Local writer and Oakville News contributor Robert (Bob) Fleck has passed away. He was a contributor to the paper with his "Curmudgeon's Column" from 2019-2021. His family has graciously shared his obituary with us, principally written by Bob himself.
We're grateful to Bob for his work with us, and we share our condolences with his extended family. His obituary follows below:
It is with profound sadness that the family of Robert Iain Fleck announce his death on April 2, 2024.
Cherishing him always will be his wife Shelagh, his daughter Paula and her spouse, Anna Simone, his daughter Bea and her life partner, Sam Lloyd, his brother Jim and his partner Georgina Steinsky, his brother John and his wife, Leticia.
Bob is predeceased by his brother, Paul, Paul’s wife, Polly and sister-in-law, Margaret Fleck.
Upon being nudged by Shelagh to put a few details of his earlier life on paper, Bob’s love affair with words expressed itself in the following obituary he wrote himself:
Robert Douglas and Norma Marie Fleck didn't have enough money for a movie so Bobby Fleck made his presence known after an encouraging tap on the backside, in the early hours of May 29, 1936, in the depths of The Great Depression, which was definitely not his fault. This event took place in Montreal.
At age 4, Bobby had little choice but to move to Toronto with his parents where he was subsequently brought up. The family settled at 109 Glenrose Ave. with brothers Jim, Paul and John, nicknamed Joe as he is called to this day. At 6 and until 11 Bobby attended Whitney School, where his teeth were knocked out by a bully. Not much else, save that FDR died and Bobby wept.
1948 brought a move to Oshawa and into Simcoe School to finish Grade 8. Then to Albert College, in Belleville ON, following two years behind dear brother, Paul who had been sent to pave the way. Bobby was confined to campus for a number of years for mischief, during which time he conspired to become president of the student's council, play some football and a little basketball and collect jazz records...oh, and get a diploma.
In the meantime, the family had moved briefly to Flamborough, ON and Bob chose McMaster University for post high school frolicking, achieving a Bachelor of Arts degree. While at Mac, Bob was co-founder and president of the University Jazz Club, the biggest on campus. During the Mac years, he married Susan Reynolds of Buffalo, New York and after graduating, they were blessed with lovely daughter, Paula Kimberley, now successful in the art and design field with her spouse, internationally acclaimed interior architect, Anna Simone.
The next years were spent in advertising agencies and a swift climb to TV producer and management status with several agencies, MacLaren, McKim, BBDO. This last post gave Bob the opportunity to direct TV commercials and become a pioneer in the development of single camera videotape production with electronic editing, winning recognition for his work in both Canada and the United States. He was hired as creative director at Advertel Productions, leading ultimately to opening his own company, Take One Limited.
In 1973, Bob moved from Toronto to Vancouver where he lived for five years, the last two with new bride, Shelagh Morey, a blissful union that had them working together as Director & Producer for fourteen years. Their final and best production, Beatrice Fleck, now 32, a very creative writer. This wonderful marriage is now in its 46th year.
Through this time, Bob's work was recognized by awards from Commercials Festivals in Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, Seattle, Hollywood and New York, including a top international prize for work with Petula Clark. He enjoyed working with well-known actors, Lorne Greene, Tom Bosely, Vincent Price, Christopher Plummer and others as well as some of his jazz heroes, Oscar Peterson, Jackie Cain & Roy Kral and best friend, Brian Browne.
He played fall-down hockey with Bobby Hull, played catch and drop the ball with the Minnesota Vikings and rode around Watkins Glen in a car driven by Bruce McLaren, whom we lost a year later. All in all, he produced/directed about 1,000 national commercials in Canada and the U.S.
For 25 years, Shelagh and Bob enjoyed annual visits to the Chautauqua Institution in western New York State, for several years owning a small condo there.
Late in the 1990s Bob turned to corporate communications for some of Canada's largest companies and this led to work with charities of every kind supported by brother Jim and the Fleck Family Foundation, with well over 200 promotional videos. 2024 represents his 64th year in the advertising and communications field. (end)
Bob loved ideas, he was an endless source of creative thinking and inspiration, looking at the world through the lens of a camera, whether still or motion, to capture the most compelling human stories. He was a trailblazer in bringing new film technology to Canada for the first time and in taking traditional commercial studio production outside. He loved his work and lived for it at all hours, every day.
Music was Bob’s passion and he was rarely without headphones, building playlists daily for himself and others, sharing his remarkable knowledge and quietly listening. Solo jazz piano was the cherry on top and his more recent discovery of Tommy Flanagan (d.) whom he called the quintessential jazz pianist brought him and others so much joy.
A celebration of life to honour Bob will be planned for late spring when the flowers bloom, his favourite time of year. Details will follow.
In Bob’s memory, a donation to a not-for-profit charity or animal welfare/rescue shelter would underline both the desire he had for helping people and the boundless love he had for animals.
A selection of Bob's stories for Oakville News can be read online here.