Obituary for Bob Shindle
SHINDLE, Robert
Passed away peacefully, surrounded by love, on January 17, 2023 at Princess Margaret Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer. Bob is dearly missed by his partner and best friend, Birgit Roth-Shindle, and his children, Rachael (Simone Bozzetto) and Jason Shindle. Bob is survived by his brothers, Bill (Glenda) and Don (Peta), nieces and nephews, Kristine, Steve, Collin, Carly, Stefan (Keira), Ellen, and Lily, as well as cousin Colleen (Grant), and mother in law Mary Moffatt. Bob is predeceased by his parents, William Sr. and Lily.
Robert Fredrick Shindle was born on November 19th in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His parents Bill and Lily, along with Bob’s older brother Bill, moved shortly thereafter to Thunder Bay. (Then known as Fort William). Following that arrival his younger brother Don was born, keeping Bill and Lily hopping with three very active boys. Bob attended various schools including his High School at Sir Winston Churchill Collegiate and Vocational Institute where his skills in electronics became evident. Bob was constantly building and rebuilding transistor radios and other forms of electronic communication. He was known as a happy, eager, curious young man with a quick smile that lit up his face. Bob was known to his many friends as someone you could trust and depend on for anything you needed.
Through his youth, Bob was an avid drummer and landed his first gig for a local band ‘Zeebraz’ but shortly realized his real interest was in sound engineering. He transitioned to sound engineering, and as everyone knows, his career took off and remained one in which he excelled beyond measure - right up until Bob became too ill. Everyone in the industry knew and admired Bob’s talent. Even with a stellar career, Bob always kept in touch with his immediate and extended family and maintained his love for Thunder Bay and the lifestyle it offered by faithfully bringing the children and Biggi back for summer vacations at Loon Lake - spending time by his bonfire, and the lake. Bob loved his bicycle, and even well into his 60s he biked every single day, over 40 km, to and from work.
Bob’s career and reputation as a premier sound engineer started with the bands he worked with from his hometown of Thunder Bay. As his notoriety began to circulate in Toronto, he began working with the recording act, Edward Bear. In 1977 the manager of “Rhinegold” (later, Gowan) brought Bob to meet us at the Piccadilly Tube on Yonge St. and for the next 5 years he was with us. In 1981 (after the demise of Rhinegold) he began working with many Toronto acts, “Surrender” being one of note, and was shortly thereafter summoned to the court of Ronnie Hawkins, where once again his star rose another notch or two. In 1984 he started touring with Kim Mitchell and in 1985 he was reunited with Gowan for the remainder of the decade, filling out his busy schedule with Jeff Healey, Tom Cochrane and Red Rider, Colin James, Kim Mitchell, and Lawrence Gowan, just to name a few. In the 1990’s, hanging on to Bob as a permanent sound engineer became increasingly challenging as the big musicals of "Joseph and The Techni-coloured Dreamcoat" (Donny Osmond) "Mamma Mia" (the Abba musical) The Who’s: “Tommy" (working under the watchful eyes of Pete Townsend) and many many others came knocking… and he answered with the finest sound those productions would receive. Also mid-90’s, Bob was at the helm at Q107’s Skylab Studios. Whenever available, Bob would continue to work with the rock bands with whose careers he had greatly contributed. By the late 1990’s, as younger generations of sound engineers have enthusiastically attested, Bob became a mentor and much sought after "guru" of Live Sound Engineering. Much is owed to his tutelage. As we entered the new millennium, with his reputation widespread across the industry, the National Ballet of Canada and The Canadian Opera lured him into their service and he became the head Sound Engineer for their productions at Four Seasons Theatre in Toronto for the following two decades. Bob Shindle was the BEST OF THE BEST. (This was shared with love, and admiration, by Lawrence Gowan).
Bob’s biggest accomplishment in life was raising his two incredible children, Rachael and Jason, who have flourished into strong and confident adults each finding their own way into extraordinary careers. Bob overcame the rigors of the road and made the decision to be home to guide and support both of them through their young lives - a decision he never regretted and one they thrived with. He met the love of his life, Biggi, who has faithfully poured into the kids and Bob, until the day of his passing, never leaving his side; there for Rachael and Jason though this very difficult time as well as many important moments in their lives. The entire Shindle family will always be grateful for Biggi and have welcomed her into their family with open arms and hearts. Bob was an incredible father, and will be terribly missed by Biggi, Rachael, Jason, his brothers Bill & Don, and his many nieces, nephews, and countless friends and coworkers.
Please consider making a donation to Princess Margaret Hospital, in honour of Bob - the doctors, nurses and support staff were so incredibly kind to him throughout his stay and treated him with nothing but the dignity and love that he deserved.
