Robert John "Bob" Hillier

Robert John “Bob” Hillier

Robert John Hillier was born in Toronto on November 12, 1948, to Beth and Bert Hillier. Bob passed away unexpectedly on Friday, May 15, 2026, at Regina General Hospital.

He is survived by his sister Nancy Denby (John), his brother Iain Hillier (Dianne), as well as his beloved nieces and nephews: Kristin, Dave, Mike, Katie, Meaghan, Blake, and Matthew, and nine great-nieces and great-nephews. Depending on when you knew him, he was lovingly known as Bob, Rob, or Robert.

Bob was a loyal friend, a scholar, an avid sportsman, and a lifelong seeker of knowledge and adventure. He was known for his quiet intellect, dry sense of humour, and thoughtful way of moving through the world. Graduating as an Ontario Scholar, his passion for learning never faded. As a young man, he was an exceptionally accomplished alpine ski racer with national aspirations, until a serious ski accident at the age of 17 changed the course of his life.

Bob attended Simon Fraser University, where he was introduced to Buddhism, sparking a lifelong spiritual journey. Over the next five years, he travelled extensively throughout the world and remained a spiritual seeker for the rest of his life. During those travels, he was honoured to be among a select group of foreigners permitted to enter Tibet.

He later attended BCIT to study land surveying, completed his articling in Saskatoon, and went on to become a highly respected Saskatchewan Land Surveyor. Bob approached his profession with integrity, precision, and unwavering professionalism throughout his career. His flawless penmanship became something of a trademark, reflected in the beautifully hand-printed survey maps he created. He also devoted significant time to creating an SLSA family tree entitled Connexions for the Saskatchewan Land Surveyors Association (SLSA), and he proudly served as its President.

In June 2024, Bob received the “Jack Webb Award” recognizing his outstanding contributions to the Saskatchewan Land Surveyors Association. This rare and prestigious honour had only been awarded twice in its history.

In 1984, his work took him to Bermuda, where he continued his surveying career. While there, he married Laura May, whom he loved completely. They settled in Eastend, Saskatchewan, and after the end of their marriage, Bob chose Eastend as home, embracing both its landscape and community. As the story goes, this may also have been when he became known as “Rob,” since there was already a “Bob” in town.

Bob’s love of travel continued throughout his life, with many winters spent in Cuba and Mexico, where he developed fluency in Spanish and formed many lasting friendships.

Above all, Bob was a caring brother and a generous man. He quietly supported those less fortunate, offering both compassion and financial assistance to people and causes close to his heart. Recently, he reassured family not to worry about his passing, saying we have “done it many times before.”

In keeping with Bob’s wishes, there will be no funeral service. He simply said, “Don’t waste your day on me.” Instead, he asked that you raise a glass, share a Bob story, and if you must cry, “make it quick.”

In his honour, please consider performing a random act of kindness or making a donation to a charity of your choice. He lived life on his own terms and will be deeply missed.