R. I. P. Etobicoke Rangers' Bobby Hunter

ROBERT (BOBBY)HUNTER

July 29, 1950 - Aug. 23, 2022

Robert James Hunter passed away on Tuesday Aug. 23, 2022.

Robert was the son of Robert Lawson Hunter and Emily (Micek) Hunter, brother to Elizabeth (Marcheterre). He was the beloved husband to Katherine (Funston) and father of Alexandra, Ethan and Zachary. Bob was a proud graduate of Richview Collegiate Institute and Bowling Green State University (Ohio).

Born to a great Toronto Sportsman family - his father Robert L. Hunter was the last owner of The Toronto Maple Leaf Baseball Team (an International League Member from 1890s-1967). Bob’s father was also an owner of thoroughbred horses that ran at Dufferin Park, Long Branch, old and new Woodbine.

Bob’s love of ball began during family trips Sunday afternoons to watch his father’s team play at Maple Leaf Stadium where former big leaguers and upcoming future Major League Stars played.

Bob was a member of the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR), The International Geneva Club (IGC), The Showman Club of America Canadian Chapter, The Ontario Outdoor Amusement (OOA) and The International Federation of Body Builders (IFBB).

After a 30-year career as an amateur player starting in 1957 at Kingsway Lambton Park in the KBA, he then turned to coaching with the Etobicoke Indians then Rangers. In 2005, Bob began coaching the Richview Saints High School team leading them to 11 consecutive Western Division championships and four city championships.

He will always be remembered for his duct tape pocket sized notebooks, which he wrote in code entire games, pitches, balls, strikes, each players batting and fielding outcomes. Bob was an instructor at Doyle Brother’s Academy, Proteach Baseball, Detroit Tigers and Bob Prentice Baseball Summer Camps.

Some of Bob’s fondest memories include Saturday night family trips to watch the Argos play, as well as enjoying the Toronto Maple Leaf games at the Gardens, in which his family held seasons tickets.

Sundays were all about the NFL and his beloved Cleveland Browns. An avid fan and follower his entire life, the Browns broke his heart most weeks except December 1964 with an NFL Championship.

Bob’s passion for his career was evident in the half century spent working in the carnival business with Canada’s Conklin Shows, working across Canada, the United States and the Caribbean Islands. He loved the business, from small shows to the major shows, because no days were alike. He spent 40 summers working the Toronto CNE Midway; loving every minute of it, reuniting with old acquaintances from his past along the way. Bob was often heard saying “There’s no life like it.”

Bob’s memory will continue to live on through his family, friends and throughout the different communities he was involved in, and his presence will be greatly missed.

Visitation

Turner & Porter - Yorke Chapel

2357 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ont.,

M6S 1P4

Thursday, 8 Sept 2022 2-4 PM

Thursday, 8 Sept. 2022 7-9 PM

-- Turner & Porter