LYNCH, Robert 'Bob' John

On Monday, March 9, 2015 at the age of 86 years, Bob passed peacefully at the North Bay Regional Health Center. Best friend and beloved husband of 59 years to Fleurette (nee Dupuis), devoted and loving father of Gisele (Steve) of North Bay, Denise (Joe) of Whitby, Robert P. of Whistler B.C., Marc of Callander and Maureen (Gary) of Chelsea, QC. He will always be fondly remembered and sadly missed by his grandchildren Nicole (John), Marissa (Andrew), Matthew (Shannon), Kaitlin, Connor, Christopher and Mattias. Dear brother to Patrick (Lorraine), Marsh (Nancy-deceased), Denis (Claire), Bernard-deceased (Jacqueline), Daniel-deceased (Gerri), Theresa (John) both deceased and Richard-deceased. Brother-in-law Larry (Debbie) and Peter (Prima-deceased). After completing his elementary education in Blind River, ON, he obtained his B.A. from Collège Sacré Coeur in Sudbury and his teaching degree from the University of Toronto. He began his teaching career in Penetanguishene, ON where he met the love of his life, Fleurette.  They raised five children and always taught them that if you worked hard, you would succeed.  He served for over 35 years in education in various posts with different school boards, the Ministry of Education, and retired as Director of Education of the Nipissing Board of Education.  He received several accolades and was well respected for his dedication and commitment to student achievement and their well-being.  Following his retirement, he spent several years doing facilitation and conflict mediation for the Ministry of Education. He was a loving and caring individual and nothing pleased him more than being in the outdoors with his friends and family or playing a good game of bridge.  Snowmobiling or skiing in the winter, fishing in the spring, camping in the summer, cutting wood with his chainsaw, hunting in the fall, and relaxing with a good book or a newspaper anytime of the year were just some of his passionate pursuits.  He also loved to travel and with Fleurette, he travelled to over 130 countries in his quest to find adventure.  Bob was a community minded individual as he sat on the Board of Governors for Laurentian University and was one of the architects as Nipissing University got its charter.  He also sat on the Board of Governors for Canadore College.  Bob was an active member of the Rotary Club of North Bay and was a proud Paul Harris fellow, one of the highest honours in the Rotary world.