Robert de Beauchesne Johnston, Ph.D., (March 28, 1946 – January 23, 2018) passed away surrounded by loved ones in Nova Scotia after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Montreal to Stanley and Annette (Hould), he is survived by his beloved wife of fifty years Celeste (Smith), daughter Elise (Maurice), sons Dr. Robert (Fiona), and Andrew (Lisa), and grandchildren Malcolm, Naomi, Gabrielle, and Connor. Perfectly bilingual and a gifted student, he attended Selwyn House School, Bishop’s College School, McGill University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he earned a PhD in computer engineering in 1971. He subsequently held several posts in industry and academia, including Professor and director of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique – télécommunications (Quebec). He was adored by students, both his own and others who gravitated to his attentive teaching. Kind, gregarious, and generous to all around him, he was a devoted family man, and quick to smile, with a robust sense of humour. When not tinkering on computers or woodworking, he could be found on the ocean off residences in Abaco, Bahamas and Hunts Point, Nova Scotia.
The family would like to thank health care staff in Liverpool, Bridgewater, and Halifax.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Liverpool Regional High School Scholarship Foundation in memory of Robert Johnston for furthering education in science.
A service and reception will be held at Trinity Anglican Church, Liverpool, Nova Scotia, on February 3rd, 2018, at 2:00 pm and a memorial service in Montreal this spring.
To share memories or condolences, please visit www.chandlersfuneral.com
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Zona Hatt
Dear Celeste & family,
I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. Mom spoke highly of your hubby & family & the closeness you shared .. cherish & hold all your memories close !! There will be sadness with tears but there will also be laughter with tears as you share stories of time’s gone bye !!
May you feel God’s presence as you prepare to say bye for now .. till you meet again ..
Hugs
Zona
Sheila Wilson
So sorry to hear of Bob’s passing Celeste. Our thoughts are with you and your family at this sad time.
Sheila and Bill Wilson
Beverley Simpson
I am so sorry to hear this. My condolences to our classmate Celeste and the family.
Judy James
RJ was a kind, unassuming and generous man. My heart goes out to Celeste and family on your profound loss. Deepest condolences.
Judy and Zulu
Eslam Awad
Mr. Robert was the most kind and generous man i have ever met i spent over a week in his home back in 2014 through my participation in liverpool international theater festival, am really sad to hear about his passing away, my sincere condolences to his wife and his family, peace and love be upon him
Ahmed abodouh
peace be upon a man who was kind
A man who was so hospitable
My heart hurts
Im going to keep you in my prayers and thoughts
Rest in Peace Mr bob
Margaret Brown
Dear Celeste -Gary and I send you our sincere sympathy in the passing of your dear husband Robert.I’m sure you were a great advocate for him through his illness and in his final days.Please extend our sympathy to your family also.Love to you from us in Calgary. Marg
Pat Dexter
Hi Celeste: I am so sorry for your loss. Words fail me. Please accept my heartfelt condolences
Margot
Dear Celeste, I was shocked and saddened to read the news of Robert’s passing. I had a great visit with you both this passed summer, it was so nice to reconnect. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers
Love Margot
Hal McGee
The death of a loved one is a magical thing; although they are not present in this world, they are never absent. Beautiful moments will continue to be shared with them. Warm thoughts and gentle hugs to Celeste and all the family.
debra hansen
To The Johnston I’m So Sorry For Your Loss R J Was A Wonderful Man R.I.P Debra And Billy Hansen
Louise carbonneau vermeiren
Deepest condolences to you Celeste and your family members. I feel for you. I am sending healing divine light to embrace each one of you.
Mic & Kim Davidman
Brainy and accomplished, his in-depth knowledge from astronomy to Shakespeare made him a true Renaissance man. Mostly we remember his loyalty, kindness and generosity, even to strangers. Polite and mannered to a fault; the perfect host. Didn’t know how to say “no”, but a master at equivocating! You had to be prepared for multiple choice if you asked for technical advice.
