Obituary of Robin Denis MacLennan
Robin Denis MacLennan
Robin Denis MacLennan, devoted husband of the late Margaret MacLennan (Cukier) (Veitch) has passed away after a short illness at the age of 86. Beloved father of Linda MacLennan , Wendy Cukier, Katharine Cukier, and Deborah (Cukier) Evans, Robin loved Port Dalhousie where he made his home for the past forty years. Robin was born in Glasgow, Scotland to Alistair MacLennan and Sheila Kathleen O'Donovan but spent 10 years of his childhood in Darjeeling India where his father managed a tea plantation. He returned to Scotland during his teen years. An engineer when he first came to Canada in 1971, Robin was a lifelong learner and prodigious reader. He earned his BA in English at Brock University, his MA in English at the University of Toronto and returned to Brock to earn a teaching degree. Robin combined his diverse talents as a technical writer with Monenco Engineering where he worked for close to 20 years. Forever in the heart of his grandchildren - Sarah, Madeleine, Sam, Marguerite and Benjamin - his encyclopedic knowledge and remarkable memory made him a sought after team member in family games. He was also an elite cryptic crossword player. With his wife and his very dear sister, the late Eileen MacLennan, Robin was involved with the MacLennan Clan Association of Canada and an annual participant of the Highland Games and all things Scottish.
Robin was predeceased by his first wife, Linda's mother, Margaret (Sneddon) in 1968 and his second wife Dorothy (Stocker) in 1976. Robin and Margaret (who predeceased her beloved husband in 2002) were deeply spiritual and active at Star of the Sea Church where Robin participated regularly as a lay reader in many hundreds of services. In the words of his former priest, Father Peter: "I will treasure forever my fond memories of a man whose voice and inflection captured so well the message of Sacred Scripture. The word of God surely did resonate with him, and it showed in his way of proclamation." Robin was in his essence, a very good, patient and gentle man and will always be remembered for his good deeds and kindness which touched so many.
The family appreciates the excellent care he received at Niagara Regional Health Centre and from the team from the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) who enabled Robin to stay in his cherished home with its view over the Henley Pond until last May. The family thanks those caregivers who treated Robin with patience and kindness at Henley House where he spent his final days, along with his extended support team including Margaret B and Margaret K. Most of all, the family is forever grateful to our friend Charline for her gentle, loving and patient support and advocacy when he needed it most. Family and friends will be received at the GEORGE DARTE FUNERAL HOME, 585 Carlton St., St. Catharines on Sunday, December 23 from 5-9 p.m. Vigil prayers will be recited along with a celebration of Robin's life on Sunday at 7 p.m. in the funeral home. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church, 34 Elgin St., St. Catharines on Monday, December 24 at 10 a.m. Interment will take place at Victoria Lawn Cemetery followed by a reception for family and friends. If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society.
