Robin FARR Obituary

FARR, Robin Marlatt


1926 - 2012
Passed away unexpectedly at the Oakville General Hospital a few weeks before his 86th birthday. Born in Vancouver British Columbia on April 26, 1926, son of Arthur Morice Farr and Mary Norah (Marlatt) Farr. Robin leaves behind a loving family which includes his wife of 57 years Margaret Anne (Peggy) Farr, his children Peter Gordon Farr of Etobicoke, James Brian Charles Farr of Port Credit and Wendy Anne McLeod of Bermuda, his grandchildren of whom he was so proud Sean and Stephen Farr and Alexander McLeod as well as his older brother David Farr of Ottawa.
Robin was born and raised in Vancouver BC and graduated from University of British Columbia. He started his career as a school teacher at Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island where he did everything from teach English and Phys Ed to drive the school bus. In January 1950 he moved to Toronto to break into the growing field of Canadian book publishing. He worked for Copp Clark Publishing eventually opening and heading Western Canada region from Vancouver. Appointed founding director of McGill University Press in 1960 Robin moved his young family from Vancouver to Montreal. The next 7 years were spent building the McGill University Press into respected institution with an excellent booklist. In 1967 he returned to Toronto joining McClelland and Stewart Ltd participating in the wave of publishing activity sparked by Canada's centennial. In 1969 he moved to The Ryerson Press as Director of Publishing and Editor in Chief tasked with reshaping and modernizing the company which was eventually purchased by McGraw Hill. Later Robin moved to the Canada Council in Ottawa to design a new program supporting the business operations of fledgling Canadian publishing companies. Robin returned to Toronto to implement the Halfback Program for the Province of Ontario which was designed to stimulate sales of Canadian books.
After retirement Robin continued to use his business skills by devoting much of his time to charities, new authors and publishing ventures. He spent many years researching and writing about Canada's early history particularly its discovery on both coasts and its early settlement. He continued to support Canadian literacy through active participation in Friends of the Library and as a Director of the Peel Literacy Guild. He donated his extensive library of books to McMaster University.
Robin was a wonderful man with a sharp intellect and a wide range of interests, always at work with new projects. He had deep beliefs and thoughts on the world. He was a kind and caring man and was truly loved and respected by friends and family. We will always miss him.
Robin has requested no memorial service, as he explained to us, 'My reason for this was stated so wonderfully in Ecclesiastes: To everything there is a season … I have been blessed with many joyful seasons and I want to leave it at that.'
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Peel Literacy Guild, 151 City Centre Drive, Mississauga, L5B 1M7 or the Friends of the Mississauga Library System, 300 City Centre Drive, Mississauga, L5B 3C1.