Tribute Wall
In Memory of
Robert (Bob) Davis Anderson
1934 - 2020
Loading...
E
Eric Glass posted a condolence
Monday, October 19, 2020
I am deeply saddened by the passing of Bob Anderson. I just discovered his passing a few days ago when my wife read his obituary when viewing the obituary of the son of close friends.
Bob hired me in 1981 and was my boss and mentor until his retirement in 1995. He was an incredibly smart lawyer who was greatly respected by his fellow General Counsel at Canada’s leading companies as well as leading lawyers in the Federal and Provincial Government. His legacy is the updated Competition Act which he helped to craft along with the groundbreaking class action legislation introduced in Ontario. He was incredibly modest about this accomplishment, but that modesty was his trademark.
He was a pleasure to work for and with, and a wonderful boss. He was very supportive of the Legal Department and , through his calm demeanour and sage advice, made sure that the Legal Department was highly respected by its clients. This made our job as lawyers much more enjoyable because , in my discussions with other in house counsel, many had to justify their advice constantly, and were second guessed by outside counsel hired by the business executives.
He was always respectful and polite to me and gave me lots of room to develop as a leader without micromanaging me. Looking back, he had the most influence of anyone on my professional life and I am grateful for the opportunity to have known and worked for him. We stayed in touch for about 5 years after his retirement as he came to our Christmas lunches and regaled us with stories of his many cruises all over the world. We saw each other from time to time at the United Way retiree lunches after that. Those truly were “ the good old days”.
B
Barbara Fraser pledged to donate to The Children’s Aid Society
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Remembering Bob Anderson fondly.
Please wait
B
Barbara Fraser posted a condolence
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Much like everyone who knew Bob, I was deeply saddened to hear of his passing. Working with Bob for 20+ years at P&G, he taught me a lot about the legal aspects of business but most important, he taught me about the ethics of law. He was the gold standard for me on how to interpret the law which stayed with me as I moved on to work at other corporations and to serve as a director on boards. He was also such a truly nice person - a scholar and a gentleman . My condolences to Bob's family .......Barbara Fraser
Y
Yong Quek pledged to donate to The Children’s Aid Society
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
In memory of Bob Anderson
Please wait
D
David Lint posted a condolence
Sunday, June 21, 2020
I joined P&G in the mid-60’s as a freshly minted MBA thrown into the sink-or-swim all-male Bullpen of aspiring brand manager wannabes. Early on I met Bob in his private office on the Pen’s periphery. Believe he was about 4 years into his first legal role after graduating. Unforgettable encounters. Bob’s cool, almost formal all-business sryle calmed me. We made quick work together on the proprieties of Agency TV proposals. And I crept up the management ladder.
I left the Company after a few years to chase a creative dream. Ended up at CBC, then founded an international film production company. Bob stayed, of course. And I have learned from various tributes here, he went from strength to strength as an adviser, social activist and mentor.
Not surprising to me, first encounters are telling.evidently. His a life very well-lived. He played a key role, likely without knowing it, in my life’s journey.
H
Hannes Kerbler posted a condolence
Sunday, June 21, 2020
What a sad day. Our thoughts and prayers are with Marilyn and all of the family. Bob made everyone he touched a better person. A man while reserved had a sharp wit and a great sense of humour. As a founding member of the MBBL some 38 years ago we always enjoyed his enthusiastic bidding for players he only saw the value in. His donation to the winners pool will always be appreciated. A well respected person both professionally and in his personal life, Bob always conducted himself with integrity and ethics. Many a time he gave me guidance in business and personal life that helped greatly. He will be missed.
T
Tom Gove posted a condolence
Sunday, June 21, 2020
I am sorry to be so long in commenting about but I was up North with limited communications. Fortunately, I was able to be in touch with Marilyn and kept up to date on Bob’s condition. While not unexpected , I was still devastated by the news. Bob and I crossed paths in our work many times. Public relations, environmental issues, acquisition integration, etc. Working with Bob was always fruitful and a pleasure. On a personal note , Sandy and I, Hannes and Ingrid, and Bob and Marilyn shared visits to our cottages since we were all in the North Mukoka and Parry Sound area.Hannes and I also participated with Bob for 30 plus years in the famous P & G baseball pool along with about a dozen other P & G ers or EX P & G ers.. Bob was a very passionate Blue Jay fan. In later years Bob and I shared a team in the league which led to the infamous bidding against each other episode. Bob also managed to break a finger catching a foul ball in the stands at a game. Many games later a ball was hit to the exact same place. He ducked. Bob had a very positive effect on many people as their careers progressed at P & G. The expression “ Sage Advice” must have been coined for Bob. Round all the bases Bob and keep us in line.
