Our robust and beloved ‘Coach’ Robert (Bob) Peter Adams, handed away on September 7, 2024. Bob was born in St. Catharines on October 26, 1942 and attended Grantham Excessive Faculty. It was in St. Catharines the place Bob met his love, Lillias (nee Weber) and raised his two sons, Robert (Janet) and Bruce (Debbie). Whereas our hearts are saddened, Bob’s legacy will reside on by means of his household, mates and group.
Bob was Division Head of Phys-Ed at St. Catharines Collegiate, instructing and training each rowing and soccer for nearly 30 years. Whether or not he was instructing or teaching, Bob all the time made certain to present the identical ardour, consideration and confidence to each scholar and athlete.
People who knew Bob knew the robust values and classes he handed alongside; kindness, persistence and dedication. Greater than successful soccer video games or medals at regattas, Bob was centered on instilling these values within the over 6,000 college students and athletes he taught and coached throughout his time at Collegiate. Over time, Bob has remained shut with many former college students and athletes who’ve by no means shied away from a possibility to inform him of the influence he had on their lives.
The values he held expensive had been a product of Bob’s time as a lineman at Springfield Faculty in Springfield, Massachusetts, the place he attended on scholarship from 1962-1966, in addition to a coach, member and athlete of the St. Catharines Rowing Membership, Ridley Graduate Boat Membership and the Canadian Nationwide Rowing Crew.
Because of his dedication, Bob noticed a lot success in his beloved sports activities, together with being named the 1959 St. Catharines Oarsman of the Yr, Winner of the Ned Hanlan Memorial Trophy (1961 and 1962) in Males’s Eights, in addition to main many athletes to numerous soccer championships and successful Henley rowing medals; for The St. Catharines Rowing Membership.
Maybe his biggest athletic accomplishment was attending the 1960 Rome Olympics within the Males’s 4- occasion, as Canada’s youngest athlete on the Video games. Whereas you’ll have identified Bob, it might need taken awhile to study this about him, as he was all the time probably the most humble. And when Bob was quiet about his accomplishments, his grandchildren certainly made up for it, and loudly.
His 4 grandchildren, Beth (Brad, Alice), Jeffrey (Kiara, Jonah, Ida), Meredith and Paige, had been his largest followers – and Bob, theirs. Rowers and athletes themselves, Bob by no means missed a race and was all the time there for a ‘You got this. Go get ‘em, kid,’ earlier than they pushed off the dock. He was at each commencement and there for each milestone, celebrating with a smile and a giant bear hug.
Considered one of Bob’s most favorite locations to be was at his cottage in Muskoka. His household has many fond recollections of Bob sitting on the dock, casting a line, taking his grandchildren for a hike as much as ‘Dog Rock’ and waking up on the daybreak to make everybody his well-known blueberry pancakes.
The cottage was additionally a particular place, because it’s the place he taught his grandchildren to row, giving them the identical love he had for the game that they carried with them by means of their very own highschool and post-secondary rowing careers.
To his spouse, Lillias, and two sons, Robert and Bruce, he was every little thing. A loving and devoted husband of over 60 years, a caring and dutiful father, a task mannequin and a instructor of all life’s classes. He’ll endlessly be our, and everybody’s, Coach Adams.
” Bear in mind me, however let me go”
The Adams household want to lengthen its deepest gratitude to Dr. Kim and the employees at West Lincoln Memorial Hospital for taking such excellent care of Bob in his closing months.
Visitation for Bob shall be Friday September twentieth from 2-4 & 6-8pm and a Celebration of Life shall be held at George Darte Funeral Residence, 585 Carlton St., St. Catharines on Saturday, September 21 from 12pm-1pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to Medical doctors With out Borders could be appreciated by the household. On-line condolences could also be made at dartefuneralhome.com.
He by no means seemed for reward
He was by no means one to boast
He simply goes on quietly working
For these he loves probably the most
His desires are seldom spoken
His needs are only a few
And more often than not his worries
Will go unstated too
He’s there…. A agency basis
Via all our storms of life
A sturdy hand to carry to
In occasions of stress and strife
A real buddy we will flip to
When occasions are good or dangerous
Considered one of our biggest blessings,
The person that we name Dad.
By Karen Boyer
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