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ROBERT JOHN SMITH (SMITTY) (BOB)
Born: Jul 03, 1954
Date of Passing: Sep 20, 2022
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ROBERT JOHN SMITH
(SMITTY)
July 3, 1954 - September 20, 2022
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Bob Smith (Smitty) on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, at the St. Boniface Hospital, surrounded with love.
Bob is survived by his partner of 34 years, Marilynne Jackson, and her son Jay Jackson. He is also survived by cousins and many friends as well as colleagues in the entertainment, arts and culture industries. He was predeceased by his parents, Robert Alexander Smith and Audrey Leathem Smith (nee Cassidy), aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Bob was born in Winnipeg on July 3, 1954. His dad died when he was 18 months old and he was raised by his mother. Since she had to work before child care day programs were readily available, she sent him to St. John's-Ravenscourt where they had a lunch program for day students. Bob later attended River Heights Junior High School, Kelvin High School, Argyle School, the University of Winnipeg, and the University of Manitoba where he graduated with a B.A. Honours in Political Studies in 1987.
Since his father's name was also Robert, his family and friends from school and the neighbourhood called him John. John had a good childhood. The Cassidy family had a cottage in the South Beach neighbourhood of Gimli and he spent the summers with his mom and her family, swimming and playing outdoors.
John's mom instilled in him a love of travelling. She was an Air Canada employee and they visited Europe more than once, favourite trips being those to England and Switzerland. Unfortunately, she died when he was 21, but he never lost the desire to travel and always accepted any job that allowed him to visit another place, even before he knew what the job was. Personal travel as an adult included attending the Deer Lake Boogie in Minnesota, where his good friends ensured that Smitty and the other Canadians had a reserved spot called "Canadian Corner" to pitch their tents.
Bob moved into the Wardlaw Co-op at 486 Wardlaw in the early 1980s. In 1987, the co-op, including HC the house cat, moved next door to 484 Wardlaw to live with Kimba, who was absorbed into the family as the house dog. Some of the best people and pets lived cooperatively in that great house. Parties and music were abundant there until the co-op dissolved in 1993.
Bob was a member of IATSE Local 63 since 1995 and served as Vice President of IATSE Local 856 when the film industry took off in Winnipeg. From the Winnipeg International Children's Festival to the Winnipeg Folk Festival (and many events in between) Bob worked touring, in production offices, on stage, and in the shops at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Royal MTC, and of course film. He was front and center, and there for it all. With Koba Entertainment, Bob did shows throughout Canada. With Westsun and MacDonald-Hart, he travelled widely doing major projects and installations in Toronto, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Cairo, and Lisbon.
Bob was well respected in the industry and served as a mentor for many young people entering the arts and creative sector. He worked until the cancer became too much to bear. He was able to visit friends from afar and to say goodbye to many. He will be sorely missed.
A celebration of Smitty's life will be held in the Spring/Summer of 2023 (against his wishes) as we will all need to gather and raise a glass to a man who, although a curmudgeon, was a deeply caring and loving individual.
Bob's wishes were that his body be donated to the University of Manitoba, Body Donation Program.
Go in peace and rest well Mr. Smith. You will be missed.
Jay and I would like to thank all the dedicated health professionals who helped Bob through this journey, including the doctors and nurses on the CancerCare teams who were there from the beginning and the 911 dispatcher, first-responders, paramedics, and St. Boniface emergency and palliative care nurses and doctors who helped us through to the end. Rose and Rob, thank you for being there.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Harvest Manitoba because Bob believed that no one who lives here should go hungry.
harvestmanitoba.ca/donate-money/
My dear Bob, I keep thinking you are on tour and will be home soon.
Love you and miss you, Marilynne
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 08, 2022
Condolences & Memories (6 entries)
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So very sorry to hear of your loss Marilynne. Do take care! - Posted by: Ian Brown (Former work colleague of Marilynne) on: Oct 26, 2022
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I’m so sorry to hear of your devastating loss, Marilynne. My thoughts are with you and Jay. - Posted by: Sharon Banting (Former co-worker) on: Oct 26, 2022
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I first met Bob in the early 90s at a Rail Baron tournament. In '95 we started working together at Westsun. Thanks to Bob I had the privilege of working on site crew for the Children's and Folk festivals. We also worked together on IATSE calls and numerous installations and special events. Smitty was a mentor, great co-worker and even better friend. He is missed. - Posted by: Keith Miller (Friend and co-worker) on: Oct 12, 2022
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Safe sailing, Admiral Smitty! - Posted by: Bill Spornitz (Colleague) on: Oct 11, 2022
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I am deeply saddened to hear that our amazing Backstage Bob has departed and my sincere condolences go to you, as you navigate this time of adjustment and healing. I would like to express how truly touched I am that you would take the time to reach out to me. I loved Bob dearly. If I may, I would love to share with you my favourite moments of Backstage Bob. I hope these moments will bring a smile to your face as they do to mine. On Tour, he never missed one of my Sugarplum Solo’s, EVER! He was always in the wings smiling and I could feel how he was cheering me on. It was this incredible moment to be dancing on stage for strangers, but to know if I glanced in the wings, Backstage Bob was there sending the good vibes my way. Those moment of dance, live in my heart always. He nicknamed me SPF- for Sugar Plum Fairy and my Mom still laughs about that clever nickname. :) I also cherish the time that I had the chance to ride in the tour truck from one city to the next. Buddie and I on the passenger side and Bob driving though the landscape. He always had these one liners that would have us in hoots of laughter. When the tours stopped, he then had these one liners in e-mails that would be so full of wisdom of life…I have kept those e-mails. No matter what theater, what city or what situation we had to perform in... he would set up the ballet barre for me so that I could properly warm up. Even if it was just enough space to stretch, or even if time was tight with unloading situations, he understood us as artists and always observed what we needed for the show. Never asking for praise, but always wanting us to feel we could do our best. I am giggling now remembering the rosin box he made specifically for me and he actually wrote in the box “ For Diva’s Only” HA HA. I can never forget the day we were in Westbury, which was the famous Theater in the Ronde. We had one entrance for everything ( props and huge mascots) and as the Dance Captain I had to make decisions. Bob stood by me and helped me in everything I needed to make that show work. I could not have done it without him. He never got upset with me for the MULTIPLE times I broke my sugarplum fairy wand and in a flash, it was fixed like magic…by BOB of course. Backstage Bob has touched so many lives with his days on the road and his way of living. I am forever thankful that we shared a bond, a trust, a kindness and these precious moments in our lives. Love, SPF- Sugarplum Fairy, T.J. Milne - Posted by: T.J. Milne (Touring Artist with Backstage Bob!) on: Oct 11, 2022
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So sorry to hear. Met Bob in 80’s via Childrens Festival and subsequently via Westsun and IATSE. Bob had that desired intellect, cutting wit and humour that made him enjoyable to be with… - Posted by: Barny Haines (Friend) on: Oct 08, 2022