ROBERT WILLIAM DINES (BOB)

Condolences & Memories (5 entries)

• My heartfelt condolences to the family. I so enjoyed knowing your dad at Westminster church. He would always sit with his partner in crime, Don McInnes, and we always exchanged a big smile and a big hug when we were “passing the peace”. He has been missed at church. Blessings to the family. Shannon MacFarlane - Posted by: Shannon MacFarlane (Fellow parishioner ) on: Jan 09, 2021

• Cindy and Jack and family, We are so sad that Uncle Bob has passed. Cindy, your dad was such a great man, funny, sweet and always ready to tell a story or just listen to what you had to say. We know how close you all were and how much he loved you all and how proud he was of his grandchildren. Our thoughts are with you all at this time. Treasure your beautiful memories. - Posted by: Stephen and Melanie Swail (nephew and friend) on: Jan 08, 2021

• I, like Doneta, caught the twinkle in Bob's eye when he was educating me of the world of retail. I was a very new "management trainee" in the summer of 1977 when I received my first lesson. I had just finished unpacking the Summer handbags and had beautifully displayed them, when from across the department (perhaps across the entire main floor of the downtown store) I heard this bellowing voice: "WHO's idea was it to put the new stock at the BACK of the department?" I sheepishly put up my hand and was immediately, firmly, and fairly, schooled in the art of placing the new stock on the main aisles. Made perfect sense. And so my education began. That day, I think the twinkle in his eye was for the staff in the handbag department - who knew fully the error I was making and were very confident Mr. Dines would correct my mistake before the store opened. He made a point of telling me to ask the experts in the department their opinion and to rely on their experience and customer knowledge. A lesson I STILL remember 43 years later! I learned so much from Bob Dines - a quickly regarded him as a natural-born retailer. There are so many stories. He loved to prank us all. And a few of us pranked him back with a very special ride to work on his 50th birthday. But that is a longer story. He was enormously proud of you, Cindy. Doneta was 100% correct when she said he BEAMED when he spoke of you. I am so very grateful I had the chance to work for him. - Posted by: Janet (Ramsay) Goddard (worked with Bob Dines at The Bay) on: Jan 04, 2021

• In looking back over my career, I would have to say that I learned the most about managing people, coaching and fairness from 'Mr. Dines' and I respected him a great deal. As a trainee I wanted to be sure to do my very best for him and once I became a manager, I saw even more skills he had that I grew to admire. I caught the twinkle in his eye on a more than a few occasions when he would coach me through a customer complaint and not be able to stop the smile or chuckle at the end of my 'education'. Having known both Bob and Eleanor during our Bay time, it was true joy when I met them at an auction where they were searching for additions to Eleanor's collecting hobby years later. We were able to catch up and it is something I will always treasure. Cindy, your Mom and Dad were very proud of you-your Dad would beam when he spoke of you. Your parents were very special people and I feel very fortunate to have had them in my life. - Posted by: Doneta Brotchie (worked with Mr. Dines at The Bay ) on: Jan 03, 2021

• To Cindy and family. So sorry for your loss. Your dad was a real character I enjoyed having him in recreation programs. Once again my condolences Valerie Kostelnick former recreation worker at the villa. - Posted by: Valerie kostelnick (Friend from tuxedo) on: Jan 02, 2021