A
Andrea Ritchie pledged to donate to The Children’s Aid Society
Saturday, June 20, 2020
Marilyn, hugs are waiting for you in a couple of months.
Love you and miss you.
Call me anytime.
Please wait
Y
Yong Quek posted a condolence
Saturday, June 20, 2020
Like many, I was deeply saddened by Bob Anderson's passing. I had an opportunity to talk to Bob recently before he took ill. It was a great conversation and I'm now so happy that I was able to do it. Bob was the same guy whom I knew throughout my career at P&G. Bob retired in 1995 as General Counsel and Secretary. During his career, he served in this capacity reporting to five Presidents of P&G Canada. He commanded great respect among all of us. In this capacity, Bob had oversight on the organization’s compliance to laws and regulations of Canada. This covered a broad range of legal responsibilities including advertising, patents, labour relations, product safety, fair competition and the general conduct of the executives of the company. He did his job impeccably. During his time at P&G, his contributions are too many to mention but there are two which stand out in my mind. First, in the 70s, after a seminal meeting with our Advertising Manager Larry Dare, Bob completely changed the way in which the legal department interfaced with our brand people. Larry had impressed upon Bob that "we all have the same job in the company" and that's to make sure we maximize sales and profit while keeping to P&G's ethical and legal standards. That was the day that our legal department changed from simply providing a legal view to one which worked cooperatively with the Brand people. Simply stated, the legal people moved from simply telling us what we couldn't do, to one which made suggestions of what we could do. This made our advertising much better. The two things that really drive our business are product improvements and improvements in advertising. By helping us write better copy Bob really did move extra cases through the door! Secondly, Bob really took on the responsibility of making sure that the executives of the company really understood what it meant to behave appropriately, especially in association meetings which included our competitors. The one area that he was absolutely insistent on was that there would be absolutely no discussion of pricing outside the company. He told me "when they mention price, you leave the room". That was sage advice. He coached us well. All the great P&G managers have one thing in common – they develop their people. Bob grew generations of lawyers in our company. When he retired, he left Eric Glass in his position. And when Eric retired, Carol Ritter followed him. They are both Bob's protégés. Some of the toughest meetings I had with Bob were not over the legal issues or the business but over resolving some of our differences about the performance and ratings of our lawyers. If you really wanted to make Bob angry, you would oppose his view on his people and he would fight you to the bitter end. I actually cannot remember when I won any of these arguments. Good for you Bob. Outside the Company, Bob held several important Board positions. In addition to being on the Board of P&G Canada, he sat on Boards of The Canadian Manufacturers Association, The Ontario Chamber of Commerce, The Children Aids Society of Metropolitan Toronto, Mission Air and The Ontario division of the Canadian Marketing Association. He was Chair of the National Advertising Standards Council, and President of the Association of Canadian General Counsels. Bob really loved being a lawyer. Before he retired, he and I had a conversation about what it meant him to be a lawyer. If you made him Prime Minister and told him he couldn't be a lawyer, he would turn the job down. Being a lawyer was burned into his soul and his psyche. Being a lawyer was so much a part of him. Beyond this, he played badminton enthusiastically. It also has been confidentially reported to me that he spent an inordinate amount of time on the Maple Bush Baseball League, a fantasy baseball league comprised of many P&G people. None of these characters would admit to not playing on Company time. Frankly, the only assurance that shareholders had on this issue was Bob’s presence in this league. If I may, I would like to end on a personal note. As a manager growing up in P&G you meet and work with a lot of really good people. Most of them will contribute to your technical knowledge and your business skills. Many of them will also contribute to your development as an ethical manager. I thank Bob for all the lessons in ethics that he taught me. It stood me well when I was working and it benefitted me in life. Rest in peace my friend and thank you
B
Barry Pipes posted a condolence
Saturday, June 20, 2020
Am so sorry to learn of Bob Anderson's passing. In my experience, he was the classic Corporate Lawyer and General Counsel. After about 14 years in the Sales Services area of the Company. I was offered a transfer into Bob's sphere of activities as a start to what ultimately became External Affairs dealing with Government Relations and Consumer Affairs and the Media as the Company Spokesman. I always remember Bob saying to me with some frequency, "don't forget you are not a lawyer" in my dealings with the public at large. Bob Anderson was a gentleman front and centre at all times and a credit to P & G Canada, and, I do believe, we shared a birthday albeit a year apart, which is next Monday when ( I think) he'd be 88. Again,I think, I am a year older, with a memory to match.
