In Memoriam: Bob Froese

When our members took strike action against the Treasury Board, PSAC member Bob Froese was there to lead and inspire them with his words and music. He went on to record a CD of his songs for CEIU to commemorate the battles our members have fought on the picket line. Sadly, Bob passed away on May 7 at the age of 63. CEIU extends its sympathies to Bob’s family and all of his friends.

Bob faced an extremely aggressive form of cancer. Writing on his website on April 26, Bob told family and friends:

It is amazing how quickly this disease is progressing. It is hard to believe that as recently as 10 April, I went for an hour long walk with my son and daughter-in-law Allen and Carolyn and their four children in the woods near my home. We fed black capped chickadees from our hands and watched the nuthatches, woodpeckers, blue-jays and waterfowl.

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Spiritually and emotionally I am doing quite well. Despite the fact that a cure is improbable, I am being lifted up on the wings of love and prayer of family and friends.

Bob’s friends organized a tribute concert on May 1 at the Ottawa hospital where he was being treated. They sang his songs and read his favourite poetry in a performance that gave him immense satisfaction. It was a fitting way to say goodbye to a very good friend.

“Very rarely do we come to know someone with the quality of character of Bob Froese” said National President Jeannette Meunier-McKay, “We will miss Bob greatly, but we have powerful memories of him too.”