Passing of Rick Robida

I'm sad to report that Rick Robida has passed away. He was a kind and gentle soul who loved the Optimists. In 2013 he marched in our Honour Guard proudly wearing the 'old' Toronto Optimists uniform.

Rick came to the Toronto Optimists from the Grantham Police Boy's Band. In addition to Grantham Rick marched with the Toronto Optimists, the Canadian Commanders, Guelph Royalaires, the Optimists Alumni and the Hawthorne Caballeros Alumni. He has also served as the Corps director for the Optimists Alumni. Our condolences go to Sue and the rest of Rick's family.

Messages of condolences can be posted on the Toronto Optimists Facebook page or on the funeral home website.

Obituary

Richard Thomas ('Rick') Robida, 73, of Savannah, Georgia, passed away Sunday, January 10, 2016.

Proud Canadian and naturalized U.S. citizen, Rick was born February 13, 1942 in Merritton, Ontario. He worked in Toronto and Atlanta as a banking executive with ScotiaBank, Visa Canada, and First Data Corporation. Upon retiring to Beaufort, South Carolina, he turned to his beloved pastime of Drum Corps — marching with dear friends for the storied Toronto Optimists and Hawthorne Caballeros, and serving on the Board of Drum Corps International. He was generous with friends and family and enjoyed playing the horn line, sailing the Great Lakes, telling tall tales, and traveling the world.

Rick is survived by his wife, Suzanne (Morin) Robida; his daughter and son-in-law, Suzanne and Adam Kirk; his grandchildren, Audrey, Valerie and Thomas Kirk; his sister, Margaret Robida of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and his sister-in-law, Maureen (Eldred) Honsberger of St. Catharines, Ontario. He loved and was revered by the Morins of Welland, Ontario, the Eldreds of St. Catharines, and the Kirks of Roswell, Georgia. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Mary Robida, his wife of 30 years, Joan (Eldred) Robida, and his son, Jeffrey Robida.

A rosary service will be held at 5:30 pm, with visitation to follow from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., on Thursday, January 14 at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel, 7200 Hodgson Memorial Drive, Savannah, GA 31406.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 15 at Blessed Sacrament Church, 1003 E. Victory Drive, Savannah, GA 31405. Interment will be private. A memorial Mass will be celebrated in Canada at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Blessed Sacrament Seeds of Change Building Campaign (www.mbschurch.org/seeds-of-change-campaign) or to Susan G. Komen of Coastal Georgia (www.komencoastalgeorgia.org).

A 'Celebration of Life' for Rick Robida

A celebration of Rick's life will be held in Canada at a later date.