Robert Joseph Hamon (Bob) left this world peacefully on March 12, 2024, in Châteauguay surrounded by his loved ones. Predeceased by his mother and father Zephirin and Hazel (nee Journeau), Bob lived a life true to his convictions, while savouring a life alongside the many friends who gravitated to his trademark personality.
Born on March 28, 1941 in Montréal, Bob was a natural leader as the first born in a family that would welcome siblings Freda (Martin Bruckner), Norman, and Cleta (Brian Spence). While life wasn’t always easy, the siblings formed a strong and irrevocable bond that was established early on by the love and devotion of their mother.
Bob had, as they say, many chapters in his more than eight decades of life that took him across the country and the globe. As a ticket agent for Canadian Pacific and Eastern Airlines, Bob came into contact with many music legends he long admired, from Jimi Hendrix to Louis Armstrong, experiences that yielded stories that he regaled to friends and family for years to come.
The quintessential hippie, Bob dismantled and rebuilt a log cabin on his beloved farm in Ormstown, Québec and took a stint living off the grid before it was de rigueur, selling all his possessions and living on Haida Gwaii off the rugged coast of BC. A true pioneer, Bob took on the national crusade to legalize marijuana, making his way to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Perhaps one of Bob’s greatest legacies was his innate desire to help people – from the downtrodden and forgotten, to his beloved family and friends. Bob took great pleasure and pride guiding the lives of his nephews Daniel and Adam (Corina), and niece Susan (Jay Puder). Bob infused a passion for the arts, sports and life-long learning into the next generation, from getting them up on skis and placing a golf club in their hands for the first time, to sharing his vast and unique music collection, and his taste for the finer things in life, from good food and wine, and manners of course.
Perhaps some of his happiest times were spent on his farm in Ormstown, where he met and married Joy. While their union was short, their friendship was enduring, as was Bob’s relationship with Joy’s son Andrès (Vivi) whom he cared for as his own until the very end.
In his latter decades, Bob devoted much time to perfecting his golf game. With his brother, and best friend Norm, they were a dynamic duo on the many courses they visited across North America, and on their hometown courses. Bob’s knowledge of the game, and etiquette, were unparalleled and on the fairways is where his quality of character truly shone to all who had the fortune of joining him in a game.
Left to mourn his passing and celebrate the gift of his life, are his great nephews Zepherin and Samuel, Andrès & Vivi’s children Mila and Arya, Connie and Kenny, his many beloved cousins on the Hamon and Journeau sides, as well as countless friends, golf mates, and acquaintances whose lives he enhanced in his nearly eighty-three years.
For those that knew Bob and wish to celebrate his life, we encourage you to crank up your favourite tune and boogie in Bob’s memory.