Obituary of Robert Benedict Mullin

It is with a deep sense of calm acceptance that the loving family and friends of Bob Mullin mourn the passing of the patriarch. Long a familiar figure to Saint Johners as the affable and gregarious tale spinner they came to know as "their" bus driver or the man who was there to serve as a labour organizer, hospital board member, Legionnaire or food bank volunteer worker, Bob will be remembered as the man with a story for every occasion and a knack for moving to the heart of the matter and getting things done. Born at Exmoor near Red Bank in Northumberland County at the Mullin homestead on July 26, 1918, "in the middle of a thunderstorm", Bob was the first son of the late Robert Mullin and Mary Murphy. His younger brother, Paul, of Brantford, ON, survives. Bob was truly "born and bred on the Miramichi", as he so often expressed it. The river and the forest figured much larger in his upbringing than formal schooling as he dropped out after the 8th grade and began working as a lumberjack, fisherman and guide. Consequently, he remained an ardent sportsman and conservationist throughout his life who often decried the exploitation of the land for short-term profit. With the outbreak of the Second World War, Bob enlisted in the 28th Field Battery of the Royal Canadian Army on September 4, 1939. After basic training at Newcastle, NB, and Camp Petawawa, ON, he went overseas in the fall of 1940. Though initially a wireless operator, he volunteered to join the elite ranks of the paratroopers and, following training, was attached to the British Sixth Airborne Division and saw extensive action from D-Day to VE-Day in France, Belgium and Holland, and parachuted behind enemy lines across the Rhine in the spring of 1945. By the end of the war, his unit was deep in Germany within striking distance of Berlin. Military training was an important factor in making him a leader. In later life, he was on the executive of his Local of the Amalgamated Transit Union as well as being active in the Saint John District Labour Council and as a member of the board of the Veterans Hospital and with the Royal Canadian Legion - in all of which activities he proved to be a thorn in the side of bureaucrats and obstructionists of all stripes. Though an ardent Roman Catholic, his use of colourful language was legendary, a trait for which he made no apology - suffice it to say the Holy Blessed Redeemer was often asked to officiate. While overseas, Bob met and married his first wife, Margaret Mackay of Edinborough, Scotland, and their first child, Robert III (called Jock), was born there. He received several decorations for his military service including the 1939-1945 Star, the France-Germany Star, the Defence Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp. Following discharge on October 31, 1945, Bob came to Saint John where he found employment briefly at the Saint John Dry Dock and, in 1947, joined NB Hydro as a streetcar driver. In 1948, the streetcars were phased out and Bob joined City Transit as a bus driver where he worked for almost 40 years until May 7, 1986. Bob was very active in the Amalgamated Transit Union where he worked for improved working conditions and equipment for the drivers. This also led to responsibilities with the District Labour Council. Bob and Margaret had four more children: Trudie (Rod Forbes) of Merrickville, ON; Wendy (Bruce Canning) of Victoria, BC; Pat (Jim Furr) of Redwood, CA, and Gary of Ladner, BC, all surviving. Following Margaret's death, Bob married Margaret (Peg) Lang (nee Staples) who had previously lost her husband, Bill. The union with Peg was to be the cornerstone of a wonderful relationship which also joined their families, so Bob also became father and mentor to Eileen (Ed Mayer) of Carver, MA; Kathryn of Collingwood, ON; Pat of Nanaimo, BC, and William of Calgary, AB, all surviving, and of Maureen, sadly deceased. Over the years, this extended family has been enhanced by the birth of 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild with another imminent. Retirement by no means meant Bob slowed down in either his love of the outdoors or his commitment to helping his family and others in the community in every way possible. Despite responsibilities with the hospital board, the Canadian Legion, volunteer work at Holy Trinity Church and the food bank, he and Peg traveled widely and spent most of their summers at the trailer where he met and will be remembered by many people, many of whom will recall that he was always ready to help out when needed. A man of great heart, a lively wit and a great smile, Bob impressed everyone with his presence, strength of will land singlemindedness of purpose. Nobody's fool, he always gave the other person a chance to prove themselves. Having learned from his own life experience that inflexibility of mind leads to prejudice, he tried not to judge and to base his opinions on solid moral principles. A strong Catholic all his life, he embraced the ecumenism of the new church and was very open to all faiths. Even on his deathbed he was making new friends, and confided in his last few days he had just learned that despite his earlier thoughts, gays were really ordinary people. He wondered up until that time why God waited until well into his 88th year before taking him home. We will all miss his sympathetic spirit and easy smile and, yes, even the old stories and jokes. If heaven has salmon, they better look out! Resting at Brenan's Select Community Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (506-634-7424) with visiting on Sunday and Monday, 2-4 & 7-9 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Trinity Church, Rockland Road, on Tuesday, April 18, 2006, at 12:00 Noon. Interment at St. Joseph's Cemetery. Remembrances to the charity of the donor's choice would be appreciated. The Royal Canadian Legion will hold a tribute to a Veteran service on Monday evening at 7:00 pm at the funeral home.