ROBERT ALEXANDER COKE

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ROBERT ALEXANDER COKE Robert Coke, B.A., M.A., (U. of Man.), M. Phil (Oxford), L.L.B. (U. of Toronto), died suddenly and unexpectedly on May 25, 2011 at his home in Oshawa, Ontario. He is survived by his two children, Devon and William, who were always in his thoughts and heart. He is also survived by his partner and soul mate for the past six years, Donna Pegg of Courtice and his former wife Alison (nee Brodie). Also left to mourn are his mother Jean, brothers Ron (Denise) of Winnipeg and Bill (Susan) and John (Cathryn) of Toronto, and sister Elizabeth Cadwallader (Bradley) of Richmond, New Zealand, as well as nephews and nieces, Alex, Stephan, Robert, Sarah, Michael, Charlie, Claire and Ian and his large extended family. He was predeceased by his father Dr. Laurie Coke of Winnipeg. Bob grew up in Winnipeg, a place he loved and always described as the most under-rated city in Canada. His athletic ability became apparent at a very early age, ranging from winning the city softball championship as pitcher for his elementary school, to swimming against the best American swimmers while on an athletic scholarship to Simon Fraser University as a freshman, to winning races and setting new records at the Canadian Inter-Collegiate Swimming Championships while attending the University of Manitoba. Bob completed his B.A. in economics at U of M where he was awarded the Gold Medal in Arts and Science at St. John's College. While completing an MA in Economics at the same institution, he was awarded a Rhodes scholarship. He completed an M Phil in Economics from Oxford with a First while also being recognized with a Full Blue for his victories over Cambridge as a member of the Oxford swimming team and playing on the water polo team. Bob went on to work for the BC Ministry of Economic Development and Department of Finance before returning to school to study law at the University of Toronto. He always believed that good government must be based on sound economics and the law, and that there was no greater vocation than public service. After law school, he went to work for the Ontario Ministry of Finance quickly becoming an ADM. During his tenure he was involved in a number of major programs including strategic planning, pay equity legislation, establishing and serving as the Executive lead for the Ontario Integrated Financial Information System, and as a special advisor to the Deputy Minister. He went on to serve as Senior Vice President and CFO for the Ontario Workplace Safety Insurance Board and later as a Vice Chair for its Appeals Tribunal. In 2003, Bob was seconded by the ministry to help launch the University of Ontario Institute of Technology in Oshawa, where he played a critical role in producing its economic impact study, setting up financial systems and related strategic planning. It was during this time that he discovered his love for teaching, which became a full time commitment including courses such as Economics, Public Policy and Administration, Leadership and Business Ethics up to the time of his death. Bob took on the role with the same energy, passion and commitment that he had shown throughout his life, not just following a standard curriculum or text book, but working hard to instill in his students the importance of caring about the world and people around them, and that they had both a real opportunity and an obligation to try to make their communities a better place to live. Bob was gregarious and always loved to engage in conversation whether with old friends or new acquaintances. He had a wonderful sense of fun and humour and liked nothing more than a good laugh. His love of nature, golf and fishing developed as a child at the family cottage in Minaki. There was nothing more important to Bob than the time he spent with his children as they grew up. We will miss him. A memorial service has been scheduled for June 2, 2011 at 1:30 p.m., Eglinton St. George's United Church, 35 Lytton Blvd., Toronto, with a visitation on June 1, 2011, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Trull Funeral Home, 2704 Yonge Street. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a bursary at UOIT being established in Bob's name or to a charity of your choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 01, 2011