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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
HILLIER, Robert Patrick Douglas - Beloved and revered husband to Deborah, father to Ryan and Arijana (Tara) and his four-legged best friend, Declan. Born in Halifax to Stan and Olive Hillier (predeceased) he was the baby of the family and sibling to Michael, Steve, Bruce (Bonnie) and sister Leslie Morgan (Ken). Wonderful son-in-law to George and Maureen Jessop and so loved brother-in-law to Johnny (Marcia), David (Lyndsay), Kelly West (Terry), Andrew (predeceased) and Kathleen (predeceased). Rob was an uncle, great uncle, cousin, and friend to so many; if he was your friend, you knew it every day. He often laughed at his new role of Grandpappy to grand dogs, Rupert and Arthur.
Rob enjoyed an illustrious career in the Royal Canadian Air Force though he sometimes referred to it as a sports scholarship and had a second career as a Site Manager with the UN in Africa. With the ability to retire early, Rob and Deb purchased a home in Florida for the winters and golfed, went to MLB spring training games, saw so many NHL games, and cruised around in his prized rag top Beamer just taking in the sheer magnificence of their lives.
In the summers at home, Rob rode the trails on his side by side, walked his 8-acre property with Declan in tow listening to The Hip, and fished whenever he could. He so loved fishing and the sheer tranquility of the water; nothing made him happier than the boys’ annual fishing trip in the bush with Georgie, Johnny, David, Andy (predeceased), Trevor, Alain, Norm, Eric and the kiddos Nicholas, Tanner and Tater-tot. Many other summer days were spent on household projects with his best bud Harry and all they did was joke and laugh; nothing ever really got accomplished on that first day.
Sincere thanks to Dr. Vincent Nardy of Dayton, Ohio and the ICU staff at Miami Valley Hospital for recognizing humanism in health care should not be a rare commodity and for realizing what an honour it is to be part of a patient and their families lives during their happiest and saddest moments. You all touched Rob’s life in an immense way and for that he was forever grateful.
Thank you to Harry for making Rob laugh every single day his last 3 weeks on this earth; laugh so hard his ribs hurt. He so loved you, Harold. And thank you Arijana for loving him from day one; you were always his daughter, never his step daughter and you knew that. SBD was so immensely proud of you. You and I shall continue to honour him.
And finally, in keeping with Rob’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A celebration of his life for family and close friends will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Rob’s name can be made to KidSport Canada or the You Can Play Project.
Hug your loved ones for today is a gift.
Arrangements entrusted to the Lougheed Funeral Home.
Ships served in: HMCS MACKENZIE - Served in MACKENZIE in the late 1980s
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