Of Guelph, Ontario, passed away at St. Joseph’s Health Centre on Monday, December 23, 2024 after a year-long battle with cancer at the age of 79.
A loving father to his children Laura Norris (Joe), Suzie Mactaggart (Andrew), Sarah McNeil (Blaine Mackie) and Andrew McNeil, and grandfather to Sinéad Norris, Patrick Norris, Findlay Mactaggart and Piper Mackie. Survived by sisters Patricia Lambier and Victoria Cruickshank (Richard) and predeceased by his brother Christopher McNeil (Jennifer). He was Uncle Rob to six nephews and one niece.
Robin was born in Windsor, Ontario to Harry and Peggy McNeil. He graduated as Valedictorian from J L Forster Secondary School and went on to complete his undergraduate degree at McGill University. While at McGill, Robin was the quarterback for the McGill Redbirds (at the time, Redmen) football team. Robin continued his schooling at the University of Waterloo where he received his master’s degree in mathematics.
Known for his sharp mind and love of learning, Robin excelled at many things and enjoyed a rich and diverse career. He began his professional journey at IBM in Toronto and, along with his former spouse Kay MacPherson, lived and worked for stints in the United States and France. After a long career at IBM, Robin continued to hone his management and software development skills as a consultant at DMR, where he met his future business partners. In the late 1980s, Robin co-founded Flynn McNeil Raheb and Associates (later, FMR), a management consulting company that he successfully sold ten years later.
In 1993, Robin and his then spouse Carol Parrott purchased Foxwood Inn on Lake of Bays, Muskoka, and ran it as a summer cottage resort. A far cry from days behind a desk, Robin spent his time at Foxwood using his extensive and self-taught plumbing, electrical and construction skills to maintain the 100-acre resort property. His children have fond memories of Robin building campfires and delighting resort guests with water skiing and tubing excursions.
After they sold the resort, Robin and Carol relocated to Huntsville with Sarah and Andrew. Robin settled into a slower pace of life in his retirement, taking on occasional business contracts when he wasn’t busy renovating their family home or coaching his son’s hockey team.
Beyond being a skilled professional and handyman, Robin was an avid tennis player, a certified scuba diver, and a passionate windsurfer. He loved to bake, travel and discuss (and debate) current events. In his later years, Robin stayed in shape playing tennis, golf and pool several times a week, and took pride in supporting his daughter Suzie’s musical career. He continued to seek new experiences, meet new friends and enjoy all life has to offer.
Above all, Robin’s children and grandchildren were the centre of his life and his pride and joy. With a large age gap between his kids, he spent nearly 40 years raising children and he showed them unwavering and unconditional love. He would drop anything at a moment’s notice to help his kids – whether that meant driving them across the country to school, stepping in to renovate a bathroom at the last minute, or babysitting his beloved grandchildren. His family will miss him greatly and forever cherish his memory.
A private celebration of life will be held at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL 519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com.
A tree will be planted in memory of Robin P. McNeil in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.