All the adventures we would have missed but for our friendship: repairs to the roof at Lac Provost, plumbing at every locale, boat rides to the barrier islands at TC (sometimes scary!), snorkelling in the Galapagos, fresh caught fish dinners in TC, dog training in Boston, elaborate picnics at Tanglewood, babysitting in London! As for his preferred Scotch, he wasn’t fussy.
Such an athlete, in his prime Bob could out-walk, out-ski us all even with his smoking handicap.
It feels like The Johnston/Davidman family now have a screw loose without the RJ bolt holding us together. We miss you and will miss your more as time goes by. Lots and lots of love to Celeste and all the family. Mic and Kim
Rika Bolivar
So sorry to hear of Bob`s passing. He was a great man. May he always be remembered for being so.
Carla Young
I am so sorry to hear of your loss Celeste. My most deep and heartfelt sympathy to you and your family.
Shannon Hartlen
Celeste, Elise and Family,
We are very sorry to hear of Robert’s passing. What an amazing life to celebrate. Sending big, warm hugs to all of you, and wishing you peace in the coming days.
Xo
Shannon and Corey Hartlen
Rosalee Smith
Celeste and family …I weep as I write this … though I did not know Robert I know that losing someone so near and dear is very hard. Your memories are to be treasured. My condolences to all of you.
George and Joanne Erhart
We will always remember his easy smile, infectious laugh and generosity with his time. Warm hugs for all the family at this difficult time.
Danielle&Matt
Sending love and condolences. We are all very sad to hear of your loss. Thinking of you. Love from Matt, Danielle, and family.
Sue Regan Burke
Very sorry to hear of your loss, Celeste. I remember him being such a gentleman at our reunion in Hunt’s Point. May you find peace in all your memories over those 50 years.
Brenda Lawrence
Celeste and family .
So shocked and sorry to read of Bob’s passing .
My heart aches for you , he was such a wonderful man .
Sincere sympathy . Brenda Lawrence .
Fran Henley Amirault
Dear Celeste,
My heartfelt condolences to you and all your family. All the wonderful memories you and Bob shared will be with you and give you strength at this particular difficult time and forever. Thinking of you and sending prayers to all of you.
Hugs, Fran
Shirley & Paul Shot
Celeste and family: It is with a heavy heart that I write these words…Bob was a very kind hearted man, and had a smile that would light up a room…he had a gentle way about him…he was very laid back and complained about nothing…we will miss him at Brooklyn Marina…may you R.I.P. my friend…spread your Wings and go Fly High with the Angels…
“Just Remember” when someone you Love becomes a memory, that memory becomes a treasure…GOD BLESS
Sandi and Dennis Jones
Our greatest sympathy to Celeste and the entire Johnston family. Dennis and I knew Bob as “RJ”, here in our NS community at White Point. We will miss his generous, kind and funny spirit so very much.
Sandi and Dennis Jones
Our greatest sympathy to Celeste and the entire Johnston family. Dennis and I knew Bob as “RJ”, here in our NS community at White Point. We will miss his generous, kind and funny spirit so very much.
Diane
Dear Celeste and family,
I am so sorry for your heart wrenching loss. May you be surrounded by loving family, friends and loving memories. I was blessed to have sat with your wonderful Bob at one of the Fund raising Galas and have a glimpse into your loving relationship. Sending loving energy to you and your family.
Diane Lewis
Dan & Barbara MacLaren
Celeste and family
I was saddened to learn of Bobs passing. We had many a good chat at the marina. He will be missed
Dan MacLaren
Howard Smith
My dearest zceleste, Elise, Robby and my godson Andrew, I will be ther to say a final goodbye to our beloved RJ, love Bobby’s/Howard
Howard Smith
My dearest Celeste, Elise, Robby and my godson Andrew, I will be there to say a final goodbye to our beloved RJ, love Bobby/Howard
Debi and John Pye
Debi and I had the privilege of knowing RJ for a number of years and carry with us many fond memories of good times together, particularly during the famous Johnston dinner parties. I had not known RJ for long when I asked him to help me translate a quirky French quote for a piece I was writing. The next day he was around to our place with a methodical, highlighted and annotated parsing of the troublesome phrase. I was overwhelmed by the effort he put into this. But it was typical of him, as we were both to discover over the years. Kind, generous, enthusiastic to discuss or debate any subject you cared to mention, willing to dive into any challenge … making conch shells out of wood, building a pirate ship for his grandkids, crafting wine. He was a wonderful, unique human being, and we shall miss him.