The service will be live streamed for all those who are not able to attend in person. Click Here to Watch the Service Live Stream
Passed away peacefully, surrounded by love, on January 17, 2023 at Princess Margaret Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer. Bob is dearly missed by his partner and best friend, Birgit Roth-Shindle, and his children, Rachael (Simone Bozzetto) and Jason Shindle. Bob is survived by his brothers, Bill (Glenda) and Don (Peta), nieces and nephews, Kristine, Steve, Collin, Carly, Stefan (Keira), Ellen, and Lily, as well as cousin Colleen (Grant), and mother in law Mary Moffatt. Bob is predeceased by his parents, William Sr. and Lily.
Robert Fredrick Shindle was born on November 19th in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His parents Bill and Lily, along with Bob’s older brother Bill, moved shortly thereafter to Thunder Bay. (Then known as Fort William). Following that arrival his younger brother Don was born, keeping Bill and Lily hopping with three very active boys. Bob attended various schools including his High School at Sir Winston Churchill Collegiate and Vocational Institute where his skills in electronics became evident. Bob was constantly building and rebuilding transistor radios and other forms of electronic communication. He was known as a happy, eager, curious young man with a quick smile that lit up his face. Bob was known to his many friends as someone you could trust and depend on for anything you needed.
Through his youth, Bob was an avid drummer and landed his first gig for a local band ‘Zeebraz’ but shortly realized his real interest was in sound engineering. He transitioned to sound engineering, and as everyone knows, his career took off and remained one in which he excelled beyond measure - right up until Bob became too ill. Everyone in the industry knew and admired Bob’s talent. Even with a stellar career, Bob always kept in touch with his immediate and extended family and maintained his love for Thunder Bay and the lifestyle it offered by faithfully bringing the children and Biggi back for summer vacations at Loon Lake - spending time by his bonfire, and the lake. Bob loved his bicycle, and even well into his 60s he biked every single day, over 40 km, to and from work.
Bob’s career and reputation as a premier sound engineer started with the bands he worked with from his hometown of Thunder Bay. As his notoriety began to circulate in Toronto, he began working with the recording act, Edward Bear. In 1977 the manager of “Rhinegold” (later, Gowan) brought Bob to meet us at the Piccadilly Tube on Yonge St. and for the next 5 years he was with us. In 1981 (after the demise of Rhinegold) he began working with many Toronto acts, “Surrender” being one of note, and was shortly thereafter summoned to the court of Ronnie Hawkins, where once again his star rose another notch or two. In 1984 he started touring with Kim Mitchell and in 1985 he was reunited with Gowan for the remainder of the decade, filling out his busy schedule with Jeff Healey, Tom Cochrane and Red Rider, Colin James, Kim Mitchell, and Lawrence Gowan, just to name a few. In the 1990’s, hanging on to Bob as a permanent sound engineer became increasingly challenging as the big musicals of "Joseph and The Techni-coloured Dreamcoat" (Donny Osmond) "Mamma Mia" (the Abba musical) The Who’s: “Tommy" (working under the watchful eyes of Pete Townsend) and many many others came knocking… and he answered with the finest sound those productions would receive. Also mid-90’s, Bob was at the helm at Q107’s Skylab Studios. Whenever available, Bob would continue to work with the rock bands with whose careers he had greatly contributed. By the late 1990’s, as younger generations of sound engineers have enthusiastically attested, Bob became a mentor and much sought after "guru" of Live Sound Engineering. Much is owed to his tutelage. As we entered the new millennium, with his reputation widespread across the industry, the National Ballet of Canada and The Canadian Opera lured him into their service and he became the head Sound Engineer for their productions at Four Seasons Theatre in Toronto for the following two decades. Bob Shindle was the BEST OF THE BEST. (This was shared with love, and admiration, by Lawrence Gowan).
Bob’s biggest accomplishment in life was raising his two incredible children, Rachael and Jason, who have flourished into strong and confident adults each finding their own way into extraordinary careers. Bob overcame the rigors of the road and made the decision to be home to guide and support both of them through their young lives - a decision he never regretted and one they thrived with. He met the love of his life, Biggi, who has faithfully poured into the kids and Bob, until the day of his passing, never leaving his side; there for Rachael and Jason though this very difficult time as well as many important moments in their lives. The entire Shindle family will always be grateful for Biggi and have welcomed her into their family with open arms and hearts. Bob was an incredible father, and will be terribly missed by Biggi, Rachael, Jason, his brothers Bill & Don, and his many nieces, nephews, and countless friends and coworkers.
Please consider making a donation to Princess Margaret Hospital, in honour of Bob - the doctors, nurses and support staff were so incredibly kind to him throughout his stay and treated him with nothing but the dignity and love that he deserved.
The service will be live streamed for all those who are not able to attend in person. Click Here to Watch the Service Live Stream