Remembering Bob McDevitt

9/10/2016

In memory of Bob McDevitt

Remembering Bob McDevitt
by Frank Kermit

Bob was a great guy. I had the great fortune of working as his Teaching Assistant for two years, when he was a lecturer at the Journalism of Concordia University. I got to sit in on his classes and absorb his lectures, and study the way he would convey his 30+ years of journalist experience to class after class of students.

His lectures included journalism know how, grit, and personal stories from his days as a professional. I still remember some of the stories he told, which communicated exactly the honorable good, and the painfully disgust that is humanity, and how to present a story to be fair and balanced.

Thank you Bob for your wisdom and the opportunity to work for you.

-Frank Kermit

Robert (Bob) McDevitt - Obituary

McDEVITT, ROBERT (BOB)

September 6, 1931-September 8, 2016

After several months of declining health, Bob McDevitt died September 8, 2016 at the Jewish General Hospital with his wife Pat at his side.

Starting as a 16-year-old sailor in the Merchant Navy, Bob lived life to the fullest. He had an illustrious 34-year career in broadcasting, beginning as Ol' Saddlesores, a country & western DJ in Sudbury, Ontario. Bob eventually moved to the CBC in Montreal where he spent 27 years as a sports journalist, interviewing everyone from Muhammad Ali to Lester B. Pearson. After taking early retirement from the CBC, Bob embarked on another adventure, teaching Broadcast Journalism for 12 years at Concordia University and helping shape a new generation of journalists. This fact was endlessly amusing to Bob, a kid from Park Ex with only a grade 8 education.

Professional life aside, Bob was perpetually curious about the world, and people were his oxygen. He loved few things more than hoisting a jar with friends and was actively involved in a variety of clubs, including the Montreal Irish Rugby Football Club, the Montreal West Curling Club, the NDG YMCA, the Cavendish Club, and the Fossils.

Above all, Bob was a devoted family man, supportive, generous, and loving, who taught his children invaluable lessons in the way he embraced honesty and integrity in his daily life, sometimes to the detriment of his professional life.

Bob went out true to himself: not quietly. His last few days were eased by the expert and humane care of the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Jewish General Hospital, for which the family will be forever grateful.

Bob embodied these lines from Invictus, his favorite poem:
"I am the master of my fate / I am the captain of my soul."

Well done, dear husband. Well done, dear dad.

Bob leaves behind Patricia, his wife of 56 years, his three children, Katy, Neale, and Craig, and their respective partners and children.

At Bob's request, there will be no funeral service. There will be a visitation on Thursday, September 15, 2016 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Collins Clarke MacGillivray White Funeral Home, 5610 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal. Cards of condolence may be sent to the funeral home.

A celebration of Bob's life a party will be held at a future date. Details to be announced later.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Bob McDevitt Award Endowment at Concordia University: online at concordia.ca/givenow; by telephone at 514-848-2424, ext. 3884; by sending a cheque payable to Concordia University to: Concordia University, 1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W., FB-520, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8. When making a contribution, donors should specify their gift is for the Bob McDevitt Award Endowment.