T
Tom Gove posted a condolence
Saturday, June 20, 2020
I am sorry to be so long in commenting about but I was up North with limited communications. Fortunately, I was able to be in touch with Marilyn and kept up to date on Bob’s condition. While not unexpected, I was still devastated by the news. Bob and I crossed paths in our work many times. Public relations, environmental issues, acquisition integration, etc. Working with Bob was always fruitful and a pleasure. On a personal note, Sandy and I, Hannes and Ingrid, and Bob and Marilyn shared visits to our cottages since we were all in the North Muskoka and Parry Sound area. Hannes and I also participated with Bob for 30 plus years in the famous P & G baseball pool along with about a dozen other P & G‘ers or EX P & G’ers.. Bob was a very passionate Blue Jay fan. In later years Bob and I shared a team in the league which led to the infamous bidding against each other episode. Bob also managed to break a finger catching a foul ball in the stands at a game. Many games later a ball was hit to the exact same place. He ducked. Bob had a very positive effect on many people as their careers progressed at P & G. The expression “Sage Advice” must have been coined for Bob. Round all the bases Bob and keep us in line.
C
Cliff Sparkes posted a condolence
Saturday, June 20, 2020
So sad to hear about Bob. I just remember him as our 'senior Corporate lawyer'. I have no idea what senior lawyers do, but I knew it was an important job. I 'think' Bob MAY have been our senior lawyer when he brought on Erin O'toole as a junior corporate lawyer, who is now vying for head of the Conservative party and hoping to become our Prime Minister. (or it could have John McGlogan? it was in that era)
R
Rita Symington posted a condolence
Saturday, June 20, 2020
So sorry to hear of Bob’s passing! I had the great pleasure to have him sit beside me and listen to some consumers call in my early days in Costumer Relation Service dept. He was such a pleasant and caring gentleman.
G
Gail Robinson Gow posted a condolence
Saturday, June 20, 2020
Bob helped me with lots of sage legal advice on many tax projects I worked on my years at P&G. Very sad to hear this. Really feeling my own mortality as close colleagues are leaving us.
H
Hélène Pauyln posted a condolence
Saturday, June 20, 2020
Ohhhh dear...so sorry to hear. Bob Anderson was such a sharp and strategic legal mind. I recall so many cases when we would meet to review the research for either an anticipated advertising challenge or in defense of one. For me as a young (er) employee, he outwardly appeared as a bit of an intimidating presence, not with his physical stature nor use of language but rather lack of conversation. He would seldom talk in the elevator or walking by in the hall, nor smile; he always seemed so preoccupied with whatever case was on his mind. Over time though, as we interacted more often over the years, he "mellowed" and had quite a dry wit. I think he was also probably a man with a "shier" temperament. May he rest in peace. Cheerz Hélène
S
Sue Brunet posted a condolence
Saturday, June 20, 2020
I am so sorry to hear about Bob’s passing. I can still see him clearly as he walked by my work station every day. It only seems a few years ago. Condolences to his family and may he rest in peace.
H
Harvey Romeike posted a condolence
Saturday, June 20, 2020
Very sad news. Bob was a wonderful, honourable man. It was my pleasure to work with and know him as a colleague and friend for many years.
A
The family of Robert (Bob) Davis Anderson uploaded a photo
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
/tribute-images/7028/Ultra/Robert-Bob-Anderson.jpg
Please wait
