Toronto youth service worker dies at 82

Robert (Bob) Ellis

Robert (Bob) Ellis who worked for many years as a youth service worker/supervisor at St.Christopher House (now West Neighbourhod House) in Toronto where he coached lacrosse, basketball and other sports, died at his home on December 18 last. He was 82.

His wife, Estelle, said he had been suffering with cancer.

After retiring from St. Christopher House in 1990, he worked for Family Services and George Brown College in Toronto and was an employment counsellor at the YWCA.

He was born in Toronto to Caribbean parents –his father was Barbadian and his mother, Jamaican.

His wife said that Bob’s “great joy in life” was singing and, along with his friends Jay Jackson, Jack Gelbloom, and brother Roy Ellis, formed Take Three Plus One, a doo-wop group.

“He loved jazz, sports, cooking and discussing politics and was a devoted family man,” she said.

“As a husband he was kind, loving, a great listener, problem solver and best friend. He also had a fabulous sense of humour and his home was always filled with laughter,” she added.

He was on the Board of Directors at St. Christopher House for five years and served as Board President for one term. He was also on the Board of Directors at Scadding Court Community Centre and The Harriet Tubman Community Organization.

He leaves his wife, his son, Colin, his daughter, Adrienne, and many nephews and nieces.

A funeral service for the late Robert (Bob) Ellis was held at Cardinal funeral home in Toronto on December 30 last.