NEWS

I'm sad to report that Clare Reid has passed away. He was a good man who goes all the way back to the pre-Optimist days at Western Tech. Clare will be missed by all who knew him.

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

Obituary

After a lengthy and courageous battle with his health, Clarence, peacefully passed away with his family by his side on Saturday, January 16, 2016 at William Osler Health Centre, Brampton, at the age of 80.

Beloved husband of the late Glenda. Loving father of Lesley (Candido), and the late Scott. Proud grandfather of Robert and Rachel; Jack, Lilly, Eli and the late Max. Clarence will be lovingly missed by his brother Vern, family and friends.

A faithful member and executive of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 344. He made many friends through his lifelong love of music, serving as a bugle player and instructor with the Western Tech Trumpet Band, executive of the Toronto Optimist and Optimist Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps, and President of the Canadian Drum Corps Association. He will be remembered by his many friends in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where he and Glenda resided for 15 years while working for DESA International. While there, he and Glenda cared and nurtured many Guatemalan children, awaiting surgery.

Clarence's family would like to express their appreciation to the health care workers at the William Osler Health Centre, Brampton, for their care and friendship to Clarence. Friends may call at the Turner & Porter Butler Chapel, 4933 Dundas St. W., Etobicoke (between Kipling and Islington Aves.) on Tuesday from 2-4 & 7-9 pm. A Service will be held in the Chapel on Wednesday January 20, 2016, at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #344. Online condolences may be made using this website.

Visitation

• Turner & Porter - Butler Chapel
  4933 Dundas Street West,
  Etobicoke, ON, M9A 1B6

• Tuesday, 19 Jan 2016

  • 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

  • 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Funeral

• Turner & Porter - Butler Chapel
  4933 Dundas Street West,
  Etobicoke, ON, M9A 1B6

• Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at 11:00 AM

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.

With much sadness we must report that George Wright has passed away. George had been a member of the Toronto Optimists and the Optimist Alumni. He was also a former Corps Director of the Toronto Optimists.

George played Baritone in the Toronto Optimists as well as the Optimist Alumni. He was also a member of Optimists' award winning brass quartet, He passed away on December 11, 2015. George will be missed by all of those who knew him. Our condolences go to George's family.

Messages of condolences can be posted on the Toronto Optimists Facebook page.

Obituary

With family by his side, George passed away peacefully on Friday, December 11, 2015 in his 70th year. Beloved husband of Rose. Loving father of Lisa, Danielle (Jason Cleaver) and Alison. Cherished grandfather of Nathan, Brandon, Alana, Liam and Nolan. A very special thank you to all the staff at Streetsville Community Care and the Doctors and Nurses at Credit Valley Hospital. Friends may call at the Turner & Porter 'Peel' Chapel, 2180 Hurontario St., Mississauga, (Hwy10. N. of the QEW). For those who wish, donations may be made to the Hospital for Sick Children or the Children Miracle Network.

Visitation for George

• Turner & Porter - Peel Chapel
  2180 Hurontario,
  Mississauga, ON, L5B 1M8
• Wednesday, 16 Dec 2015 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
• Wednesday, 16 Dec 2015 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

news story

Note: All current and former Alumni members and their spouses or significant others are invited to the Optimists Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps summer BBQ.

• 10:15 — meet at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 258, (45 Lawson Rd. Toronto, Ontario, M1C 2J1). Ric suggests going south on Meadowvale...right on Kingston Rd....left over the overpass
• 11:00 — parade starts
• 12:00 — walk back to beginning of the parade (the parade is 1 KM...Ric has measured it :-)
• 12:30 — drive to 115 Easthaven St. Oshawa Ont., L1G 6K4
• 1:00 — Hamburgers, Sausages, salads and desserts will be provided free of charge.
• Please bring your preferred beverages.

Please send email to Ric (ricbrown at rogers dot com) to confirm your attendance so that the appropriate amount of food can be purchased.