On the evening of February 15th, in the comfort of the cherished home he had built, Bob slipped peacefully out of this world. He was surrounded by the loving embrace of family, close friends and music.
Bob was born in Kamloops to Ed and Pearl Hearn. He is deeply missed and loved by his wife Cheryl, brother Doug (Denise) Hearn, sister Marianne (Art) Sauder, brother-in-law Bruce (Donna) Gustafson, and nephews and nieces who saw him as a fun and caring uncle, and also by a host of dear friends and family. He was a firm believer in “friends are the family you find along the way.”
Bob's life path was hugely influenced by his dad's love of both music and the outdoors. Bob became an exceptional trumpet player. He had fishing in his blood and set up a fish-guiding business while still in high school. He later built two fishing resorts on the Bonapart Plateau and was active in the movement to protect parts of the area as wilderness.
After graduating from Simon Fraser University, he began teaching and coaching basketball - his passions that continued his whole life. He credited sports for encouraging him to believe in himself, and he loved passing that insight on to young people. Bob is also remembered as the friendly ferry operator and tree farmer at McLure. He was an outgoing optimist with a great sense of humour, always making time to chat and thriving on listening to the stories of people he met.
As difficult as his years living with cancer were, Bob said that he was still full of gratitude. He noticed how relationships intensified and became even more meaningful. He said that he was overwhelmed by kindness and that it motivated him to keep living.
