I am sad to have learned today that former CHLY Station Manager Bob Simpson passed away this morning from stomach cancer in a private hospital room in Calgary. He was 75 years old and had just last night celebrated a wedding anniversary with his wife Judy.

Some of you would not have met Bob Simpson, but Bob was there for the CHLY when we needed someone capable and level headed during a difficult time for the station.

Bob was a radio veteran of 50 years by the time he retired, and was a mentor to me in numerous ways. I would even say he was a bit of a father figure during some difficulties in my personal life. I am very saddened by this loss, as I was hoping to see him again had his diagnosis and treatment regimen gone better.

I fondly remember the phone calls I had with him, as well as our regular lunches to discuss station business, politics, and life in general. Bob knew how to treat people well, and when to be stern. Raised on the prairies and having lived there for much of his life, he was the son of a minister (if I remember right both the politician kind and the pulpit kind), and like some from that part of Canada, a bit conservative. That said I did convince him to vote NDP in the 2015 Federal Election, something that I got a real kick out of at the time. He was not fond of Harper in those years.

He liked his martinis, he liked his oldies, and the booth always smelled of Old Spice when he was hosting his Wednesday afternoon show Bobby Be Cool. He was a sight to behold in the booth, organized and "on" it in only the way a veteran of 50 years could be.

He loved radio.

He was a friend.

Jesse Woodward,
Executive Director,
CHLY 101.7FM.