Sunday, December 5, 2021
Condolences to you, Lois, and your family, as you gather to celebrate the life of our dear friend, Bob.
My memories of your family including Cathy, Debra, Phil, Gerald and Myriam are embedded in those wonderful years that I lived in France during the 1960’s.
Following a fortuitous encounter with my sister Margaret and her husband Ross Lehman in August 1962, Bob invited me, a young university graduate, to work as a volunteer with the fledgling program at Châtenay-Malabry that evolved later into Les Amis de l’Atelier. Not only did this opportunity allow me to find satisfaction in living the dream of residing in France, but it opened the door to a range of events that were for me transformational.
Bob officiated at Edith’s and my wedding in 1966 and the following year helped arrange for our term spent at Hautefeuille in 1967-68.
Although our paths seldom crossed following our return to Canada, I followed with interest the amazing trajectory of Les Amis de l’Atelier. Bob’s book, – Emmanuel with Us: As I Lived It – includes this narrative. I enjoyed reading as well about the many years that Bob, with your help Lois, spent in the ministry of service to others.
As I observed him over time, I was impressed by his abilities to inspire people, to find creative solutions to problems and to master the French language, in itself a rare achievement for an anglophone.
His was a life well lived and now he deserves to rest in peace.
Roger Baer
