ROBERT CARMAN COATES, PC, QC, BA, LLB, LLD
1928-2016
Bob passed away peacefully on January 11 from the effects of a stroke. He leaves a deeply saddened family, his wife of 61 years, Mary (Wade), his son Wade and his wife Maria, and his daughter Jodi.
He is predeceased by his parents, Carman and Rita (O’Brien), his many siblings and half-siblings, and his son-in-law, Michael MacNaughton.
Bob was born in Amherst, Nova Scotia on March 10, 1928, and grew up during the tough years of the Depression and the war. He left school in grade 8 to work but returned, realizing that education was important in advancing in life. He attended Mount Allison and Dalhousie Law School.
At that time students were not paid during articling. Bob worked to save money so he could complete his education. It was during this time working in Toronto that he met Mary, a nurse from New Brunswick, also working in Toronto. They married within months and returned to Amherst. Wade was born a year later in 1955.
Bob articled and worked with Alfred Milner in Amherst. In the lead up to the general election of 1957, the Progressive Conservatives were looking for a candidate in Cumberland County to run against the incumbent Liberal. They chose Bob, a relative unknown. He won in 1957, and in 1958, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1979, 1980 and 1984, serving for over 31 years.
He loved his job. He enjoyed helping people. He believed in people, whether they were in favour or out of favour. He knew that public opinion is hardly a substitute for a person’s true character.
Entering into Parliament in 1957 with John Diefenbaker, he embraced and believed in his leader’s populist views and his love of Canada. To him, Dief was always “the Chief”. He was disillusioned with the machinations of those within the party to destroy Diefenbaker. He wrote The Night of the Knives to expose this. He remained close to the Chief, setting up the John Diefenbaker Memorial Foundation, and accompanying Dief on his final train trip to the west, the funeral cortege. He was moved by the sight of people standing in fields and at railway crossings, even in the middle of the night, to watch the train pass.
Bob worked on, and chaired, many committees during his time in Parliament. He encouraged closer ties with Taiwan, with South Korea, and with Germany through this committee work. He spoke to raise money for Israel. He was keen to develop tidal power in the Bay of Fundy. He was made a chief of the Millbrook Mi’kmaq Reserve. He had many interests, all directed to improving the lives of Canadians.
He was elected President of the Progressive Conservative Party in 1978, a pivotal time in the history of the Party.
During the Mulroney government, he was Minister of National Defence. He was able to restore distinct uniforms to the military, something which had been eliminated during a previous Liberal administration. He was so proud of this accomplishment.
He retired from politics, declining to run in the 1988 election.
Bob was appointed to the Canadian International Trade Tribunal by the Mulroney government, and re-appointed by the Chretien government. He retired in 1998.
For over 40 years, Bob worked actively in positions to serve Canadians. Upon retirement, he continued his interest in the state of the country, often commenting through letters to the press or through friends and colleagues still in the political arena. He received medals from the Queen for his service, the Canadian Governors’ General Medal in 2002 and, more recently, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal. It is telling that family only learned of some of these recognitions in going through papers after his passing. He never spoke of these things.
Bob was first and foremost a family man. Nothing was more important than Mary. He understood that she had essentially raised Wade and Jodi on her own in Amherst. But during health problems suffered by the family, he was there, exuding his incredible optimism and buoyancy. Everything was possible. There was always a way forward, through any crisis, personal or public. That spirit of optimism remains and pushes us onward.
The family wants to thank David Myles who is always with us, through every family journey, Dr George Vincent of Toronto, who restored Bob’s mobility last year, Bob’s VON care workers, the neurologists at QEII, who treated Bob with dignity, and the nursing staff of 7.3 and 7.4, who were unfailing in their kindnesses to Bob and the family this past difficult week.
There will be a family-only service. There will be a celebration of Bob’s life on June 10, 2016 in Amherst, Nova Scotia at the Christ Church Parish Hall. Details will be provided closer to that date.
“Finally he lies at rest/at peace, at last, too soon” (W. Coates)
Donations may be made in Bob’s memory to the Salvation Army or charity of your choice.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Campbell’s Funeral Home, Amherst, NS (902-667-9906).
Condolences and sharing of memories may be made to the family via: www.campbellsamherst.ca or by visiting our Facebook page.
Campbell’s Funeral Home