Obituary for Robert (Rob) John Callaghan
We are heartbroken to announce that Robert John (Rob) Callaghan (February 25, 1958 – February 27, 2021) passed away at his home following a brief illness.
Rob will be missed profoundly by his partner of 26 years, Kathy Hardill, and by his beloved son Jason (Alexis), his siblings Callie, Joe (Laurie), Jennifer (Pat) and Linda; nieces and nephews Korbin, Cara, Steven, Kyle, Brittany, Joel and Amber and their extended families; and a gaggle of much-loved aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Also dearly loved by “the outlaws” as Rob called them: Bob and Sylvia Hardill, Sue, Deepinder, Arun and Anisa, and Kathy’s extended family. Rob will also be missed by his dogs Loki and Daisy, whom he described living with “like sharing your house with furry toddlers that control your mind.”
Predeceased by his parents, Fred and Bernice (Bonnie) Callaghan (nee Anderson) and his grandparents Frank and Mary Callaghan.
Rob was brilliant, funny, loyal and kind. He could fix anything, MacGyver anything, and create an ingenious solution to any dilemma, be it mechanical or culinary. He could build anything - including whole structures from nothing but blueprints in his head. He could draw anything and always blew everyone else out of the water playing Pictionary, although he disliked it and most games and had to be cajoled to play.
He was a self-taught expert on climate science and global collapse which tended to flavour his outlook for the future with a certain pessimism but regardless he believed fervently in climate scientist James Hansen’s proposed revenue-neutral carbon tax with 100% private dividends to offset the subsidization of fossil fuels.
As a young man, he made his way from Blind River, Ontario to Toronto. He worked as a messenger in Toronto’s bank towers, where he took pleasure in reading hot-off-the-press economics journals before delivering them, slightly dog-eared, to the CEOs. He worked for a time on the waterfront as an indoor crane operator which he excelled at. Later he single-handedly published the Outreach Connection newspaper for 20 years which put money directly into the pockets of the low-income people who sold it.
He adored being retired in what he called “doggy heaven” – where he could tinker in his workshop, go for a spin on the four-wheeler, drop by a swimming hole on a hot day, play his guitar in the shade, and roam lazily with the dogs in the bush.
On the matter of a memorial service, that was a hard no from Rob. If, however, anyone wished to raise a glass of their favourite beverage in memory of Rob, he would most definitely have been on board with that.
If anyone wishes to make a memorial donation, Rob appreciated the work of these organizations because he understood firsthand the harshness of poverty: North Hastings Community Trust - https://northhastingscommunitytrust.org/ ; The North Kawartha Food Bank northkawarthafoodbank@gmail.com and One City Peterborough https://www.onecityptbo.ca/
Rob’s time with us was far too short, giving sharp immediacy to the words of Townes Van Zandt, who sang “Time, she’s a fast old train.” Robbie boy – we’ll miss you something fierce.
Rob will be missed profoundly by his partner of 26 years, Kathy Hardill, and by his beloved son Jason (Alexis), his siblings Callie, Joe (Laurie), Jennifer (Pat) and Linda; nieces and nephews Korbin, Cara, Steven, Kyle, Brittany, Joel and Amber and their extended families; and a gaggle of much-loved aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Also dearly loved by “the outlaws” as Rob called them: Bob and Sylvia Hardill, Sue, Deepinder, Arun and Anisa, and Kathy’s extended family. Rob will also be missed by his dogs Loki and Daisy, whom he described living with “like sharing your house with furry toddlers that control your mind.”
Predeceased by his parents, Fred and Bernice (Bonnie) Callaghan (nee Anderson) and his grandparents Frank and Mary Callaghan.
Rob was brilliant, funny, loyal and kind. He could fix anything, MacGyver anything, and create an ingenious solution to any dilemma, be it mechanical or culinary. He could build anything - including whole structures from nothing but blueprints in his head. He could draw anything and always blew everyone else out of the water playing Pictionary, although he disliked it and most games and had to be cajoled to play.
He was a self-taught expert on climate science and global collapse which tended to flavour his outlook for the future with a certain pessimism but regardless he believed fervently in climate scientist James Hansen’s proposed revenue-neutral carbon tax with 100% private dividends to offset the subsidization of fossil fuels.
As a young man, he made his way from Blind River, Ontario to Toronto. He worked as a messenger in Toronto’s bank towers, where he took pleasure in reading hot-off-the-press economics journals before delivering them, slightly dog-eared, to the CEOs. He worked for a time on the waterfront as an indoor crane operator which he excelled at. Later he single-handedly published the Outreach Connection newspaper for 20 years which put money directly into the pockets of the low-income people who sold it.
He adored being retired in what he called “doggy heaven” – where he could tinker in his workshop, go for a spin on the four-wheeler, drop by a swimming hole on a hot day, play his guitar in the shade, and roam lazily with the dogs in the bush.
On the matter of a memorial service, that was a hard no from Rob. If, however, anyone wished to raise a glass of their favourite beverage in memory of Rob, he would most definitely have been on board with that.
If anyone wishes to make a memorial donation, Rob appreciated the work of these organizations because he understood firsthand the harshness of poverty: North Hastings Community Trust - https://northhastingscommunitytrust.org/ ; The North Kawartha Food Bank northkawarthafoodbank@gmail.com and One City Peterborough https://www.onecityptbo.ca/
Rob’s time with us was far too short, giving sharp immediacy to the words of Townes Van Zandt, who sang “Time, she’s a fast old train.” Robbie boy – we’ll miss you something fierce.