Debbie Doucette
Celeste and Family
I was saddened to hear of Roberts death- my sincere condolences. Your memories are precious and as you recall and share some of those times, you will have special Robert moments that will stay with you always! Hang tight to each other as the strength you gain from each other will help you through this loss.
Faye and Norman Levy
Celeste and Family,
I am so very sorry to hear about Bob’s passing. He was such a kind and gentle man always willing to help any way he could. Cherish all your wonderful memories. Will keep you and your family in my prayers.
Faye and Norman Levy
Sonia Semenic
Dear Celeste, so sorry to hear about your loss. Thinking of you and wishing you “bon courage” during this time of great sadness.
Anna Santandrea
Dear Celeste,
I was so saddened to hear of your great loss… I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for you as you go through such difficult time. I hope that the beautiful memories you have of him will carry you through as you mourn his loss. My sincere sympathies to you and your family.
Kathi Parlee
Celeste, Elise and family – We were so sorry to hear this news. Our condolences to you all.
Glenn and Kathi Parlee
Bill and Camilla Smyth
To know Bob a pleasure. To be counted a friend, a great privilege. A true Gentleman and a Scholar. His Joie de Vivre a model to look up to. Wow! A Back to the Future moment he shared while visiting in Treasure Quay – on the sideboard was a little cigarette packaged size item with wires, circuit boards and tiny flashing red lights. An invention of Bob’s that he was testing – purportedly to control an elevator – when asked the practical application after it passed – didn’t seem relevant!!! Just recently, he proudly displayed a model earth mover machine he made out of wood, for his grandson, or was it for himself. In any event, in true Bob form, he had a ring binder full of at least a hundred detailed blueprints for every component of the carving. I am sure the drawings must have taken 50 times longer to create than the actual building. We will truly miss you. RIP Sir Bob.
Bill and Camilla.
Janice Reynolds
Celeste, Sorry to hear of RJ’s passing. Please know you are in my thoughts.
Claire Jospitre
No doubt, Bob enriched the lives of those who knew him. I hope that in due time your family receives God’s peace that excels all thought, so that it will guard your hearts and your mental, giving you the strength you need in the days ahead. God is called the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation. Rest assured that God cares for all his creatures and he would never bring us suffering. A soothing scripture I like is Psalm 34:18 which reads: “Jehovah is near to those that are broken at heart, and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.” He promised that in the Paradise, we will have the prospect of enjoying life without end, free from all problems, accidents, and sickness. Even our dead loved ones like Bob will be resurrected. (Psalm 37:9, 29; John 5:28, 29) With all my sympathy for the loss of someone so dear.
Ferial and Mo El-Hawary
The word sadness is not adequate to describe how Ferial and I feel about Dr. Johnston’s passing. White Point will never be the same without Bob. A real intellectual, and a kind and generous friend who is fun to be with, is gone to a better place. Our hearts go out to Celeste and family for your tremendous loss.
Susan Wing
Dear Celeste We are so sorry for your loss. I’m so glad we were able to visit you both a few summers ago. It was fun to surprise you. both. I believe Bob was smoking some fish in his smoker. Our prayers are with you in this time of sorrow. Much love Susan and Allan Wing
Roy and Jane
Please except our deepest sympathy at this most difficult time.
Roy and Jane Payzant
Roy & Jane Payzant
Celeste, we are so sorry to hear about Bob. He was a great asset to the marina and will truly be missed. Our sympathies.
Roy & Jane
Bonnie Gregg
Dear Celeste
So very sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. I was thinking of you on the 3rd.It was nice some of our classmates could be there .As you said you had over 50 wonderful years together.I know you will draw on those memories for comfort.
Please know that I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers
Love
Bonnie Rogers Gregg
Stephanie Miller
Celeste I do fondly remember meeting the 2 of you at WP and loved chatting with “bob” my sincerest condolences