beloved great-grandfather
of Madeline
O'MEARA and Chloe
MASSA.
Robin was born in Belfast,
Northern Ireland in 1924. In 1944 he began the process of offering
for the Ministry for the Methodist Church of Ireland. In 1951
he and Marie
McMICHAEL were married and began more than 54 years
of committed love. In 1953 he applied for admission to The United
Church of Canada and was invited to be assistant to the minister
at Eglinton United Church, Toronto. A year later, he became minister
of Barton Stone United Church in Hamilton and went on to become
one of the editors of the New Curriculum of The United Church
in 1960. Robin was awarded the Canadian Silver Jubilee Medal
in 1977 in appreciation of his devoted service rendered at Rideau
Hall. He earned two doctorates, 1976 from Ontario Institute for
Studies in Education (U of T) in Adult Education and 1980 from
Queen's University at Kingston, recognizing his contributions
to family life work for the United Church of Canada and the World
Council of Churches in Geneva. After retiring in 1988, his ministry
continued in his contributions to his community. He wrote a brief
for the United Church of Canada to the Royal Commission on New
Reproductive Technologies. He was awarded the McGeachy Senior
Scholarship for a survey and analysis of the attitudes of men
towards the United Church, and he channeled his passion for family
into the construction of The Ewart Angus Home for patients with
Alzheimers and Dementia. Robin and Marie enriched their lives
with travel, time at the cottage and they relished the special
moments they spent with family and Friends. Robin will be dearly
missed by many. A special thanks to Mountainview Residence and
Georgetown Extended Care for making Robin feel comfortable and
cared for, and
to Doctor SINUKOFF and Doctor
VAN
BENDEGEM for their
care and dedication. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made
to either the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Mission and
Service Fund of the United Church. Visitation will be on Friday
September 28 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Morley Bedford Funeral
Home, 159 Eglinton Avenue West (2 lights west of Yonge St.).
A memorial service will be held at 2: 00 p.m. on Sunday September 30th
at Eglinton St. George's United Church, corner of Lytton Blvd.
and Duplex Avenue; reception to follow.
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