Bob MacDonald
Issue #70 - November 2018
This edition of Sky Studio is dedicated to Bob MacDonald
This edition of Sky Studio is dedicated to Bob MacDonald, who joined his former colleagues in Sky Studio November 4, 2018, in his 69th year.
I and many others have lost a close, personal friend from years ago and now hold tighter to the memories shared with him as we all take another step along a shared path. It’s always shock and sadness when someone steps into Sky Studio and I’m very saddened to advise of the loss of Bob MacDonald, CJIC TV technical operator and later weatherman and CJIC 1050 Radio afternoon drive announcer.
From his time in CJIC Television as a telecine operator, I had the opportunity to take that talent and put Bob on our on-air team at CJIC AM Radio part time where he moved to the full time role as afternoon drive (3pm-6pm), a position he held and built audiences for years in the 1970s. He was a key member of our team, an incredible talent and person to be around professionally and socially and when HE went to Thunder Bay we dearly missed him but, all cheered him in his new opportunity that was to last there a wonderful four decades. Thunder Bay and area was a much richer place because of Bob being there on air - entertaining, informing and supporting community efforts.
I recall his last TV weather forecast on CJIC TV when the production crew decided it’d be fun and memorable to have a couple gallons of water drop on him live at the end of his weathercast! Somewhere there are photos of that moment.
In the 70s, tight production of news and jock shows was the thing to do and one Sunday morning Bob was doing the morning show and I was the news guy. After a blistering fast 5-minute newscast that included about 8 audio clips, Bob came on the intercom and said he’d just had a call from JJ Hilsinger complimenting us on the tightest newscast he’d ever heard. Jim recognizing our efforts and taking time to call was typical of him in acknowledging efforts of others and for us, it was a major compliment from a man we admired that we never forgot.
When we worked together Sunday, there was a religious tape broadcast in the morning – Back to the Bible I think - during our shift and while that was on the air, we’d leave the studios to go to Muio’s restaurant for breakfast with a ‘transistor’ radio to listen and be sure the tape didn’t break. The sound of the radio often caught attention of those coming in to Muio’s noticing these two guys listening to a religious show while enjoying their bacon and eggs.
Socially, when I had a Volkswagen bug with the hand brake in the middle by the four speed transmission, Bob was passenger as I parked on an incline to answer the call of nature. As I was taking care of business I heard the car rolling down the hill. Bob purposefully released the brake to see how fast I could get back in the car. We laughed about that one for years. Bob had innumerable shared fun times with many, and gave us all many good memories by which we can fondly recall him.
At The Vic beverage establishment, Bob had a ‘skill’ of taking a draft glass in his teeth, lifting it without hands and pouring it down in, I think, about 6 seconds. Always the performer, Bob did it to entertain and amuse, something it seemed he was put here to do. He gave us so many laughs and grand times.
His time in the Sault Opera with his powerful voice under the direction of Arno Ambel is well remembered by many and by us in the studio when he’d do an impromptu rehearsal at work.
In 2012 I was on a Red Cross volunteer deployment in Thunder Bay, Bob heard I was there, found out where I was and came to see me. It was our last time together and I’m so grateful we had those final moments.
It's heartening to see the respectful acknowledgment provided by Thunder Bay media to these passings of those who have been in our lives for so long in such a meaningful way: https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/longtime-broadcaster-bob-macdonald-dies-1111063
And, it’s also gratifying to see community-based social media sites pay the same respect:https://www.facebook.com/groups/ThunderBayMemories/permalink/2185347955013579/
Special Announcement
https://www.sootoday.com/obituaries/macdonald-robert-bob-1119823
